Equal covid-19 restrictions for restaurants and synagogues

Another 1,386 new covid-19 cases were reported Saturday night, raising the total to 92,233, including 23,608 active cases, of whom 388 are in serious condition and 116 on ventilators. The death toll rose to 624. The marginal downturn in infection figures after several weeks is unlikely to avert a possible total lockdown on the country. A decision is due this week.
For now, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein announced that restaurants and synagogues alike will be restricted to 20 people gathering in closed spaces and 30 in the open air. The two-meter social distance must be maintained in all cases. This proposal, in response to pressures from the interested parties, will be presented to the coronavirus cabinet this week.

Israelis can travel abroad for the first time, albeit to very few countries. The first flight to Bulgaria takes off from Ben Gurion on Sunday without prior quarantine and small groups of Israeli tourists may head to four Greek resorts, as well as Croatia later this week. Israelis stranded overseas by the coronavirus may now return home from 20 “green countries.” including New Zealand, the UK and Canada.