Israel unmasks: Face-coverings no longer required in enclosed spaces

• Author: ZACHARY KEYSER
• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Date: 15 June 2021

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Chezy Levy signed an amendment to the Public Health Order on Monday evening, which abolishes the obligation to wear a mask in closed spaces as of Tuesday, June 15.

With the signing of the order, businesses and venues around the country will be able to resume operating as they did before the pandemic, as masks will no longer be required in places of commerce, workspaces, educational institutions, or other enclosed public spaces.

There are three exceptions to the rule, however.

Unvaccinated guests, employees and those who have not had the coronavirus at assisted living facilities for the elderly, and at health institutions housing patients admitted for prolonged hospital stays, will still be required to wear masks. This is due to the high risk of those populations becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.

People who are entering coronavirus isolation will also be obligated to wear masks on their way to their quarantine location. Passengers on flights will be required to do the same.

In line with the lifting of requirements on mask-wear by the Health Ministry, the IDF will also follow suit and officially abolish the requirement for soldiers to wear masks. The IDF was the first defense organization in the world to vaccinate the entirety of its ranks, and as of Tuesday there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus across the IDF.

Levy clarified that the abolition of the obligation for Israelis to wear masks extends to the public transportation sector, and although it is not required, he recommended in an interview with Ynet that passengers still do so.

In addition, detailed guidelines for health institutions will be distributed again by Health Ministry officials to specify exactly who needs to wear masks while coming into contact with patients and where they must do it.

Following the Health Ministry's decision to...