Health Ministry: it is mandatory to wear a mask in open spaces with more than 50 people

Senior Health Ministry officials convened a press conference to discuss how to deal with the Omicron strain. The event was attended by the Minister of Health, Nitzan Horowitz, the director-general of the ministry, Prof. Nachman Ash, the project manager, Prof. Salman Zarka, and the head of the public health services, Dr. Sharon Elrai Price.
During the press conference, senior ministry officials noted that it is mandatory to wear a mask in open spaces, where there are more than 50 people. Prof. Ash signed the order requiring the mask to be worn outside, and the directive, it turns out, went into effect as early as midnight - but no one bothered to update the public on it.
At the beginning of the press conference, Horowitz emphasized: "The situation is under control, much better in relation to the world. This is not the flu and we should not take our head off lightly. Even now we will continue to live alongside the Corona." Horowitz said that "in the coming weeks we will know more about the dangers of this strain. We need to change our perception. There are no sticks or carrots here, we are working with citizens and looking at the data and reality on the ground. We are prepared for all possibilities, "How does the omicron behave, what is its danger and what is required of us to get through this wave successfully as well."
He said, meanwhile, "We will continue to take the necessary precautions to maintain health and we will continue to maintain the livelihood, education of the children, culture and routine of life. This is also part of health. We must see the whole picture. First of all health protection and prevention of infection and disease On the Israeli economy and democracy. "
He criticized the government for not imposing restrictions despite the high morbidity figures and stressed: "There is no reason to talk again and again about closures and shutdowns, it is not on the agenda. The public is stressed enough, there is no need to stress anymore. The omicron wave is different from its predecessors. What we do is "Risk management is prudent and responsible. We are committed to livelihood, education and a routine that is as sane as possible. My goal, also in this wave, is to make a supreme effort to enable frontier studies in the classroom."
In anticipation of the New Year celebrations this coming weekend, Horowitz called on citizens to "take care of themselves." "Infection of other people should be prevented, it's a personal responsibility, we will not send a policeman and an inspector to check every person - act responsibly towards yourself and those around you," Horowitz said.
Prof. Zarqa, the corona projector, commented on data in Israel: "The delta is still here and so is the omicron. Probably from Sunday we will not be able to say where the omicron is and where the delta is. Therefore, we will refer to the fifth wave as a combined wave. ". Prof. Zarka added that the coefficient of infection is on a steep rise. "We observed this in light of the high adhesion of the omicron and things are already visible in the field in the amount of hospitalized," he noted.
On the upcoming New Year celebrations, he said: "The virus does not know how to separate Novi Good for New Year's Eve and the revelry of Baba Sally. Wherever people gather there is a risk, so not everything has to be in regulations, obviously regulations are binding but I recommend For crowded events, where there is also food and there is no strict adherence to a mask. "
Prof. Zarqa, the corona projector, commented on data in Israel: "The delta is still here and so is the omicron. Probably from Sunday we will not be able to say where the omicron is and where the delta is. Therefore, we will refer to the fifth wave as a combined wave. ". Prof. Zarka added that the coefficient of infection is on a steep rise. "We observed this in light of the high adhesion of the omicron and things are already visible in the field in the amount of hospitalized," he noted.
On the upcoming New Year celebrations he said: "The virus does not know how to separate Novi Good for New Year's Eve and the revelry of Baba Sally. Wherever people gather there is a risk, so not everything has to be in regulations, obviously regulations are binding but I recommend For crowded events, where there is also food and there is no strict adherence to a mask. "
The director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, announced at the press conference that he approved the administration of the fourth vaccine for immunosuppressants only, and not as recommended by the epidemic treatment team: "An impulse vaccine that is fresh or a vaccine after four months, so the IDF recommended an impulse vaccine. The staff's decision was correct in the face of the situation.
At noon, the first shipment of the Pfizer anti-Corona drug, Paxlobide, landed at Ben Gurion Airport. Health, make sure to do it quickly and efficiently, one of the first and pioneers in the world. This is an important and optimistic line that will help us deal with the fifth wave, but it is not a substitute for vaccines. You have to get vaccinated. "