According to the health ministry, the virus’ diseases in the third wave that is spreading across the country have peaked and are set to subside, weighing the current barrier to closure restrictions, according to a television report Wednesday.
On Thursday, there will be one week since Israel invaded a tightened closure scheduled for January 21, although officials have repeatedly said the rules are likely to extend beyond that date.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Ministry of Health officials on Thursday to discuss whether the restrictions should be extended. Some health officials support the relaxation of the rules if there is a decrease in the number of serious cases, reports Channel 12 News.
Get The Times of Israel Daily Edition by Email and Never Miss Our Top Stories Free Sign Up
Netanyahu’s discussions on Thursday will also include talks on so-called ‘green passports’ which will provide some benefits to Israelis who have received their second dose of vaccine.
Channel 13 News reported on Wednesday on the guidelines for the Ministry of Health for easing the closure: in the first phase, kindergartens and grades 1-4 and 11-12 will partially reopen, as well as street shops, the report said. In the second phase, Grades 5-10 will start studying again and holders of ‘green passport’ certain freedoms, such as permission to attend cultural events. In the third phase, restaurants and cafes will reopen.
Hadassah Medical Center staff receive the second round of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, January 11, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
Israel’s disease remains high, with a record 9,665 new infections on Monday and 9,226 cases on Tuesday. Another 4,795 virus cases were diagnosed on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the number of active infections to 77,650, the Ministry of Health said.
The death toll stands at 3,803 and 1,094 patients are in a serious condition.
According to the ministry, 9,226 cases were diagnosed on Tuesday and 7.3% of the tests were positive.
The high infection rate is due to Israel’s leading vaccination program.
Only 100,000 people received the first dose of vaccine this week, according to Channel 13. They promised to maintain a daily vaccination rate of more than 200,000. Health providers said the ministry had not given enough vaccines and cited logistical problems with the administration of the shots, Channel 13 said.
Israel has seen a shortage of vaccines in recent days, but Pfizer has stepped up delivery and is expected to send hundreds of thousands of doses a week to the country. Another half a million vaccines are expected to arrive in Israel early next week.
The Ministry of Health said on Wednesday afternoon that 24,421 Israelis had been vaccinated since midnight, bringing the total to more than 1.9 million. More than 85,000 Israelis received their second dose of vaccine.
More than 21% of Israelis received their first dose of vaccine, and almost 1% received the second dose. In Jerusalem, 10.5% received a shot, and in Tel Aviv, 19.7%.
Hospital staff transports a new patient to the coronavirus ward of the Ziv Medical Center in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat, January 7, 2020. (David Cohen / Flash90)
The rise of the urgency of the vaccination campaign is the rise of new strains of the virus.
The Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday that four more cases of the South African coronavirus variant have been found in Israel, bringing the total number of cases to eight. One of the cases was a 9-year-old girl, who expressed the fear that the variant might spread in her school before the closure took effect.
The strain is thought to be more contagious, but not more deadly. Doubts have been raised about the efficacy of the vaccine to protect recipients against this variant.
The British variant of the virus, which is also considered more contagious, has been found in Israel and officials believe it is widespread in the population.
Ministry of Health officials are also concerned about a new virus variant from Brazil and are considering forcing arrivals from Brazil to quarantine in designated hotels. All international arrivals must be quarantined, but most isolate at home. The Brazilian variant has been found in travelers to Japan.
The Israeli military recorded 1,506 active virus cases in the military on Wednesday, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic.
All the infected troops show mild symptoms. There are still 12,339 in quarantine, the military said.