'COVID spread in Israel one of the highest in the world'

Prof. Ran Balicer, who heads panel of experts on pandemic, tells Ynet the country currently has 100 new serious patients a day, which is a huge burden on the health system; adds there is a slowdown in infections among over 60s
Alexandra Lukash, Attila Somfalvi|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
The spread of coronavirus in Israel is one of the highest in the world, said a senior Israeli health expert on Thursday.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Israel on earlier this week recorded over 8,000 single-day COVID cases for the first time since February 1, while the tally of severe cases passed the threshold of 600 for the first time since March as the country battles the spread of the delta variant.
    3 View gallery
    Medical staff chat inside the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ward at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel August 18, 2021
    Medical staff chat inside the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ward at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel August 18, 2021
    Medical staff chat inside the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ward at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel August 18, 2021
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Prof. Ran Balicer, who heads a panel of medical professionals advising the Health Ministry on the pandemic, told Ynet in recent days there has been on average an increase of 100 serious coronavirus cases a day.
    "Infection data in Israel today is among the highest in the world, with around 90 to 100 new serious patients a day. These are very complex numbers because 100 new serious patients a day is a huge burden on the health system and therefore a cause for concern."
    The professor added, however, that health authorities managed to curb the spread of the pathogen among the over 60s, who are at risk of developing a serious illness from COVID.
    3 View gallery
    Prof. Ran Balicer
    Prof. Ran Balicer
    Prof. Ran Balicer
    (Photo: Ynet)
    "In the last two days, we have seen a real slowdown in the number of new infections among people aged 60 and over, most of whom are vaccinated with the third vaccine dose," he said.
    "This is important because it is the age group from which most severe cases are originating, but still, 100-90 severe patients a day means the disease has not said its last word."
    Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday the Health Ministry will most likely approve the vaccine booster shot for over 40s as soon as Thursday. Prof. Balicer, however, said the issue is "complicated".
    3 View gallery
    A medic holds up a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre at the Atid al-Najah High School for the Sciences at the city of Taibeh in northern Israel on August 19, 2021
    A medic holds up a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre at the Atid al-Najah High School for the Sciences at the city of Taibeh in northern Israel on August 19, 2021
    A medic holds up a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination centre at the Atid al-Najah High School for the Sciences at the city of Taibeh in northern Israel on August 19, 2021
    (Photo: AFP )
    "It will be a complex discussion, the same considerations that led us last week to allow overs 50 [to receive the booster shot] are valid today, although more information has been accumulated since then.
    "Our level of certainty about the effectiveness of booster shots has increased significantly, compared to just two doses."
    2Comments
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    2.
    Vaccines are not full proof, nor the miracle solution
    The problem is that Israels' were falsely told that one is immune if they get the vaccine, or that they will not get seriously ill, or be able to spread it. So all caution went out the window. In addition the politicians opened the airport with little enforcement allowing covid to come back into the country. The argument that it is the unvaccinated spreading covid is false, and a narrative peddled by the political elite to cover their own incompetence. According to the Israel Ministry of Health website statistics: 71% of infected and 57% of serious cases (64% in 60+ category) are vaccinated. But hey its the unvaccinated who are the problem. I am neither for or against the vaccine. People should do what is best for them, as the government only cares about the larger numbers. So if you happen to be the one that dies from the vaccine then you are a statistic. They only care about their political survival. That being said, we need to be honest about the complexity of the situation, and stop making simple and ignorant narratives. In truth 99.6%+ (probably higher considering many got covid and didn't know it) will survive covid with or without taking the vaccine. Some people are more vulnerable then others and need to weigh the risk to benefits, because the government and health officials won't take responsibility or be held accountable if they are wrong.
    T| 08.20.21
    53
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    1.
    vaccines without health protocols are nearly of worthless!
    1. Israelis don't wear masks because they are uncomfortable. 2. Israelis can't stay home because: a. it is too expensive to have a "stay-cation" in Israel and b. "We waited over a year, we NEED to go on our annual vacation." 3. Some Israelis (nearly a million) don't believe in vaccines and have NOT been vaccinated. 4. There are no clear COVID-19 protocols in place...what little there is, is changed on a regular basis and one needs a Ph.D. to sort out what one is meant to do. So of course while having one of the highest population to vaccinated population ratios in the world we have one of the highest rates of contagion in the world. Special thanks to the micro-manager who handled our lives for the past 12 years and is currently on vacation in San Francisco!
    08.19.21
    81
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""