Israel detects its first case of new coronavirus variant

FAN Editor

Israel’s prime minister says it is “on the threshold of an emergency situation” after authorities detected the country’s first case of a new coronavirus variant in a traveler who returned from Malawi

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel is “on the threshold of an emergency situation” on Friday after authorities detected the country’s first case of a new coronavirus variant in a traveler who returned from Malawi.

The Health Ministry said the traveler and two other suspected cases, all of whom had been vaccinated, were placed in isolation.

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province.

“We are currently at the threshold of an emergency situation,” he said. “I ask everyone to be prepared and to fully join in the work around the clock.”

Late Thursday, Israel declared South Africa and six other African nations to be “red countries” from which foreign nationals are barred from traveling to Israel. Israelis are prohibited from visiting those countries and those returning from them must undergo a period of isolation.

Israel launched one of the world’s first and most successful vaccination campaigns late last year, and nearly half the population has received a booster shot. Israel recently expanded the campaign to include children as young as 5.

But the country only recently managed to contain a wave of infections driven by the highly contagious delta variant.

Israel has reported at least 8,182 deaths since the start of the pandemic. It currently has more than 7,000 active cases, including 120 who are seriously ill, according to the Health Ministry.

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Former Brazil Olympic boss sentenced to jail for corruption

The former head of the Brazilian Olympic Committee was sentenced to 30 years and 11 months in jail for allegedly buying votes for Rio de Janeiro to host the 2016 Olympics By MAURICIO SAVARESE AP Sports Writer November 26, 2021, 5:20 AM • 2 min read Share to FacebookShare to […]