Israeli government cabinet ministers on Tuesday approved in a telephone vote the reduction by 50 percent the number of employees physically present at government and public sector venues.
The decision — which impacts government ministries and independent subsidiary units — goes into effect on Sunday, Dec. 26 and remains in effect until Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.
As part of the decision, the Prime Minister’s Office said Tuesday night, ministry director-generals and independent subsidiary unit managers will be able to approve as necessary a higher rate of physical presence, “provided there is justification and they have informed the Civil Service Commission.”
It was also decided by the cabinet ministers to direct the Finance Ministry salary director to “instruct all budgeted and supported agencies to act accordingly regarding their employees,” the PMO said.
Record Corona Infections in Israel Since October: More than 1,300 Tested Positive on Monday
On Monday night Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz and senior members of the health system agreed on the need to bring back strict and broad Green Pass requirements.
Government officials have yet to decide on whether to limit the size of crowds — indoors or outdoors — and if so, by how much.
On Tuesday, Israel’s KAN News public broadcaster reported the country’s first Omicron death, a 75-year-old patient hospitalized in the coronavirus unit of Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center. A spokesperson for the hospital said the report could not yet be confirmed.
As of midnight Tuesday night, Israelis are banned from traveling to the United States, Canada, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Switzerland, and Morocco unless they have special government permission.
Foreign nationals have been barred from entering the Jewish State already since the end of last month, with limited exceptions.
The United Kingdom is already on Israel’s so-called “red list,” along with at least 50 African nations (including South Africa), Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
Although such a wide-ranging travel ban could cause Israel diplomatic harm abroad, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said Tuesday, “The countries of the world understand us, because they’re getting hit much worse than we are.”
Those who return to Israel from “red-listed” countries are required to enter a minimum seven-day quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.