Israel to end Covid-19 restrictions from June after vaccine success

New cases fell to just 12 on Saturday, down from a daily peak of more than 10,000 in January

Vaccinated Israelis and tourists get tested for Covid-19 upon arrival at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. AFP

Israel is to end local Covid-19 restrictions, following a successful vaccine rollout that has nearly stamped out new infections, its health ministry said on Sunday.

Most of the population have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Among over-50s, who are more at risk, 92 per cent have been inoculated or have recovered from the virus.
The country reported just 12 new virus cases on Saturday – down from a daily peak of more than 10,000 in January.

Israel has been gradually reopening its economy after three lockdowns.

Curbs on higher-risk activities and limits on how many people can gather in a specific area remain, with a government-issued “Green Pass” that indicates immunity post-vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, allowing greater freedom.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Sunday he will not extend the arrangement, meaning the restrictions and the Green Pass system will be revoked from the start of June.

"The economy and the citizens of Israel will get extra room to breathe," he said, but also warned that restrictions they could be re-imposed should the situation change.

Israel will still keep its borders closed to most incoming travellers, though it has started to let in small groups of vaccinated tourists.

The health ministry will also re-examine the requirement to wear face masks in enclosed spaces.

Israelis display their ‘Green Pass’, proof of vaccination or immunity against the coronavirus, at the entrance to a performance by singer Nurit Galron at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv.

A man displays his ‘Green Pass’ at the entrance to the concert.

A elderly woman receives a booster shot of her vaccination against Covid-19 at an assisted living residence.

A woman displays her ‘Green Pass’ at the entrance to the Nurit Galron concert at Yarkon Park.

People dance at a concert.

The Nurit Galron concert for which the audience had to show green passes to gain entry.

The Nurit Galron concert for which the audience had to show green passes to gain entry.

A customer at Nashville Barber Shop gets a shave after coronavirus restrictions were eased, opening shopping centres, gyms, barber shops, among other sites in Jerusalem.

A visitor presents a coronavirus vaccination certificate at the entrance to the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem.

People present their coronavirus vaccination certificate at the entrance to the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem.

People wear face masks as they attend the Khan Theatre to watch a show in Jerusalem.

An Orthodox Christian clergy member puts on his face mask while walking out of the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem’s Old City.

A drive-through Covid-19 screening centre run by the Magen David Adom national emergency service in the car park of Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv.

Residents of an assisted living residence in Israel dance after receiving their booster shots of the vaccination against the Covid-19.

Medics, seen through a window of an observation room, wear personal protective equipment as they work inside an underground ward treating Covid-19 patients at the Critical Care Coronavirus Unit at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan.

A woman is immunised against Covid-19 as part of a Tel Aviv municipality initiative offering a free drink to people having the vaccine shot.