Israel reimposes indoor mask rule amid surge in Covid cases despite one of the world's most successful vaccine rollouts
Israel has reimposed the requirement to wear face masks indoors after a surge in Covid-19 cases, despite having one of the world's most successful vaccine rollouts.
The Israeli health ministry reimposed the requirement for masks to be worn in enclosed public places after a spike in infections since the rule was dropped 10 days ago.
The health ministry also urged Israelis to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces amid fears for the Covid-19 infection rate spiking further.
It is a blow for a country which has prided itself on one of the world's most rapid and comprehensive vaccine rollouts, which has seen more than half the population being fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands descended on Tel Aviv on Friday for an annual Pride parade, which was the country's first Pride celebration since the Covid pandemic began.
Some marchers said they had not expected the ministry's order to wear masks indoors again, which came at the same time as the celebrations got underway.
The head of Israel's pandemic response taskforce, Nachman Ash, told public radio the requirement came after four straight days of more than 100 new cases per day, with 227 cases confirmed on Thursday.
Israel has reimposed the requirement to wear face masks indoors after a surge in Covid-19 cases, meanwhile thousands partied on streets of Tel Aviv for Pride parade today
The Israeli health ministry reimposed the requirement for masks to be worn in enclosed public places after a spike in infections since the rule was dropped 10 days ago. Pictured: People participate in the annual Pride Parade in Tel Aviv
'We are seeing a doubling every few days,' Ash said.
'Another thing that's worrying is that the infections are spreading. If we had two cities where most of the infections were, we have more cities where the numbers are rising and communities where the cases are going up.'
The surge in Covid cases is a blow for a country which has prided itself on one of the world's most rapid and comprehensive vaccine rollouts.
The physician said the rise in infections was likely due to the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, first identified in India.
Ash said despite the increased number of positive cases, he did not yet see a parallel rise in hospitalisations or deaths.
'It's clear it's a factor of time, that not enough time has passed,' Ash added.
Israelis were urged to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces, but thousands , many of whom were maskless, descended on Tel Aviv on Friday for the annual Pride parade
One marcher at Pride (parade pictured) said he had not expected the health ministry's order to wear masks again, which came at the exact same time as the celebrations got underway
The head of Israel's pandemic response taskforce, Nachman Ash, said the rule came after four straight days of more than 100 new cases per day, with 227 cases confirmed on Thursday. Pictured: People participate in the annual Tel Aviv March on Friday
'But we hope the vaccines will protect us from a rise in hospitalisation and difficult cases.'
In one of the world's most successful vaccine rollouts, some 5.2 million people in the country of nine-million people have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The return of masks met a mixed reception, with Hadar Lavy, in Jerusalem, saying she was not pleased, adding that 'our smiles are much more important than masks'.
But Esther Hamshalom, another Jerusalem resident, said it was better to be safe than sorry.
'The mask all the time, inside, outside,' she said. 'I feel safety with the mask, so it's better for us.'
Meanwhile, tens of thousands descended on Tel Aviv on Friday for the country's first Pride parade since the Covid pandemic, with some marchers saying they had not expected the ministry's order to wear masks indoors again.
The jubilant event, which organisers called the 'largest parade of its kind worldwide' since the start of the pandemic, had been suspended last year due to the virus.
Extravagantly costumed revellers danced on colourful floats under rainbow banners, in a parade stretching from the city centre along the beach towards the ancient port of Jaffa, a mixed Arab-Jewish quarter.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai hailed the event's return, saying that Pride events were 'a long-standing tradition, centred on a message of equality, acceptance, and human and civil rights'.
The jubilant Pride event , which organisers called the 'largest parade of its kind worldwide' since the start of the pandemic, had been suspended last year due to the virus
Extravagantly costumed revellers danced on colourful floats under rainbow banners, in a parade stretching from the city centre along the beach towards the ancient port of Jaffa
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai hailed the event's return, saying that Pride events were 'a long-standing tradition, centred on a message of equality, acceptance, and human and civil rights'
Despite the ministry's call for masks to be worn at large outdoor gatherings, an AFP reporter claimed to have seen few among the thousands of Tel Aviv partygoers
The parade began at midday local time, which was at the same time that the health ministry's requirement for masks to be worn in most indoor spaces came back into effect.
Despite the ministry's last minute call for masks to be worn at large outdoor gatherings, an AFP reporter claimed to have seen few among the thousands of Tel Aviv partygoers.
Mai Truman, a 28-year-old sports education student, said he had not expected the health ministry's order to wear masks again.
'I went to a convenience store and they asked me to wear a mask and I was really surprised,' he said.
Truman said he bought a mask at the store, but stashed it in his pocket during the march. 'It's just for closed spaces,' he added.
With Israel still largely closed to tourists due to the pandemic, this year's march was much smaller - but the celebrations were just as enthusiastic.
The last Tel Aviv Pride in 2019 drew a quarter of a million partygoers, but this year, Israelis turned out by the thousands, some wearing bathing suits and cooling themselves with rainbow-striped hand fans.
'I'm very happy,' said Truman, who came from the nearby town of Rehovot to support his friends in Israel's LGBTQI+ community.
'It feels like there's no Corona, it feels like we finished.'
Nuphar Siman-Tov, 22, said she came to Tel Aviv Pride 'to support friends and family'. Like more than half of Israelis, she has had two vaccinations, and wore a mask.
The parade began at midday local time, which was at the same time that the health ministry's requirement for masks to be worn in most indoor spaces came back into effect
With Israel still largely closed to tourists due to the pandemic, this year's march was much smaller - but the celebrations were just as enthusiastic
The last Tel Aviv Pride in 2019 drew a quarter of a million partygoers, but this year, Israelis turned out by the thousands
'I'm trying to do the maximum I can to stay safe,' she said.
Another person wearing a face mask was Lin Xiaoxi, a 33-year-old chemistry student at Tel Aviv University, originally from China.
'It is quite different from China,' Lin said, as a carnival float drove slowly through the packed crowds, with dancers waving pink flags along to thumping trance music.
One man shot a water gun from his terrace to provide cooling relief for the demonstrators in the Mediterranean sunshine below.
Ofir, 20, stood under the water gun stream with friends. She asked for her second name not to be used, as she is a soldier and lesbian.
'Pride is not just a party,' she said, a rainbow painted on her eyelids. 'It's a protest.'
She said she wanted Israel to legalise same-sex marriage and ease rules for same-sex couples to raise children.
'We are part of the people,' she added.
Another partygoer, Nina Korolev, said it was the first time she attended a Pride parade.
'It is so delicious, it is amazing,' she said. 'I'm very proud that I can be here in a free country with free people together. All humans must have the same rights.'
Israel has the most open attitude to homosexuality in the Middle East, with a large and influential gay community, particularly in Tel Aviv.
One marcher, who came from the nearby town of Rehovot to support his friends in Israel's LGBTQI+ community, said he had not expected the order to wear masks again. Pictured: People participate in the annual Pride Parade on Friday
Tens of thousands of members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community participate in the annual Tel Aviv March for Pride in Tel Aviv on Friday
Israel has the most open attitude to homosexuality in the Middle East, with a large gay community in Tel Aviv. Pictured: People take part in an annual gay pride parade in Tel Aviv
Support for gay rights is increasingly widespread in Israel, where gay people serve openly in the military and parliament. Pictured: Annual Pride parade in Tel Aviv on Friday
Support for gay rights is increasingly widespread in Israel, where gay people serve openly in the military and parliament, but full equality has not yet been attained.
Thousands of people marched through Jerusalem earlier this month in a much smaller Pride parade, celebrating LGBTQ rights in the conservative city amid heavy police security.
Pride events in Jerusalem, home to a large ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, tend to be more subdued than in Tel Aviv.
A 2015 Pride event in Jerusalem ended in tragedy when an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man stabbed a 16-year-old girl to death and wounded several others.
Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties, which wield significant influence over matters of religion and state, oppose homosexuality as a violation of religious law.
Far-right lawmaker Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party called Friday's march 'a great blasphemy'.
Meanwhile, the Islamic conservative Raam party released a campaign video earlier this year calling homosexuals 'deviants'.
A new governing coalition includes parties with socially conservative platforms after Netanyahu was ousted as prime minister earlier this month by his former aide turned foe Naftali Bennett.
Thousands of people marched through Jerusalem earlier this month in a much smaller Pride parade. Pictured: People participate in the annual Tel Aviv March for Pride on Friday
Participants attend the first Tel Aviv pride event since before the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday, even as officials urged marchers to wear masks amid a surge in infections
Pride events in Jerusalem, home to a large ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, tend to be more subdued than in Tel Aviv. Pictured: Partygoers enjoy Pride celebrations in Tel Aviv on Friday
Israel became a pioneer in Covid inoculations after then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained millions of doses from Pfizer in exchange for sharing health data on their impact.
The resulting fall in new cases allowed a broad return to normality - but it did not save Netanyahu's job.
Bennett warned Tuesday of a 'new outbreak' of coronavirus, asking Israelis to cancel their travel plans and delaying plans to reopen the country's borders to individual tourists.
Bennett urged parents to vaccinate children aged 12 and older 'as soon as possible,' noting that Israel's stock of vaccines would soon expire.
A deal to trade soon-to-expire vaccines with the Palestinian Authority for new shots arriving in the autumn fell apart last week amid mutual accusations of bad faith.
Israel has faced criticism for refusing to vaccinate most Palestinians living in the West Bank, or in the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli blockade.