Culture minister says Israel not at point of reimposing virus restrictions

Hili Tropper tells Ynet if some curbs are brought back it could be a fatal blow to many businesses who only recently reopened after months of lockdown; says if Green Pass is reinstated, it should be applied 'differently'
Alexandra Lukash, Nir Cohen|
Culture and Sports Minister Hili Tropper said Wednesday he doesn't believe Israel has reached a point where it needs to reimpose coronavirus restrictions.
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  • Israel has on Wednesday recorded over 500 new daily coronavirus cases for the second day in a row for the first time March as the country battles the spread of the Delta variant.
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    חילי טרופר
    חילי טרופר
    Culture and Sports Minister Hili Tropper
    (Photo: Hadar Yoavian)
    Trooper told Ynet the reality of living in the pandemic is "complicated" and Israel at the moment should try to avoid reimposing curbs.
    "I look at my two worlds - culture and sports - that have taken a terrible hit this year, and I think everything should be done to prevent their additional closures, it could be one hit too many for them."
    In the wake of the continued rise in infection data, Israel's coronavirus cabinet will reconvene at 12:30pm at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to discuss the possibility of bringing back some restrictions, including the Green Pass guideline.
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    התו הירוק בטלפון
    התו הירוק בטלפון
    Israeli woman presents her Green Pass at entrance to a cafe
    (Photo: Reuters)
    "I do not think we have reached the point that any restrictions are required, in my opinion they should be mainly imposed at Ben Gurion Airport. Even if the Green Pass is brought back, it should be different," he said. "Otherwise, the businesses who reopened last and will be the first to close down again."
    Green Pass is issued to Israelis who have been vaccinated against or have recovered from COVID-19. Before Israel lifted most of its coronavirus restrictions in May, the certificate had to be presented at entrances to many public facilities.
    On Tuesday, Tropper and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said they had agreed that no restrictions will be imposed in the near future on gatherings at cultural and sporting events. "There's no reason right now," Trooper said.
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