The Corona in Israel: The Ministry of Health announces this morning (Wednesday) the state of spread of the corona virus in Israel. According to the data, 8,164 new carriers were identified yesterday – Monday in a row with more than 8,000 infected. The positive rate stands at 6.8% out of 119,525 new tests. To date, 455 carriers have been identified, which is 3.6% of 12,740 new tests.
Netanyahu: “A tight closure is needed until the vaccines take effect” // Photo: GPO
The number of patients in Israel with the corona virus is 59,299 patients. The number of people hospitalized is 1,445 – of whom 221 are in moderate condition, 824 in serious condition, 270 in critical condition and 207 respirators. The number of staff members in isolation is 5,169, of whom 705 are physicians and 1,349 are nurses.
The death toll from the plague stands at 3,495 people.
Health Minister Edelstein: “A little more and we’re done”
A day before entering a tight closure, which includes an almost complete shutdown of the education system and most jobs other than the essentials, Health Minister Yuli (Joel) Edelstein wrote this morning on his Twitter account: “Friends, I ask not to be complacent. On the instructions! A little more and we’re done. ”
In addition, the Minister referred to the extensive vaccination campaign in Israel: “Almost one and a half million vaccinated, of which 115,000 yesterday. Continue to lead the world!”
In an interview with the GLC this morning, the Minister referred to the slowdown in the vaccination campaign and said that the reason is that 60% of the elderly population has already been vaccinated. In addition, he referred to the supply of vaccines from “Modern” and said: In the coming days. Hopefully more shipments are on the way. ”
Fear: Loss of control due to the mutation
According to models presented at a cabinet meeting yesterday in imposing a hermetic closure, there is a scenario that hundreds to thousands of Israelis will die in the third and violent wave of the Corona, due to the spread of the new mutations – British and South African. According to the models, without the hermetic closure, there will be more than 40,000 infected people in Israel every day.
Education Minister Yoav Galant said at a cabinet meeting that he was ready to close the education system – but stressed that special education should be excluded, as well as the holding of aptitude tests for 11th-12th grade students during the closure period.
Galant: “Despite the vital need of students to reach out to educational institutions, I am forced to harness the entire education system for the national need of halting the spread of the plague through a short and intensive closure, across the economy including the education system.”
According to the outline of the closure presented by the Corona commissioner, Prof. Ash, this is an end to the activity of the education system (apart from special education and boarding schools), a ban on professional sports, and allowing activity in the economy to only essential jobs. According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently 14,293 students and 2,465 teaching staff verified in Corona.
Homeland Security Minister Amir Ohana has proposed banning demonstrations during the closure: “I am in favor of a closure at the tightest level possible until the vaccinations are completed. These days, demonstrations are being held by all factions. It is not a political matter. “This is something that sends a message to the entire public and also makes it difficult for the police to work. Anyone who wants to go to a forbidden place can say that he is going to a demonstration. Therefore, a decision must be made for the public and not think about what they will say.”