Israel ends its mask in the open air

Israel ended its outdoor mask mandate on Sunday, now that about 80 percent of its adult population has received both doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, reports say.

“Being without a mask for the first time in a long time feels strange. But it’s very strange, “Amitai Hallgarten, 19, told Reuters.

“If I have to be masked inside to finish this, I’ll do my best.”

At the beginning of last year’s pandemic, Israel required residents to wear face shields while outside, as long as they were not exercising. But now that nearly 5 million people in Israel have received the two-dose vaccine, health officials are beginning to ease the restrictions, Reuters reported.

“The infection rate in Israel is very low due to the successful vaccination campaign in Israel and therefore it is possible to ease [restrictions]”Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said in a statement.

In January, Israel faces about 10,000 new infections a day, but amid a wave of vaccinations, the number has dropped to about 200 a day and hospitalizations and deaths are almost non-existent, France 24 reported.

While the end of masking abroad is a positive step forward to return to normalcy, the country continues to call on anyone entering the country, including citizens, to isolate themselves.

The country’s health ministry has said there are seven cases of a new Indian variant and is still assessing the impact it could have on the transmission.

“We are leading the world right now when it comes to getting out of the coronavirus,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters.

“[But] I’m not done with the coronavirus yet. He can come back. ”

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