Israel tightens coronavirus restrictions as new cases surge

Israeli cabinet approves tighter measures including limitations on people gathering indoors and entry to venues.

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