TEL AVIV: Israel announced plans on Thursday to allow only people who are deemed immune to COVID-19 or have recently tested negative to enter some public spaces such as restaurants, gyms and synagogues after a surge in coronavirus cases.
The government had removed most coronavirus restrictions after a rapid vaccination drive that pushed down infections and deaths.
The easing of restrictions included dropping a 鈥淕reen Pass鈥� program that had allowed only people who had been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 to enter some public spaces.
But some measures have already been reinstated, including wearing protective masks indoors and tighter entry requirements for incoming travelers, because of the rapid spread of the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
In a further tightening of measures, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett鈥檚 office said the Green Pass program would be back in force from July 29, pending government approval.
鈥淭he (Green Pass) will apply to cultural and sporting events, gyms, restaurants and dining halls, conferences, tourist attractions and houses of worship,鈥� Bennett鈥檚 office said in a statement after a meeting of his 鈥渃oronavirus cabinet.鈥�
Entrance to events with more than 100 attendees will be allowed only for 鈥渢he vaccinated, recovered and those with a negative test result who are aged 12 and over.鈥�
Under what Bennett calls a policy of 鈥渟oft suppression,鈥� his government wants Israelis to learn to live with the virus 鈥� involving the fewest possible restrictions and avoiding a fourth national lockdown that could do further harm to the economy.
Over 56 percent of Israel鈥檚 9.3 million population is fully vaccinated, and serious cases have remained lower than during previous waves of infection.