The extended green mark went into effect yesterday, and with it the period of information and warnings from the inspectors seems to have ended - and the authorities are taking off their gloves in the enforcement efforts, at least in the places where they are.
Thus, for example, in Rishon Lezion, as in other cities in the South, the inspectors toured the malls and shops on the city's main arteries during the day.
"Until about two weeks ago, we carried out information. Today, the information is over for us, because it is carried out without a break in the media. Now those who do not meet the standard and their daughter will receive a report.
"Fortunately, people in general, and store owners in particular, adhere to the guidelines," the inspection teams noted.
Presentation of a green sign at the entrance to Cinema City in Ashdod, by Liron Moldovan
In practice we did not see any reports given, as in the malls the security guards did not allow the public to enter without a mask and this was not necessary. However, those who did not take care to wear a mask over their noses received a comment.
Purple character enforcement also began yesterday.
"Enforcement is mostly done indoors, and if we see that there are too many people in the store or mall - we enforce," the inspectors noted.
According to them, "it seems that relative to the first day of the regulations - people are careful."
And the residents?
Mostly confused.
"No one knows exactly what the right character is. In some places there is a green character, in others a purple one, and you have to understand what applies to what. Until you understand - you get a report," said Meir, a clothing business owner in the city center.
On the other hand, north of there, things looked different.
In the mall and businesses in Petah Tikva, they probably have not heard of the green character returning to our lives.
Although most people wore a mask, most of them did not cover their noses, and quite a few placed it only on their chin, and some did not even wear a mask at all.
Enforcement on the Israel Railways, Yehoshua Yosef
At the entrance to the mall and many stores we were not asked to display a green sign.
Only at the entrance to the restaurant did they ask for a green card, but did not check if it matched our ID card.
"We do not check an identity card," explains the worker at the entrance, "if someone shows us a green card that is not his or a fake card, it is his problem. Some inspectors check, and if they find that someone has lied - then they give him a report." The restaurant was not inspected.
According to a salesman at a cellular booth in the mall, the inspectors actually inspected the place: "Some inspectors have been walking around since this morning. I was told that if I did not put on a mask, they would close the booth.
The speakers in the mall reminded us to wear a mask not only on the mouth but also on the nose.
But the majority do not really listen to this advice.
At the booth of a communications company sits the seller without a mask.
"I'm without a mask because I'm drinking," she excuses and shows us a drinking glass lying next to her.
It seems, however, that the drinking glass is placed there precisely for this purpose - to serve as an excuse.
She said, "If there was a customer here then of course I would put on a mask."
Performance at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Yehoshua Yosef
Even in stores across the city the situation is not alarming.
In the clothing store we entered there were two saleswomen with a mask placed on their chin only.
"Inspectors are walking around here," says one of them.
"And it does not deter you?", I ask.
She smiles and raises the mask from her chin to her nose and mouth.
And if the confusion that prevailed due to the various characters is not enough, then yesterday a misunderstanding was added to this also regarding the quick tests.
Many parents were surprised that when they performed the tests at MDA complexes in the center of the country, they were required to pay for it.
MDA will refund the payment
Following the audit, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday that it has been decided to extend the free MDA tests to all over the country and that children who were tested yesterday and were required to pay for the test will receive a full refund from MDA.
Hayali Yaakovi-Handelsman participated in the preparation of the article