The Israeli health ministry has reimposed a requirement for masks to be worn in enclosed public places following a surge in new cases since it was dropped 10 days ago, AFP reports.

The head of Israel's pandemic response taskforce, Nachman Ash, told public radio the requirement came after four days of more than 100 new cases a day, in a country which prides itself on one of the world's most successful vaccine rollouts.

Ash said the rise in cases was likely due to the highly contagious Delta variant first seen in India.