For the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Israelis are no longer required to wear masks in closed public venues.
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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz made the announcement on Wednesday. The scrapping of the indoor mask mandate came into force at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Horowitz said: "The cancellation of the mask mandate in closed places outside of hospitals and nursing homes is the continued policy of life alongside the coronavirus. Without panic, responsibly, and with consideration.
"The policy has proven itself, and this is how we will continue. We will carefully track the disease, and we will provide all means of defense: vaccines, testing, and medicine. We will maintain health as well as routine life."
The indoor mask mandate has been in place since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, except for a brief two-week period in the summer of 2021.
Nevertheless, several high-risk locations will continue to require masks, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and flights. Individuals who tested positive for the virus will also be required to mask up on their way to quarantine.
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