Israel lifts face masks order and reopens schools

Israel has lifted a public face masks mandate and fully reopened its education system in the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions following its mass vaccination drive.

All primary and secondary school pupils returned to classrooms yesterday, while health officials ended a year-long requirement to wear a mask in public spaces. Masks are still required indoors and in large gatherings.

Israel has speedily inoculated a majority of its population against the coronavirus in a world-leading vaccination campaign.

It has lifted most of its coronavirus restrictions and announced last week that it would be reopening the country to vaccinated foreign tourists starting in May.

Nachman Ash, Israel’s coronavirus supremo, told public radio that removing the mask requirement outdoors and restarting in-class studies was a “calculated risk”.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, Israel has recorded more than 836,000 cases of Covid-19 and at least 6,331 deaths. More than 53 per cent of its

9.3 million citizens have received two doses of the Pfizer/biontech vaccine.

Bandar Genaveh: An earthquake struck southwestern Iran, with state TV saying it had a

5.9 magnitude, followed by an aftershock of

4.5 magnitude.

The US Geological Survey called it a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, located at the port city of Bandar Genaveh. It said its depth was at 6.2 miles.

A magnitude 5 earthquake can cause considerable damage but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Iran is on major seismic faults and experiences one earthquake a day on average. In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam, killing 26,000 people.

Wisconsin: Three people were killed and two seriously injured in a shooting at a tavern in Wisconsin.

It happened early yesterday at Somers House Tavern in the Village of Somers, Kenosha County.

The suspected attacker was not immediately captured.

Police Sergeant David Wright said the shooting appeared to be a “targeted and isolated incident”.

New York: The US safety regulator has warned those with children and pets to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and others were injured.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it had received reports of children and a pet being pulled, pinned and entrapped under the rear roller of the treadmill.

The results have included fractures, scrapes and the death of one child.

New York-based Peloton said the warning was “inaccurate and misleading”. It added there was no reason to stop using the treadmill as long as children and pets are kept away from it, it is turned off when not in use and its safety key is removed.

Sales of Peloton equipment have soared during the pandemic as virus-weary people avoid gyms and work out at home instead.

The company brought in $1 billion (£720 million) in revenue in the last three months of 2020, more than double its revenue from the same period a year before.