“With fewer than a hundred new coronavirus cases diagnosed Friday, and just 201 Israelis in serious condition with the virus, Israel was set Sunday to lift the requirement for wearing masks outside, and to fully reopen all schools. The latest Health Ministry figures showed 95 new cases were diagnosed on Friday, accounting for just 0.7% of the 14,182 samples tested. There were 2,680 active cases, and the death toll since the start of the pandemic stood at 6,315. After suffering a severe third wave of the pandemic, Israel’s situation has rapidly improved in recent months as it has carried out the world’s fastest per capita vaccination drive. Over half of the population is fully inoculated against COVID-19, and the results have shown, with daily new cases and serious cases dropping to levels not seen in long months. The national virus czar Prof Nachman Asch has said the entire economy will be able to fully reopen next month if there is no new rise in contagion.”
“Israel lifts outdoor mask requirement,” The Times of Israel, Apr. 17, 2021
CONCLUDING REMARKS: In 2020, democratic countries were ruled by elected officials. Now they are ruled by czars! The prophetic hour is very late, as the world prepares for the coming of the Czar of czars! Israel is planning to open for tourism on May 23, focusing on group tours. The new regulations are still being finalized, but they will probably require a negative Covid test and proof of vaccination or evidence of antibodies produced by the virus itself.
(Friday Church News Notes, April 30, 2021, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)