Palestinian farmer Amouna Abu Rajila, 66, works in her family farm near the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 29, 2021.
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel reopened on Tuesday the Taba border post with Egypt that had been shut down throughout the pandemic, allowing limited numbers to cross to the Sinai peninsula for Passover holidays.
The move was the latest step towards normalcy for Israel, which has fully inoculated more than 50% of its roughly 9.3 million residents against COVID-19, the world’s fastest per capita pace.
From Tuesday through April 12, 300 Israelis will be allowed through Taba on the Red Sea each day.
To be able to cross, individuals must be vaccinated or have recovered from the coronavirus. A negative laboratory test is also required in both directions.
Egypt’s Sinai peninsula is a popular vacation spot for Israelis, especially during the Passover break which started over the weekend, but the pandemic has forced Taba’s shutdown since March 2020.
Israel’s successful inoculation rollout has been making gains against the deadly virus.
The number of serious COVID-19 cases, which stood at 800 at the end of last month, has dropped to 467, according to the health ministry.
