Israel tightens coronavirus restrictions as new cases surge

Israel’s government has advanced a raft of new coronavirus restrictions, including sweeping implementation of a digital vaccine passport and tighter restrictions on mass gatherings.

This comes as the mostly vaccinated apartheid state struggles with skyrocketing new infections.

The country that had appeared to put the coronavirus pandemic behind it a few months ago after a world-leading vaccine drive is now reimposing regulations in a bid to clamp back down on infections.

The cabinet gave its approval for the tighter measures – including limitations on people gathering indoors and restricting entry to venues and restaurants to “green pass” holders – as new cases of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus surge despite widespread vaccination against COVID-19.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the government would be “giving a booster” to the country’s healthcare system as new coronavirus cases continue a precipitous climb.

Adapted: Al Jazeera