Israel said not planning to follow CDC in relaxing mask rules for vaccinated

Grandparents meets with their grandchildren in their home in Ramat Gan, on February 05, 2021. Photo by Chen Leopold/Flash90

Issue could become crucial ahead of Passover when families gather for Seder meal; US health body allows family meetings without face covering or social distancing

Israel currently has no plans to adopt US guidelines that relax mask-wearing requirements for people who are fully vaccinated, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidelines on Monday, saying that fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.

The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can do the same with unvaccinated people considered at low-risk for severe disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.

However, senior Israeli health ministry officials told Kan that Israel would not advocate similar steps yet, saying there was not yet enough information on whether vaccinated people could still transmit the virus.

Kan called the Israeli approach “very strict,” given clear evidence that the vaccines dramatically lower infections.

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