Tens of thousands taking part in Lag B'Omer celebrations at Mount Meron

Tens of thousands of people are celebrating the Lag B’Omer holiday at Mount Meron, in the largest public gathering in Israel since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Due to the large crowds, police say they are unable to enforce coronavirus restrictions at Mount Meron, according to Channel 12 news.

Some 200,000 people are expected to visit the northern Galilee site over the coming day, with health officials worried the festivities could lead to mass contagion.

A top Health Ministry official urges Israelis not to travel to Mount Meron.

“In all 35% of the State of Israel isn’t vaccinated, therefore this is an unsafe situation,” Sharon Alroy-Preis, who heads the ministry’s public health department, tells Channel 13 news.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it has treated 52 people at Mount Meron during the day, including eight who were taken to Ziv Medical Center in nearby Safed for further treatment.