Corona Commissioner Prof. Ash: “If the morbidity does not decrease, I will recommend extending the closure”

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Corona Commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash was interviewed this morning (Tuesday) on Radio 103FM and commented on the increase in morbidity despite the current closure. “I very much hope we can get out of quarantine as scheduled for next Thursday. There is a possibility, if the numbers of the verified and the seriously ill do not seem to go down, that we will recommend the extension of quarantine. I hope we will not be there,” he said.

Prof. Nachman Ash at a press briefing: “Target – 200,000 vaccinated per day” // Photo: Magen Israel spokeswoman

Prof. Ash commented on the vaccination campaign: “By mid-March, we are expected to reach 5 million vaccinators. It is estimated that we will be able to vaccinate people aged 12 and over within two months, waiting for research and FDA approval.”

As you may recall, this morning there was a daily record in the number of daily infections when 9,589 people were diagnosed yesterday, out of about 127,000 tests performed, with a positive rate of 7.6%. Thus, the total number of verified in Israel increased to 504,269 people. The previous daily record was set on September 30, and stood at 9,078 daily infections.
1,759 corona patients are hospitalized in hospitals across the country. 1,027 in critical condition, of whom 247 patients are connected to respirators. Since the outbreak of the plague, 3,704 corona patients have died in Israel.

According to a report by the Intelligence Division published this morning, the British mutant virus strain, which is considered highly contagious compared to previous strains, is present in the Israeli population at a high rate (probably tens of percent) as well as in other European countries, and is already affecting morbidity. It is noted that its prevalence and increased level of infection require strict adherence to the guidelines.

Also, in recent days, the first cases of infection with the South African mutant virus strain have been identified in Israel, and it is estimated that, similar to the British strain, it is also more contagious than the previous strains. In a very preliminary study, this strain showed some resistance to recovering antibodies, but further research is needed to determine its resistance to vaccine.

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