Israel reopens: All the new rules from March 7

Israel took its next step out of its third nationwide coronavirus lockdown on Sunday, reopening much of the economy, including restaurants, cafes, event venues, attractions and hotels. School grades 7-10 reopened in low- to medium-infection areas.

Below is the full list of regulations in effect from Sunday morning, as set out in a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Health Ministry and the Transportation Ministry.

General

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1.  Gatherings: 20 people will be allowed indoors and 50 outdoors.
2.  In places operating under Green Pass regulations, infants under one year old will be allowed in.
3.  Locations that conduct in-person interactions with the public will be able to do so even for nonessential services, so long as the service cannot be provided remotely or online.
4. The Green Pass will be valid for participants in the trial of the vaccine being developed by Israel’s Institute for Biological Research.
5.  Limitations on the number of passengers in private cars are canceled.
6.  The obligation to question or conduct temperature checks for those entering public locations or businesses is canceled.

Education

1. Students of grades 7-10 will return to [in-class] studies in areas where studies are taking place for other grades (“green,” “yellow” and “borderline orange” areas).
2. Higher education institutions can open, as can vocational training institutes and post-high school Torah studies, for Green Pass holders only (on the condition that such institutions will enable distanced learning for students without Green Passes) under the following conditions: Up to 300 people [in a single space] at no more than 75% capacity; at least four meters separation between the teacher/lecturer and the students; clear signage declaring the facility is operating under the Green Pass. The fine for allowing the entry of a non-Green Pass carrier is NIS 5,000 ($1,500).
3.  Boarding schools up to high school age will be able to operate in an “open” or “closed” capacity, depending on whether staff and students stay on-site for at least two weeks at a time — as has been the case for high school-age boarding schools.
4.  Practical courses and training for adults will be able to host 20 participants, up from 10.
5. Children’s afterschool activities will be allowed in locales that are “green,” “yellow” and “borderline orange.” Youth groups can hold meetings of up to 50 participants in an open space.
6.  Educational institutions can hold day trips in both indoor and outdoor locations.
7. Grades 1-6 and 11-12 will be able to study in any location that has been part of the “Education Shield” program for regular coronavirus testing in the past week.

Event venues

1. Events are allowed to operate at up to 50% capacity and with no more than 300 people.
2.  Entry is for Green Pass holders.
3.  Up to five percent of participants [who are unvaccinated] can enter by providing negative test results. The venue owner must ensure a system to check there is no deviation above five percent.

Restaurants

1. Indoor seating for Green Pass holders only, with a limitation of up to 75% capacity and up to 100 people. Outdoor seating does not require a Green Pass, with a limitation of up to 100 people.
2.  At least two meters (6 feet) required between tables. A steward must be appointed to ensure distances are kept.
3. Bars: At least two meters and at least one empty seat between individuals, except for those living together.

Hotels

1. Dining rooms allowed to operate at up to 50% capacity and with no more than 300 people.

Conferences, culture and sporting events

1.  Up to 500 people in a closed space and up to 750 in an open space.
2. In an auditorium or stadium with over 10,000 seats, up to 1,000 people in a closed space and up to 1,500 in an open space.
3.  Ticket sales in advance only. Seating in marked seats. It is permitted to stand by one’s seat. It is not permissible to hold a standing event or performance without marked seats. Dancing at events is not permitted. Food and drink cannot be sold and eating is not permissible. Distances must be kept.

Houses of worship

1. A location operating under the Green Pass can operate at up to 50% capacity with fixed seating. If there are no fixed seats, one person is allowed for every seven square meters. No more than 500 people.
2. Locations operating without a Green Pass: Up to 20 people inside and 50 outside.

Tourist attractions

1. Will open under the Green Pass plan, with the exception of attractions that will receive approval of the director-general of the Health Ministry to operate without the Green Pass.

Fines

1. NIS 5,000 ($1,500) for violating the directives.

Entry to, and exit from, Israel

1. The prohibition on the entry of Israelis to the country is canceled, except for entry restrictions via land crossings, meaning all Israeli citizens and permanent residents will be able to enter Israel. No more than 3,000 Israelis may enter per day; this number will be gradually reached during the week according to the Transportation Ministry plan. Up to 1,000 people may enter on Sunday in order to allow for the gradual opening as determined by the Transportation Ministry. Designated flights for new immigrants whose immigration cannot be delayed, essential foreign workers and professional athletes will not count toward the entry quota.
2. Entry at land crossings: The Jordan River crossing will operate up to twice a week.
3. The Taba crossing with Egypt will open once for those entering from Egypt, who were there since Wednesday, February 3, 2021.
4. Those holding vaccination or recovery certificates will be able to exit Israel freely, except via the Taba crossing, which will be closed.
5. The requirement to quarantine in designated hotels will be canceled and will be replaced by increased enforcement by the Israel Police regarding those returning from abroad who are quarantining at home.
6. Paris, London, Kyiv, Toronto and Hong Kong will be added to the destinations from which there are already regular flights (New York and Frankfurt).
7. Flight operators will be obligated to send the Transportation Ministry passenger lists for epidemiological investigations on demand. If lists are not delivered on demand, flight operators will be subject to fines of up to NIS 5,000.

The regulations will be valid until Saturday, March 20, 2021, except for the education regulations, which will be in effect until Saturday, April 3, 2021.