The head of public health services at the Health Ministry said Tuesday that more limits on social gatherings must be implemented, even those held under the Green Pass mandate, in the wake of surge of new coronavirus cases.
Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis told Ynet that if more measures are not taken to limit contact between people in public spaces, new COVID-19 cases will continue to skyrocket. Israel on Tuesday reported nearly 10,000 new, single-day coronavirus cases for the first time since January.
"The Green Pass has until recently allowed up to 1,000 people [to gather] in confined spaces and 5,000 outdoors, which does not match the current infection trend," she said. "Now it would be too dangerous, even if it is done under the Green Pass mandate."
She added that despite backing more restrictions, another lockdown is "not on the agenda" of the Health Ministry.
"We suggested to the [coronavirus] cabinet that the Green Pass should also have limits of 500 people outside and 400 inside to try to slow down the pathogen a bit," she said, adding the vaccinations are the only way to curb the pandemic in the long-term.
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A man receives his third dose of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in Jerusalem, August 15, 2021
(Photo: Reuters)
Her comments came shortly after sources in the Health Ministry told Ynet that they are mulling recommending tightening restrictions on gatherings to 100 people in confined spaces and 200 in open areas.
Alroy-Preis also urged Israelis eligible to get the third vaccine booster shot to get it, saying the latest data shows it is "very effective".
"About a week or ten days after receiving the booster shot, protection [against the virus] in vaccinated is four times higher than in those who did not receive it."