Israel on Sunday morning lifted the first restrictions imposed during its month-long third lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.
A government statement released early Friday stated that people will no longer have to remain within 1,000 meters of home, national parks will reopen, B&Bs can offer accommodation to nuclear families only and restaurants can offer takeout.
Workplaces that can serve one customer at a time such as hairdressing salons, and businesses not dealing with the public can also reopen.
The Nature and Parks Authority announced Friday morning that from Sunday, nature reserves and national parks that are free of charge will be open to the public. Paid sites will open on Monday, and entry to them will require pre-registration through an online system on the authority's website from Sunday morning.
On Saturday the Health Ministry reported 6,271 new cases of COVID-19 that were detected on Friday after 79,000 tests conducted indicating a 7.8% positivity rate.
The death toll after 40 people succumbed to the virus over the weekend stood on 5,057 since the start of the pandemic.
The government will convene later on Sunday, to decide when and how schools will reopen as more parents will be returning to work outside the home.
In discussions held late Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Education Minister Yoav Galant agreed to present the government with a proposal to reopen schools for the under-10s.
The plan allows children to return to kindergarten and school from Tuesday in municipalities where contagion is low, and to hold in classes in small groups and outdoors in cities where contagion is high.
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Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Education Minister Yoav Galant
(Photos: Avi Moalem)
They also recommend that high school students working toward their matriculation exams also be allowed to return to class. Israel began vaccinating 11th and 12th graders last month in order to allow students to take their exams without fear of infection.
On Sunday, the government announced it will be opening the Ben-Gurion International airport for arrivals of Israelis who were stranded abroad.
Special flights are scheduled to depart for Europe to facilitate the return of Israelis provided they can show a negative coronavirus test in the 72 hours before flying.
First published: 07:27, 02.07.21