Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday urged Israelis to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, as Health Ministry officials expressed concern over the growing number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition.
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Israel has recorded 859,875 coronavirus cases since the onset of the global pandemic in March 2020, including 6,459 deaths.
Some 966 Israelis tested positive for the virus on Saturday, and according to the Health Ministry, 97 patients were in serious condition – 30% more than a week earlier.
"The rate in which the number of serious patients is growing is significant, similar to the rate of increase in new cases," Health Ministry chief Professor Nachman Ash told 103 FM Radio, on Sunday.
"It is true that the overall percentage of patients is lower but we are close to 100 patients and it is starting to worry us," he said.
Asked whether the Health Ministry has set a "red line" for a number of patients that would require more drastic government measures Ash said, "When we reach several hundreds of patients, say around 400, it will be very worrisome and will definitely represent a red line requiring further steps. I very much hope we won't get there."
Speaking at the beginning of Sunday's cabinet meeting, Bennett touched on the issue protests that took place to over the weekend following remarks he made last week, castigating Israelis who have not been vaccinated for "endangering all of us."
"The President of the United States Joe Biden recently addressed the phenomenon of non-vaccination, and I quote: 'Millions of Americans are still unvaccinated and unprotected. And because of that, their communities are at risk, their friends are at risk, the people they care about are at risk.' My statements on Thursday to the public made waves, but the truth must be told: more than a million citizens who can be vaccinated - we have not been vaccinated yet. In doing so, they endanger the health and livelihoods of all Israeli citizens," Bennett stated.
"The scientific facts are clear: those who get vaccinated are less sick. Those who get vaccinated are less contagious. Not getting vaccinated endangers you and endangers your loved ones, especially the elderly."
Urging Israelis to get the jab, the prime minister said, "I call on everyone, especially young men and women, and students ahead of the school year - get vaccinated. I saw the demonstrations outside my home on Friday. It is legitimate of course, but the demonstrations will not beat the Delta [varient], vaccination will."
Health Ministry, some 5.7 million Israelis have received at least one shot of the coronavirus vaccine.
Over the weekend, Channel 12 News aired a study suggesting that 80% of vaccinated individuals who recently contracted COVID-19 have not infected others in public places such as concerts, restaurants, gyms or event halls.
Another 10% spread the virus to one other person at these venues, and 3% infected two or three others.
Also over the weekend, senior healthcare officials called on the Health Ministry to immediately administer a third shot to all Israelis over the age of 60 and those who are immunocompromised, as well as to all healthcare providers.
The move, currently debated by the government, is seen as controversial, as no country has pursued it at this time, mostly over the fact that the FDA has not deemed it necessary.
Officials pushing the move say that that there is no need to wait for FDA approval, saying that in the few hundred cases worldwide where a third shot – or second booster short – has been administrated, no significant side effects have been observed.
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