Israel ditches masks indoors after record breaking vaccine rollout

Israel is no longer requiring masks indoors, lifting one of its last coronavirus restrictions following a highly successful vaccination campaign.

Children can now go to school and adults to work without masks for the first time in more than a year. Israelis have not had to wear masks outdoors since April.

About 55 per cent of Israel’s 9.3 million population are now fully vaccinated - a turnout largely unchanged by this month’s expansion of eligibility to include 12- to 15-year-olds.

Israel has, in June, logged either zero or one daily Covid-19 deaths, Health Ministry data show. New infections have been in a steady but gentle decline after a steep drop-off in February and March.

The Israeli health ministry said masks would still be required of unvaccinated patients or staff in medical facilities, of people en route to quarantine, and of passengers on commercial flights.

It came as the UK announced a one month delay to rolling back its last restrictions - with a new Freedom Day pencilled in for July 19.

Masks are required in indoor settings in the UK.

Additional reporting by Reuters.

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