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Updated: 28 February 2021
More than 4.68 million Israelis have now received at least their first vaccination shot against Covid-19, with more than 3.3 million having the crucial second injection.
Despite the curfews imposed over Purim, thousands of people have been fined for attending illegal parties. Indeed, research indicates that people are less likely to adhere to safety rules after being vaccinated.
Upmarket leisure company Cavagroup has reported an increase of more than 200% in queries as many wealthier Israelis seek out luxury holidays abroad, with the recently normalised relations with UAE and Morocco making them popular destinations.
Meanwhile the coronavirus task force has urged caution in lifting restrictions, with the possible impact of new variants still largely unknown. Some good news was that, last Wednesday, the first concert for 11 months took place in Tel Aviv with singer Nurit Galron performing outdoors in Ganei Yehoshua Park.
Israel has fallen again, to 17th place, for the number of coronavirus tests per million people (1,300,245), one place below the UK (1,308,878). This compares to the disputed territories in 96th place (224,922).
Israel remains in 9th place in the list of cases of coronavirus per million people (84,245), still well above the UK in 23rd (61,310) and the disputed territories falling slightly to 63rd place (35,454).
After recent increases, Israel has again fallen slightly, to 54th, in deaths per million people (624 per million). After last week's fall, the UK remains in 6th place with 1,803 deaths per million, still far higher than Israel: a testament to the heroes of Magen David Adom and all those involved in the Israeli health system. Also impressive is the statistic for the disputed territories, with only 394 deaths per million people and which remains in 71st place in the list. Both Israelis and Palestinians are therefore much less likely to die of Covid-19 than the frequency of confirmed cases would suggest, whereas people in the UK are much more likely to die.
What about life in the disputed territories?
The Palestinian Authority has decided to close all educational institutions for 12 days from tomorrow (1 March). PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has also announced a full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays; a nighttime curfew on travel and that Israeli Arabs will not be able to travel in the West Bank for the next 12 days.
The PA has spent more than $10 million on vaccines which are expected to arrive this week. According to the most recent figures, 24% of tests are coming back positive and, in the last two weeks, the number of active cases has doubled since the previous fortnight.
The Palestinian Authority has decided to close all educational institutions for 12 days from tomorrow (1 March). PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has also announced a full lockdown on Fridays and Saturdays; a nighttime curfew on travel and that Israeli Arabs will not be able to travel in the West Bank for the next 12 days.
The PA has spent more than $10 million on vaccines which are expected to arrive this week. According to the most recent figures, 24% of tests are coming back positive and, in the last two weeks, the number of active cases has doubled since the previous fortnight.