Health Minister confirms new strain of virus already here
Ynet |
Published: 12.23.20 , 17:41
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein tells the cabinet that there are at least four confirmed cases of the new mutated strain of coronavirus in Israel.
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Coronavirus czar says third lockdown inevitable as cabinet meets
Nachman Ash says Israel will have another 3,000 dead in next 2 months if government continues do nothing policy; ministers mulling shutdown of high street trade and education system with some exceptions, as well as restrictions on movement
Yoav Zitun, Adir Yanko, Itamar Eichner |
Updated: 12.23.20 , 16:51
Israel s coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash said Wednesday that a third, nationwide coronavirus lockdown is inevitable, as the government met on the terms of such a closure.
Ministers were discussing a new lockdown from next week, including full shutdown of all trade and the education system, as the country saw daily infections soar to more than 3,000 and a 5.7% positivity rate for tests on Tuesday.
Edelstein orders hospitals to start vaccinating against coronavirus
Roy Rubinstein |
Published: 12.23.20 , 15:47
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein on Wednesday instructed Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezi Levi to begin establishing vaccination centers in hospitals in order to speed up the inoculation campaign in the country.
Only HMOs are currently allowed to carry out vaccinations, resulting in long waiting periods.
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Israel to mull new virus lockdown from next week
Despite the government falling apart, ministers set to meet in wake of latest COVID surge, with Netanyahu apparently demanding a 3-week nationwide lockdown, including full shutdown of trade and education system
Itamar Eichner |
Published: 12.23.20 , 09:23
Israel set to mull a new coronavirus lockdown from next week during a government meeting on Wednesday in the wake of the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Ministers set to convene at 2pm, just hours after the government fell apart as coalition members failed to pass a state budget by midnight, triggering snap elections due to be held on March 23.
CoronavirusIsrael
By Hamodia Staff
YERUSHALAYIM -
Israeli Minister of Health Yuli Edelstein. (Flash90)
A third nationwide coronavirus lockdown seemed just a matter of time on Tuesday, as Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said that infection rates had reached a critical level.
“We have missed the train with tightened restraint and there is no escape from a lockdown,” Edelstein said.
“It will take between two and three months for the vaccine [program] to take effect,” Edelstein said. “We wasted precious time, and the state of the infections means we have no choice but to go into lockdown.
“We have reached a positivity rate of over 5 percent and the reproduction rate stands at 1.3. It must be said… we have entered the third wave,” he added, addressing recent discussion about whether the country was experiencing a third wave or not.