Israel's Omicron case total rises to 67

Health Ministry says 13 were defined as 'unprotected' — recovered from COVID-19 over past six months, unvaccinated or yet to receive booster shot; none of the patients have yet to become seriously ill from the variant
Yaron Druckman|
The Health Ministry reported on Sunday that 15 new cases of the coronavirus Omicron variant were discovered in Israel, bringing the country's total so far to 67.
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  • The ministry said that 44 were diagnosed with the new variant after returning from South Africa, the UK, France, the U.S., the UAE, Hungary, Italy, Namibia and Turkey.
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    בדיקת קורונה ב נמל התעופה סחיפהול ליד אמסטרדם הולנד בצל חשש מ זן קורונה חדש אומיקרון
    בדיקת קורונה ב נמל התעופה סחיפהול ליד אמסטרדם הולנד בצל חשש מ זן קורונה חדש אומיקרון
    Coronavirus testing at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport
    (Photo: AFP)
    It also reported that 14 were infected by someone who returned from South Africa, the UK and France and the remaining nine were community-acquired.
    Among the confirmed cases, 13 were defined as "unprotected", people who have recovered from COVID-19 over the past six months, are unvaccinated or have yet to receive their booster shot.
    The ministry also said that an additional 80 people are suspected of having contracted the highly mutated virus strain, pending lab confirmation.
    Health officials have yet to report any cases of people becoming seriously ill after becoming infected with Omicron.
    Also on Sunday, Israel announced it was adding Britain and Denmark to its "red" list of countries that Israelis are forbidden to visit, citing concern over the spread of Omicron.
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    שרון אלרעי פרייס במסיבת העיתונאים
    שרון אלרעי פרייס במסיבת העיתונאים
    Health Ministry's Director of Public Health Dr. Sharon Elroy-Preis
    (Photo: GPO)
    The travel restrictions for the three countries will go into effect on Wednesday, Health Ministry's Director of Public Health Dr. Sharon Elroy-Preis told a news conference.
    Israel has already banned the entry of foreigners to try to stem COVID-19 infection rates and imposed 3-7 day self-isolation orders for Israelis returning from abroad.
    At the news conference, Alroy-Preis said Britain and Denmark were being placed on the restricted list because of the "significant spread of the Omicron variant" there.
    Some 50 countries, mainly in Africa, have been declared "red" by Israel since the discovery of the highly contagious variant.
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