"We will discuss this after the holiday. I believe that the time has come to relax [mask guidelines] as well. I hope that the instruction will be given in the coming weeks, immediately after Passover," Ash said to 103FM, part of the Jerusalem Post Group.
Ash told KAN Reshet Bet radio on Monday as well that the masks are "much less significant" in open spaces, but that groups and those indoors would still be required to wear them even if some mask guidelines are lifted.Despite Ash's statements, Health Ministry Director-General Hezi Levy expressed opposition to relaxing mask restrictions in an interview with Army Radio on Monday, saying "there are another 2.5 million unvaccinated children, and another million unvaccinated adults - and we can still infect [others]."
As of Monday, mask guidelines in Israel are still unchanged, meaning Israeli citizens must still wear masks covering the nose and mouth both indoors and outside, even in groups of fully vaccinated people.Later on Monday, N12 reported that the Health Ministry was considering cancelling the "green passport" requirement in pools and gyms, in light of the decreased morbidity rates in Israel. A final decision is expected after Passover.
Earlier this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can meet without masks indoors in small groups with others who have been inoculated but should avoid non-essential travel and continue to wear face-coverings in public.
The CDC added that fully vaccinated people could also meet in small groups with unvaccinated individuals deemed at low-risk for severe COVID-19 from one other household without masks.
The agency said fully vaccinated people should continue to follow many precautions such as avoiding large, in-person gatherings, wearing masks when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households or wearing masks with people at risk for severe COVID-19.
Reuters contributed to this report.