On June 15, Israel bid farewell to the last hallmark of the Covid crisis, lifting the requirement to wear facemasks following the almost absolute decline in new cases of the virus in the country. 

This easing of regulations pertains to the wearing of facemasks in all indoor places, after the requirement to wear them in outdoor public areas was waived in April.

Now, people in Israel are only required to wear a mask in high-risk welfare institutions and eldercare facilities, when flying and while making their way to isolation.

Israelis were ordered back in April 2020 to wear masks whenever leaving home. The rule was enforced by the police, who handed out heavy fines in cases of non-compliance.

Earlier this month, limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings were lifted, meaning that leisure, hospitality and cultural venues no longer require patrons to show their vaccination or recovery certificates. Businesses, too, no longer need to adhere to sanitary and physical distancing regulations.

At the end of May, group travel to Israel resumed and individual foreigners are to be allowed into the country starting July 1.

Travelers still need a Covid test upon leaving or entering Israel, and quarantine is mandatory for those testing positive.

The drop in new cases of Covid cases in Israel is attributed to the country’s exemplary vaccination drive. On June 14, only 25 new cases were reported, with the total number of active Covid cases reaching 221. Of these, 29 people are severely ill. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 6,428 people in Israel have died of the novel coronavirus.