Israel is loosening up foreign policy for vaccinated people – with the “Green Pass” in a mobile phone app

Israel on Sunday introduced lockdown easing for citizens vaccinated against the coronavirus or recovered from illness. With a “Green Pass” they can visit fitness studios, hotels, theaters or sporting events, among other things.

► Health Minister Juli Edelstein wrote on Twitter that more than 3.2 million Israelis could now enjoy these benefits.  The  aim is to stimulate the economy in the country again.

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 The  Green Passport is gradually opening the country again,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday evening.

 The  reason for the relaxation is clear: Israel is vaccination world champion!

Almost a third of the total of 9.3 million inhabitants is already fully vaccinated – now every citizen aged 16 and over can be immunized.

And that is now even possible at Ikea!

 The  Swedish furniture store is also reopening this Sunday for the first time after the lockdown, soliciting customers with the option of being vaccinated between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (“Let yourself be immunized”).

 The  7-day incidence of Israel is 269 (Stand: 21.02.) in the previous week at 418, and on January 18 at the high of 697.
For comparison: In Germany the value is currently 60 (as of February 21), in the previous week it was 57.

Non-vaccinated people also benefit

As part of a second opening step after a week-long lockdown, shopping centers, museums, libraries and houses of prayer were also opened to non-vaccinated people on Sunday.

 The  schools were also opened to other classes.

In Israel, anyone who has recovered or who has been vaccinated can apply for a vaccination card online one week after the second vaccination. Personal information can be read using a simple QR code. Owners of such a vaccination card can then have a green passport issued, among other things via a mobile phone app.
With the vaccination card, you can go back to the gym, swimming pools and sports events.

That doesn’t cause envy, says BILD reporter Sarah Fantl. “

 The  people are happy that the economy is being boosted again.”

A side effect: the increased freedom also increases the willingness to vaccinate. “I have noticed that people who were previously skeptical now want to be vaccinated after all.”

Mask requirement and distance rules continue to apply to EVERYONE, regardless of the vaccination certificate.

In total, around 4.3 million first and almost three million second vaccinations have been given in Israel since December 19.

For comparison: Germany has around nine times as many inhabitants as Israel. So far, almost 3.2 million people have received a first and almost 1.7 million also a second vaccination.

An Israeli study only became known on Saturday (February 20), which showed that the active ingredient from Biontech / Pfizer is highly effective and prevents 90 percent of the spread of the coronavirus.

 The  vaccination not only protects against the disease, but also against a detectable infection.

Clear text: Vaccinated people are no longer contagious after vaccination!

Discussion about easing in Germany

Possible easing for vaccinated persons is also being discussed in Germany.

 The  German Ethics Council initially spoke out against this. However, this also citing the fact that it cannot yet be safely ruled out that people who have been vaccinated may spread the virus. This concern is apparently unfounded, at least with regard to the Biontech vaccine.
At the same time, the Ethics Council refers to “injustices” when people who have been vaccinated can already participate in normal life again, while people who have not yet received a vaccination offer are denied access.

Constitutional lawyers like Lars viellechner point out, however, that it is not a question of “special rights”, but rather the restoration of currently restricted basic rights.