Israel plans to reopen restaurants around March 9 as part of its gradual return to normal as COVID-19 vaccination campaign continues expeditiously
With more than 41% of Israelis receiving at least one dose of Pfizer Inc's vaccine, Israel plans to partially reopen hotels and gyms on February 23 to those deemed fully inoculated or immune after recovery from COVID-19.
Nachman Ash, the national coordinator for pandemic response, said the reopening of hotel dining rooms, restaurants and cafes would follow two weeks later.
"It would be around March 9," he told Ynet TV. “We want to open gradually, carefully so as not to have another breakout of another wave and another lockdown. "
Israel has started moving out of its third lockdown last week.
The country is in the process of vaccinating 30 percent of its 9 million people with the two-dose vaccine regimen with the second dose this month, a benchmark for a preliminary easing of curbs. Hopefully 50% coverage and a larger reopening next month.
The vaccine campaign is the core of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to win a fifth term in the March 23 elections.