Health Ministry Extends Green Pass Validity After Website Crashes

The Health Ministry announced on Sunday a three-day extension to the Green Pass after users reported experiencing technical difficulties in issuing the updated document through the ministry’s website.

The new Green Pass, which serves as proof of vaccination against COVID-19, was supposed to come into effect Sunday morning, effectively barring 1.9 million doubly vaccinated Israelis from entering public facilities unless they can present a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours, or a negative rapid antigen test from the previous 24 hours.

The new pass is available for:

• Those who received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine a week after their third jab. The pass will remain valid for six months.
• Those who received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine after Oct. 3 a week after the jab, while those who receive the second dose of the Moderna vaccine will receive it two weeks after the jab. The pass will remain valid for six months.
• Those who recovered from COVID-19 or those vaccinated after recovering from the disease fewer than six months ago.
• Children under 12 who present a negative PCR test.

Vaccination sites have reported growing demand for booster shots ahead of the new Green Pass taking effect with over 227,000 Israelis who have received their supplementary jabs since Monday last week.

Coronavirus commissioner Salman Zarka said that the new Green Pass will help reducing morbidity.

“When I walk into a restaurant I will know that all other guests and staff there are not infected and the venue is safe,” he said. “The new pass issued can be verified more easily using barcode.”

Meanwhile, the Coronavirus Cabinet is set to convene for the first time in over a month on Sunday to discuss whether to mandate businesses to scan every customer’s Green Pass barcode after some ministers voiced concerns it may negatively impact them.