Israel posts record number of COVID-19 cases on day before schools reopen

Despite the 10,947 new cases on Tuesday, Israel is pressing ahead with plans to reopen schools on Wednesday.

An Israeli child undergoes COVID-19 antibody testing in Netanya on 22 August, 2021

An Israeli child undergoes COVID-19 antibody testing in Netanya on 22 August, 2021 Source: AFP

Israel on Tuesday recorded its highly daily coronavirus case tally of nearly 11,000 new infections, amid a surge caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant as schools prepare to re-open.

The previous high came on the 18th of January, with 10,118 cases.

Despite Tuesday's 10,947 confirmed cases, Israel is pressing ahead with plans to fully open its school system on Wednesday as it tries to boost vaccination rates.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a critic of the cycle of lockdowns implemented by his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu, has maintained that the surge can be controlled through inoculation and protective measures such as masks.

His government has encouraged all residents aged 12 and above to get a third jab of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
About 60 per cent of Israel's 9.3 million residents have received two shots of the vaccine, including 80 per cent of adults.

Israel was in December one of the first countries to launch a national vaccination campaign, which brought daily infections down to a trickle and allowed the lifting in June of nearly all pandemic restrictions.

Several measures have since been reimposed, including indoor mask-wearing, limits on gatherings and the need to present proof of vaccination for entry to certain facilities.

Mr Bennett has said that the rollout of the booster shot program was showing results, notably by restricting the rise in hospitalisations.


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Source: AFP, SBS


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Israel posts record number of COVID-19 cases on day before schools reopen | SBS News