Israel reports first death linked to Omicron variant

Soroka University Medical Center says the man in his 60s passed away 'largely' due to other pre-existing illnesses he was suffering from, and not from pneumonia caused by COVID; he said to have been vaccinated with only 2 shots
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Israel on Tuesday reported the country's first death linked to the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
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    • The Soroka University Medical Center in the southern city of Be'er Sheva said a man in his 60s who suffered from pre-existing health conditions passed away on Tuesday, having spent two weeks in critical condition at the hospital.
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    בית חולים סורוקה לאחר ההודעה על פטירתו של בראל חדריה ז"ל    בית חולים סורוקה לאחר ההודעה על פטירתו של בראל חדריה ז"ל
    Soroka University Medical Center
    (Photo: Herzl Yosef)
    "His illness was largely due to pre-existing diseases and not pneumonia as a result of coronavirus," said the spokesperson for the hospital.
    "The initial PCR test raised suspicion of the presence of the Omicron variant and therefore the test was sent for DNA sequencing."
    The hospital said it received confirmation the man had been infected with Omicron some hours after his death.
    Additionally, it appears the man was vaccinated with only two COVID vaccine shots, and not the booster. The man said to have received the last dose of the vaccine over six months ago.
    Israel has been battling the spread of the new COVID strain for the past few weeks, with the country banning entry of foreigners and adding a host of states to its "no-fly" list over high infection rates there.
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