Israel to open restaurants and tourist attractions, but only for the vaccinated

(Patria) - The Israeli government has approved the opening of event halls and restaurants next week as part of the third phase of lifting restrictions imposed across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cafes and restaurants will be able to serve guests outdoors, and holders of the so-called "green pass", who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or have recovered from the disease, will be able to dine indoors and enter hotels, conference and event halls, and visit tourist sites.

Public gatherings will be limited to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors, except in places with a high infection rate.

There, gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.

It is also planned for students from the seventh to the tenth grade to return to school desks wherever the infection rate is low or where more than 70 percent of citizens over 50 years of age have been vaccinated, Israeli media report.

Meanwhile, vaccination of people who have recovered from Covid-19 three months ago or earlier with one dose of the vaccine has been announced.

More than half of Israel's total population of 9.3 million has received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, including 3.4 million people who have received the second dose.

Israeli media reported that the American cruise company Royal Caribbean will offer cruises from Israel for the fully vaccinated starting in May in an effort to open the country's economy to those who have received two doses.

As stated, the crew and guests over 16 years of age must all be vaccinated, but it remains unclear whether children will also be allowed to go on cruises.

It will be "the first Green Island in the sea," said company director Michael Bailey, alluding to the recently introduced green passes in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the move.