Delta variant epidemic in Israel affects adults who have already been vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer

The epidemic of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in Israel which forced the authorities to back down and restore the compulsory use of the mask affects some adults who they had already been vaccinated with two doses.

According to the Minister of Health, Chezy levy, which are vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer and get in touch with the Delta variant must do quarantine. In addition, according to the newspaper Haaretz, argued that “Although the numbers are low, the fact that it reaches those who have been vaccinated means that we are still checking how many people who have been vaccinated have also been infected.”

Meanwhile, according to the the Wall Street newspaper according to sources of the Naftali Bennett administration, approximately half of adults infected with the Delta variant in the past few days had already received two doses of Pfizer vaccine. Overall, the Bennett administration reported, 90% of new cases correspond to the strain originating in India.

Israel reinstated the requirement to wear a mask in public places and closed businesses on Friday, following a surge in COVID-19 infections in a country that boasted of overcoming the crisis thanks to its vaccination campaign.

As of June 15, Israelis were not required to wear a mask inside or out, with more than half of the country having already received two doses of the vaccine.

But authorities have warned in recent days against the spread of the Delta variant, first detected in India and believed to be more contagious than the others.

“In view of the increase in infections, the Ministry of Health announced that from noon today [viernes], the mask will be mandatory in all closed places, except in homes, “he said in a statement.

It is also recommended for Israelis for use in high concentrations outdoors.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned on Wednesday that if more than 100 new cases of coronavirus were recorded daily for a week, the mask would be mandatory again.

Since Monday, health authorities have recorded more than 100 new cases every day. Thursday, 227 new patients were identified by the health authorities, according to the latest figures available.

The figures “are doubling rapidly,” Nachman Ash, coordinator of the fight against the coronavirus, warned Friday on Kan public radio.

“We hope that the vaccines will protect us from an increase in hospitalizations and serious cases,” he added.

Currently, 48 patients are hospitalized and 24 are considered serious cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

“Inside, I wear the mask all the time,” Esther Hamshalom, a resident of Jerusalem, told AFP. Hadar Lavy regrets this decision, deeming this garment “ineffective”.

Israel said on Wednesday it had postponed reopening its territory to tourists “because of concerns about the possible spread of the Delta variant.”

At the worst time of the pandemic in January, some 10,000 cases were recorded per day, before a mass vaccination campaign reduced the number of infections.

(With information from AFP)

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