Israel to drop indoor mask mandate in the coming days as COVID cases continue to drop

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue a sharp decline, Israel will drop its indoor mask mandate as of Saturday night, according to a communique from the Prime Minister's foreign media advisor.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz agreed that this mandate will be lifted on Saturday at 8 p.m. pending approval by the Knesset Health Committee.

The requirement to wear masks indoors will remain in places with people who are at high-risk such as hospitals, nursing homes, flights and for people on their way to quarantine.

The decision was announced a day after a U.S. judge threw out America's federal transportation mask mandate including on domestic flights. The choice is now in the hands of individuals whether they want to don a mask or not.

The number of people hospitalized in serious condition has dropped to 216 while new coronavirus cases recorded yesterday in Israel stood just over 4,500 – which is still a high number compared to the onset of the pandemic which triggered three national lockdowns. But it is also far lower than record numbers set in January, with 80,000 new cases a day.