Israel has reopened hospitality venues and most other parts of its economy as it continues to ease coronavirus restrictions, helped by a leading vaccine program.
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Bars, restaurants, wedding halls, sporting events, hotels and all primary and secondary education were reopened on Sunday, with some restrictions on entry and capacity.
The move comes after months of government-imposed shutdowns, some in place since September.
Most large public activities, including dining at restaurants, are available to people vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Israel has sped ahead with its immunisation campaign. About 52 per cent of the population has already received one dose and nearly 40 per cent have had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, one of the highest rates in the world.
The country has suffered more than 5800 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Italy's health minister has revealed plans for all Italians who want to a vaccine to be inoculated by the end of the European summer.
Minister Roberto Speranza told state TV on Sunday that Italy expects to receive more than 50 million doses in the second quarter of this year, including the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, whose approval by European Union medicine authorities is expected soon.
As of Sunday, about 3.7 million people in Italy had received at least one injection of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is just over 5 per cent of the population.
After months of a plateau in daily coronavirus cases, Italy has seen a steady climb in new infections in recent weeks.
Epidemiologists say Italians should brace for a new peak in about two weeks, warning that daily caseloads could reach as high as 40,000 unless more restrictions are put in place.
And in New Caledonia, people have been placed under lockdown for at least two weeks to try to prevent the virus from spreading in the French territory in the South Pacific.
The decision comes after nine new infections were confirmed on Sunday.
A ban all non-essential activities will apply and all schools and universities will be closed from Monday.
New Caledonia has kept its borders almost completely closed during the pandemic, suspending nearly all flights with only few exceptions and imposing a mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers.
Australian Associated Press
