Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir and Finance Minister Israel Katz have announced an aid package of 300 million shekels ($86 million) for Israel's hotel and tourism sector, which was one of the first to be pummeled by the coronavirus crisis.
According to financial daily Globes, the announcement came Tuesday after Zamir and Katz met with representatives of the hotel sector.
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In early May, the Tourism Ministry published the conditions that small hotels and bed and breakfasts need to meet to be awarded a "purple badge," which allows them to reopen for business: All employees must wear masks and gloves and change them every four hours, if the masks are surgical ones. Entrances to each accommodation unit must be two meters (six feet) apart, and rooms must be carefully cleaned using bleach or cleaning solutions that contain at least 70% alcohol.
In addition, each employee must have his or her temperature taken; the facilities must not operate public water features, including swimming pools and water fountains; the staff must keep apart from the guests; and reception desks must be outfitted with dividers. No public facilities can be operated, and guests must sign a declaration stating that they are healthy.
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