As the number of daily coronavirus diagnoses keeps dropping, Israeli government announced on Monday evening a slew of new leniencies to strict health orders. Ynet has compiled a list of all the updated directives, which have either already come into effect or will be enacted in the coming days and weeks.
Israelis are no longer confined to 100 meters from home and can roam the streets freely, in accordance with health orders.
It is allowed to visit first-degree relatives, including elders. However, the Health Ministry recommends refraining from hugging, kissing, and touching each other and maintaining a safe distance.
Gatherings of up to 20 people are allowed in open areas. If the new diagnoses continue to decline, gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed starting May 17, which includes weddings but with no dancing. Gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed starting May 31.
If there will not be another spike of infections, the rest of public gathering restrictions will be removed by June 14.
Restaurants and other eateries are allowed to serve take-outs but sitting at a food establishment is still prohibited.
Parks, libraries, museums and public sporting facilities such as swimming pools and gyms, will begin gradually reopening starting this week and are set to be fully opened by mid-June.
Preschools will resume activity on May 10. No decision has yet been made on the reopening of nurseries.
All students are expected to return to school by the end of May. The Health Ministry recommends not sending children to school wearing gloves.
Summer vacation for teachers and students will be cut by nine days to make up for time lost because of the coronavirus lockdowns.
Extracurricular activities and youth movements, as well as higher education institutions, will reopen from May 31.
There will be no nationwide lockdown during the holiday of Lag BaOmer on May 11, but the tradition of lighting bonfires will be banned this year in order to prevent gatherings that may lead to another mass spike in infections.
Pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a leading snd-century sage, in the northern Israeli town of Meron will also be prohibited during the holiday.
Synagogues will remain shuttered for the time being.
Brit milah (circumcision ceremony) will be allowed with up to 19 participants present.
Exercise is allowed everywhere but alone or in pairs of two. Fitness studios will reopen this week and maritime sports is also allowed but sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the sea is still prohibited.
Psychotherapy is allowed without protective face masks as long as the therapist and the client keep a safe distance of at least three meters (ten feet) from each other.
Shopping malls and street markets will reopen on Thursday under certain health restrictions. One customer will be allowed to enter the establishment for every 20 square meters (215 square feet).
Inside the stores, shopper capacity will be restricted to the highest of a few options: one customer per 15 square meters (160 square feet), only two customers at a time in stores smaller than 100 square meters (1070 square feet), or four customers at a time in stores over 100 square meters.
The Israeli Premier League in soccer (Ligat Ha'al) is expected to resume training by the end of May and no later than mid-June.
Museums and art galleries will reopen on May 17.
Concerts and live shows will less than 500 people will be allowed by mid-June at the earliest.
Twenty national parks and nature reserves were reopened on Tuesday. Visitors will have to book their visit time ahead.
Among the first sites to be opened are the Hermon Stream Nature Reserve, Ma'ayan Harod National Park, Hula Nature Reserve, Ein Afek Nature Reserve, Caesarea National Park, Tel Aphek National Park, Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park, Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Masada, and others.