Health Ministry expert panel recommends cutting COVID quaratine to 7 days

Board votes against expanding label for second vaccine booster shot — which is administered to over 60s and at-risk groups — to include larger portions of the population

Adir Yanko|
A Health Ministry expert panel on Monday recommended cutting down the quarantine period for confirmed coronavirus patients from 10 to 7 days.
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  • The panel also recommended against, for the time being, expanding the label for the second vaccine booster shot to include larger portions of the population.
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    בדיקות קורונה בירושלים
    בדיקות קורונה בירושלים
    A coronavirus testing facility in Jerusalem
    (Photo: Reuters)
    All recommendations are pending the approval of Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash.
    Israel has started administering the fourth coronavirus vaccine shot to those citizens aged and over and other high-risk groups.
    According to Health Ministry data, over 250,000 people have received the fourth dose.
    Earlier Monday, Israel's coronavirus cabinet approved the scrapping of the Green Pass mandate in shopping malls after retailers complained of challenges in enforcing the rule.
    Last month, Israel expanded its stringent Green Pass restrictions to include shopping malls all around the country, in a bid to stem the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Green Pass acts as a coronavirus vaccination or recovery certificate.
    The ministers were supposed to vote on the proposal at the cabinet meeting on Sunday, but it was postponed due to the opposition of some ministers. On Monday morning, the new outline was approved via a telephone vote.
    2 View gallery
    הגבלות הקורונה בקניון עזריאלי
    הגבלות הקורונה בקניון עזריאלי
    (Photo: Shaul Golan)
    In accordance with the cabinet's decision, stores measuring more than 100 square meters will no longer be required to require customers to present a Green Pass before entering. However, large stores will be obliged to have no more than one shopper per 15 square meters.
    Stores smaller than 100 square meters will allocate seven square meters per customer.
    It was also decided to allow mall operators to decide whether to demand seeing Green Pass in each individual business or require the certificate to be presented at the entrance to the food court.
    Stores considered "essential," such as supermarkets and pharmacies, will be exempt from occupancy caps.
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