The Israeli government has announced that it will impose a COVID-19 vaccine passport system on many events in the country.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett statement On Thursday, “As of August 8, those who refused the vaccine will not be able to go to cinemas, theaters, synagogues, amusement parks, soccer games, or activities for more than 100 people, indoors or outdoors. At their expense, they bring negative results from the corona virus test. “
“Yes, they pay the full cost of the test,” he reiterated, “to fulfill the obligations of the citizens and vaccinated.” People pay for the test for those who are not vaccinated. There is no reason, “he added. ..
The government has lifted most COVID-19 restrictions after a national mass vaccination campaign. This has removed the “Green Pass” vaccine passport-style system, which allows only those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19 to enter some public spaces. ..
Later, as more infectious variants of Delta COVID-19 became more prevalent, several restrictions were reinstated, including mandatory indoor masks and stricter entry requirements for immigrant travelers.
Bennett’s office said the “Green Pass” program would resume on July 29, awaiting government approval. This is a type of COVID-19 vaccine passport. This is a comprehensive term that refers to a digital pass or paper certificate used to indicate whether a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus test is negative or inoculated.
In his statement Thursday, Bennett repeatedly urged Israelis to “get vaccinated,” and the Israeli government “invested billions of dollars to make the vaccine available anywhere in the country.” ..
“Still, there are still a million Israelis who refuse to vaccinate … I respect different views, but there are times and places where we need to stop this debate. That’s our life.” Said the Prime Minister of Israel. Vaccines are “effective and safe,” claiming that “science is clear.”
He further accused those who refused the vaccine of “rising their health, the freedom of those around them, and the freedom of all Israeli citizens.” “People who refuse vaccination hurt us all because if we are all vaccinated, we can all maintain our daily lives,” he insisted.
Over 58 percent of Israel’s population has been fully vaccinated as of Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Other countries, including Italy and France, have recently issued similar obligations regarding vaccine passports.
Last week, more than 100,000 people protested vaccine passports across France, accusing the government of overkill.
In the northern Italian city of Turin, thousands of protesters went out to the streets on Friday in protest of a mandatory vaccine passport. report British tabloid Daily Express. video When posted on Twitter, the crowd repeatedly shouted, “There is no green pass!”
Other countries have small-scale deployment of vaccine passport requirements. Hungary mandated health care workers vaccinations on Friday as part of an effort to contain the pandemic. Malta became the first European Union country to ban visitors over the age of 12 from entering the country this month unless fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that UK nightclubs and other crowded areas will require full vaccination proof from the end of September.
Greece has mandated vaccination certificates for patrons in indoor restaurants and bars since last week, but dozens of Portuguese municipalities introduced weekend curbs for indoor dining in early July.
Reuters contributed to this report.