15 more people have been diagnosed with the Omicron strain in Israel - 13 are unprotected

The Ministry of Health announced on Sunday evening that 15 more people have been diagnosed as verified with the Omicron strain in Israel. To date, 67 verified persons have been identified in Israel: 44 who returned from South Africa, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Italy, Namibia and Turkey. Infected.
 The Ministry of Health also stated that out of those 67 verified, 13 are defined as unprotected (unvaccinated, recovering six months after recovery and vaccinated in a second dose six months after the date of vaccination) and 54 are protected.
The ministry added that there is a high suspicion of another 80 cases of exposure to the Omicron variant, for which the flooring results have not yet been received. Among those verified and with the highest suspicion - 54 with symptoms, 88 without and five more in the examination process. The Ministry of Health admitted that he was wrong and the patient in a serious condition, who was suspected of being exposed to Omicron, actually contracted the Delta strain - so there are no serious patients infected with the strain.
The Ministry of Health announced tonight that Britain and Denmark will join the list of red countries in the coming days. 26,705 people came to Israel in the last month from the UK. 93 of them, i.e. 0.35%, were found to be positive for Corona. At that time, 822 Israelis returned from Denmark and none of them were diagnosed as positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, at midnight, 264 people had been diagnosed with corona. A total of about 45,500 tests were performed and the positive rate is 0.64%. 142 corona patients are hospitalized in hospitals across the country, 94 of them in critical condition. Of the severe patients - over 80% are not vaccinated. The Ministry of Health also updated that six more Corona patients have died in recent days - one of them today.
Senior Ministry of Health officials convened a press conference at which they announced the State of Israel's strategy of action against the Omicron strain. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz opened the press conference by claiming that the spread of the omicron in Israel could not be prevented - but could be delayed, adding that "our situation is good." Horowitz said in response to a question from reporters that children vaccinated with two doses have good protection against the strain, and Health Ministry Director General Nachman Ash confirmed the publication that the ministry is discussing a fourth vaccine.
The head of public health services, Dr. Sharon Elrai Price, detailed at the press conference the currently known data on the Omicron, noting that "at this stage it is seen that the illness in Omicron is easier among the hospitalized," but stressed that "this is the beginning of the wave." "It is still unclear, we lack information about adults and we will know this from Europe." .
This morning, a government meeting was held to discuss the possibility of tightening restrictions in light of the spread of the Omicron strain around the world. The ministers decided to extend the restrictions on those entering Israel from abroad, and to make changes to the outline of the green class. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned the ministers that "if we do not take immediate steps - we will reach a closure."
The director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, confirmed the publication, according to which the ministry is discussing the administration of a fourth dose of the corona vaccine. "We will probably need it in higher-risk populations," he said. He said it was not yet known when a fourth shot would be given to the entire population.