Israel plans to scale back virus rules, allow crowds of up to 500 outdoors

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announces plans to scale back coronavirus restrictions further, canceling the limits on public transportation and restaurant capacity and allowing gatherings of up to 500 people outdoors.

In addition, gyms, swimming pools and other attractions would be opened to the unvaccinated. Those sites, in addition to sit-down dining at restaurants and large events, are currently only accessible to the vaccinated and recovered patients under the “Green Pass system.”

The new rules, which are expected to be presented to the government and go into effect by next Thursday, would also permit 50 people to gather indoors. The current limits are 20 indoors, 100 outdoors.

People exercise on a street in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on April 18, 2021, after authorities announced that face masks for COVID-19 prevention were no longer needed outside (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

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