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As the novel omicron strain of the coronavirus showed indications of spreading, Israel’s prime minister called on parents to vaccinate their children against it, as officials prepared to widen a travel restriction to include the United States.
Naftali Bennett said in a prime-time televised address that the number of instances of the new strain is still relatively low, thanks in part to earlier steps to bar most foreigners from entering the country. However, he believes it would only be a matter of time before the numbers start to grow.
He announced, “The fifth wave has begun.” The importance of parents getting their children vaccinated, according to Bennett, was extremely important. Israel began delivering immunizations to younger children between the ages of 5 and 12 last month, but the vaccination rate in that age group remains disappointingly low, according to authorities.
Bennett stated, “The children’s vaccine is safe, and it is the parents’ responsibility.” “Even if a father has had three vaccinations, he must protect his children. Do not expose and expose your children to the approaching omicron “He went on to say He said the administration is working on additional safety guidelines in anticipation of an increase in cases in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, he advised individuals to keep their distance from one another, wear masks, and work from home if possible. Bennett slammed his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, for imposing painful lockdowns that wreaked havoc on the economy before assuming power in June.
Early this year, Israel launched a world-leading immunisation programme, with more than 4.1 million of Israel’s 9.3 million residents receiving a third dosage of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Since the outbreak in late November, the country’s health ministry has recorded at least 134 confirmed cases of the omicron strain. According to the Haaretz news site, 17 people with the coronavirus came on a single aircraft from Miami, the majority of them had the omicron form.
Following the discovery of omicron last month, Israel largely closed its international borders. Foreign nationals are not permitted entry, and all Israelis travelling from abroad, including those who have been vaccinated, must undergo quarantine.
Israel has also designated dozens of nations with high coronavirus rates as “red,” prohibiting Israelis from visiting such countries. Health officials recommended adding the United States and Canada to the list on Sunday, with the decision set to take effect on Wednesday. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Israel has recorded at least 8,232 deaths due to coronavirus.
