Just over one week after all prior COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, Israeli authorities are questioning the need to return to indoor mask requirements and stricter post-travel quarantines. The query comes after two outbreaks of coronavirus cases took place, where schools shut down, and local towns Binyamina and Modiin were told to quarantine. For the second day in a row, over 100 cases have been confirmed, a high number given the decrease in recent months. To date, there are 554 active coronavirus cases.
Health Ministry’s director-general Chezy Levy believes that most of the cases “are tied to clear [infection] chains, some of which began with returnees from abroad who did not keep to quarantine.”
A portion of the new cases was found in unvaccinated children, and up to 70% of overall cases are thought to be the Delta variant which was found in India. According to the Health Ministry, one-third of the cases are people who are vaccinated. Currently, Israelis who land at Ben Gurion Airport are required to take a test, yet not required to quarantine if they are vaccinated unless they are landing from a red country. On Friday, thousands of people were sent home from the airport without taking a test, due to overcrowding.
The government has reestablished the “Corona Cabinet” and is monitoring the increase so as to prevent concerns of a fourth wave, with a statement acknowledging that “the spread of the Delta variant throughout the world, visits by Israelis to [high-risk] countries and the fact that many of those returning from abroad are not strictly adhering to the quarantine directives.” No one who has violated quarantine restrictions has yet been penalized.
