Coronavirus: Over half of Israel's citizens are fully vaccinated

“We passed the 50% mark of all Israeli citizens who are fully vaccinated with the second dose of the [corona] vaccine,” he wrote. “Thanks to them, the State of Israel is defeating coronavirus. All that remains is to follow the instructions so that coronavirus does not return.”

This comes as the government announced that due to the successful vaccination campaign, Israel’s citizens will be able to celebrate the upcoming religious and national holidays under the the green passport outline, with a far wider range of movement than last year.

Only 476 people tested positive for corona on Wednesday out of 45,007 tested, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning, just over 1%.

There are currently 484 people seriously ill with the virus among 11,837 active cases. The death toll in Israel stands at 6,158.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry published detailed guidelines for the upcoming holidays.

While general gatherings are limited to 20 indoors and 50 outdoors, places of worship and ceremonies organized for green passport holders will be able to see the participation of several thousand people.

In accordance to what the government decided last week, outdoor venues with fewer than 10,000 seats can host up to 75% of maximum permitted capacity, or up to 3,000 people. Those with more than 10,000 seats will be able to accommodate guests at 30% of capacity, or up to 5,000 people. Indoor venues with fewer than 5,000 seats will be open for up to 75% of their capacity, or maximum 1,000 people, and those with more than 5,000 seats can host 30% of their maximum permitted capacity and 3,000 people.

Events for the national holidays of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day will also be organized under the green passport outline. Events where food is served, considered to be a high risk of infection, will be limited to 300 people indoors and 500 outdoors.

For Memorial Day, families of fallen soldiers will have unlimited access to the cemeteries, which will function under “purple ribbon” standards.

Children who cannot be vaccinated can receive a temporary green passport by undergoing a fast coronavirus test.

The coronavirus cabinet approved education and transportation regulations on Thursday, including an update to the traffic light system that would allow some schools, previously in red areas, to return to in-person teaching.

The existing transportation regulations were extended until April 21, and the mandate to take temperatures at central bus stations was canceled.