The Health Ministry announced Sunday that the requirement for masks to be worn indoors will be lifted on June 15, marking the end of one of the only major coronavirus restrictions remaining in Israel.
For the time being, schools will be excluded from the easing of limitations, with children still required to wear masks in class, since the majority of those under 16 have yet to be vaccinated.
The ministry said that if the declining trend in morbidity continues and the campaign to vaccinate 12- to-15-year-olds, which began Sunday, succeeds, there would be another discussion to consider dropping the mask requirement in schools as well.
Announcing the decision at a Sunday government ceremony recognizing the efforts of health workers during the pandemic, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said, “At the peak of morbidity, five months ago, there were over 10,000 cases a day; yesterday, there were only four cases.”
