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A military-led task force has warned of the potential emergence of a mutated Israeli variant of the vaccine-resistant coronavirus.
In a report by the National Coronavirus Information and Knowledge Center on Saturday, military intelligence recommended that due to fears over the possible development of an Israeli strain, those who have received vaccines or recovered from COVID-19 be tested for the coronavirus and subject to quarantine requirements upon entry into the country.
“The mass vaccination campaign running alongside the active epidemic in Israel may lead to ‘evolutionary pressure’ on the virus,” the report said.
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Nearly 2.5 million Israelis have received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine and more than 946,000 have received both vaccines. Israel has set a goal of vaccinating all of its eligible adult population by March.
A medical worker administers a COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit vaccination center in Jerusalem, January 21, 2021. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
According to two preliminary studies published last Wednesday, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine appears to be effective against the new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus that was first detected in Britain and has since been found in dozens of countries. The strain, known as B.1.1.7, has alarmed experts because of its increased ability to spread and supercharge virus outbreaks.
But it is yet another mutation, known as E484K and present in variants detected in South Africa and Brazil, but not that of Great Britain, which particularly worries experts of the “escape” of the. ‘immunity.
The task force’s report came as the British variant spread to Israel, with experts predicting it could become the dominant strain within weeks. Israel has also seen more than 20 cases of the South African variant and is closely monitoring the Brazilian strain, fearing that one of the mutations may escape vaccine protections.
The Department of Health said on Saturday that several cases of the UK variant of the coronavirus had been discovered in pregnant women hospitalized in serious condition with complications from COVID-19.
The ministry said it had taken samples from 10 pregnant women and that of the seven samples they had so far completed sequencing, six contained the British strain.
“In light of recent findings on morbidity, pregnant women will have a preference for vaccines. Any interested pregnant woman can be vaccinated, ”the ministry said in a statement.
In an effort to prevent the importation of these strains into Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek government approval on Sunday for his proposal to suspend all passenger flights to and from Israel for two weeks.
A technician collects nasal swab samples for COVID-19 at the coronavirus lab at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on December 14, 2020. (Yossi Aloni / Flash90)
Netanyahu held a meeting on Saturday evening with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport, the National Security Council and the Civil Aviation Authority where an initial agreement was reached to essentially halt almost all flights “To prevent additional coronavirus mutations from entering Israel. “, According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s office.
The deal, subject to cabinet approval, includes banning all inbound and outbound flights, restricting arrivals at Ben-Gurion International Airport, and formulating a separate plan to allow special flights to for humanitarian purposes.
People needing to travel may be allowed to do so “in exceptional circumstances” that would require approval by a committee headed by directors general of health and transport ministries, according to the PMO’s announcement.
The proposal will be submitted for cabinet approval on Sunday.
The statement said the restrictions will go into effect once approved by the government, although it was not immediately clear whether a majority of ministers will support them.
The travel ban should apply to everyone, even fully vaccinated people, according to an earlier report released by Channel 12 News on Saturday. Some health ministry officials suggest the airport will not fully reopen until at least 5 million Israelis have been vaccinated, according to the report, a scenario that could be reached in early March.
The agencies contributed to this report.
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