Thread: What’s happening in #Israel as the Delta variant surges in one of the world’s most vaccinated countries? More below- as the lead scientist advising Israel’s government tells me “#vaccines work” but must not be treated as “bullet proof vests”...
New daily #COVID19 cases hit more than 1,000 on Friday, from nearly none in early June. Severe illness remains relatively low but is rising - now 63 patients. Death rates are still very low, averaging 1 per day. Israel has a highly vaccinated population - 56% with 2 doses
But there’s a youth population boom. A third of Israelis are 16 or under. Under 20s account for around 45% of new #Covid19 cases. So Israel is now immunising 12-15 year-olds. 40% of the the 12-19 age group have had at least one dose.
Israel's govt expert chair @RanBalicer told me: “Vaccines work and mass vaccinations are exceedingly important in any exit strategy... to live well with Covid-19. [But] I think the second point you need to learn is that vaccines are not magic bullets and not bullet proof vests.”
I asked if he'd changed his own behaviour compared to a month, @RanBalicer: “I’m much more reluctant to go into mass gatherings in general enclosed confined spaces... I’m much more careful with my unvaccinated kids about selecting the confined indoor settings they're going in”
Israel’s PM @naftalibennett last week raised the prospect of a return to lockdown if people don’t stick to government guidelines. He also urged Israelis to avoid nonessential international travel, as controversy raged over loopholes letting the #Delta variant in at the airport.
New restrictions include a so-called “happy badge” scheme to let people keep going to big social events like weddings. They must be vaccinated, have recovered or received a negative test result. Israelis must also wear masks in indoor public areas.
Meanwhile, the growth of new Covid-19 cases in the Occupied #Palestinian Territories has continued to slow after the Spring surge. But Delta variant cases are being recorded and the @WHO risk assessment for the territories remains high.
Around 90% of some 2,000 active cases in the Palestinian territories are in #Gaza. Rates are likely to be an underestimate due to limited testing. Overall, 66 new cases were recorded yesterday. Health officials say there are 9 patients in intensive care.
Some 430,000 people have been vaccinated across the #WestBank and #Gaza - just 9 per cent of the population. Vaccines have been procured by the #PalestinianAuthority and the WHO-led COVAX project. 110,000 Palestinians who work in Israel and settlements were vaccinated by Israel.
There's been ongoing controversy about vaccines for #Palestinians. Human rights groups said Israel as the occupying power should do more. It says Oslo leaves responsibility with the PA. In the Spring as #COVID19 surged, we heard stories from the West Bank - video from March 9
Last month the PA cancelled a deal for some 1 million Pfizer vaccine doses from Israel, saying they were too close to expiring. Israel said they were fine and shouldn’t be wasted. The PA said the deal was actually with Pfizer as a way of speeding up its procurement of 4m doses.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
