Police officers in Israel have been told not to enforce mask-wearing outdoors despite the fact that it still mandated by law, Channel 13 News reported on Monday.

Officers have been instructed not to focus on mask-wearing at all and instead concentrate on enforcing quarantine rules.

Coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash said on Monday that a discussion on ending the mask mandate will be held after Pesach.

“Wearing masks is far less important in open spaces,” he explained. “But it important for people in groups and closed spaces.”

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Chezy Levy struck a more cautious tone on the issue, telling Army Radio on Monday that mask-wearing will continue to be required due to the 2.5 million children and 1 million adults in Israel who are still unvaccinated.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)