A closure is being considered as a tool to deal with the disease, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today (Sunday) after a meeting of the Corona Cabinet. He said the mutation in the Corona virus that was discovered in the UK should affect the necessary steps. , And the chances that such a closure will indeed be imposed in the coming days are low.In addition, in light of the cabinet ministers’ opposition even to a tight restraint, it is doubtful whether a majority will be found to support the closure.
Netanyahu after the Corona cabinet: “There is no sign that the vaccine we have does not overcome the mutation from Britain” // Photo: GPO
It is estimated that another discussion will take place today or tomorrow, in which it will be decided what steps the government will take to reduce the dimensions of the third wave.
As for dealing with the new strain of the virus, Netanyahu said that according to what is known at this stage, “the mutation is no longer lethal, nor do we have any sign that the vaccine we have is not overcome.” He stressed that this statement rests on the information currently available.
Operation “Give Shoulder” launched: Medical teams in hospitals begin to be vaccinated // Photo: Yoni Rickner
In an attempt to prevent the mutation from reaching Israel, the Corona Cabinet made an immediate decision to oblige in isolation all those who come from countries where it has already erupted. At this stage it is the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa. It was also decided in the cabinet that the Ministry of Health will work to locate Israelis who have already entered Israel from the above countries in the past two weeks and summon them to Corona. It is estimated that following the restrictions, the number of flights from these countries will be greatly reduced.
The Ministry of Health is also following with concern the accumulated information about the mutant virus that was discovered in the UK. The office instructed to perform genetic sequencing tests (they can detect the existence of mutations) For those returning from the UK and other countries, as well as for those staying in solitary confinement who will be found positive. This is to characterize whether they are carriers of the virus.
Prof. Hezi Levy, the ministry’s director general, estimated that the virus was no longer violent and that it would respond to Pfizer and Moderna’s coronary vaccine. He said, This virus is found to be more contagious than the virus we know up to 70-60 percent, but it is not more violent. The disease is the same disease with the same course without violence, in relation to the virus we know. “
Prof. Levy gets vaccinated in Corona, yesterday // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
He added: “Is the virus resistant to the vaccine and makes the vaccine ineffective? The answer is probably no. Most scientists studying the mutation say that the virus will probably not be resistant to a vaccine that contains some proteins, which is why antibodies are formed in the vaccinated body. For vaccines. “
According to Prof. Levy, the molecular laboratory tests (PCR tests) performed in Israel can identify the mutant virus, because they test several sections of the virus. “The virus has been said to ‘slip under the radar’ and PCR tests do not detect it,” he said. “In Israel, we are testing a number of sections, so in our case it will not happen and the virus will not slip under the radar.”
Corona projector Prof. Ash on Saturday: “It will take two months until the results of the vaccine are felt” // Photo: Mazawi Advertisers – Ministry of Health Information Headquarters
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health this evening published the updated data on the spread of the plague. From midnight to 6:11 p.m., 1,236 carriers were identified, which is 3.8% of 32,895 tests. The number of people infected yesterday was 1,871, and the percentage of positives recorded is 3.1. In fact, over the past week the relative rate of carriers has been greater than 3, which is worse than in previous weeks.
There are 23,650 active patients in Israel. The number of people hospitalized is 801, of whom 178 are in moderate condition, 455 in critical condition (of whom 151 are in critical condition) in critical condition and 120 respirators. It is important to note that there has been an increase in the number of respirators. 3,097 Israelis died from Corona.
The number of certified or isolated medical staff members stands at 2,587 – 387 doctors, 717 nurses and 1,483 in other professions.
Participated in the preparation of the article: Assaf Golan