TEL AVIV – Several hundred Israelis demonstrated here yesterday against new Covid-19 restrictions and vaccines as infections and hospitalisations rise to levels not seen in months.
The Health Ministry yesterday said 2,435 new cases were recorded the day before – the highest tally since March – driven by the more contagious Delta variant.
There were 326 hospitalisations, the highest since April, although well below the January peak, when more than 2,000 patients were being hospitalised daily.
Israel has in recent days rolled out a booster shot for older citizens, reimposed mask requirements indoors, and restored “green pass” restrictions requiring vaccine certificates for entering enclosed spaces like gyms, restaurants and hotels.
The rise in infections is a step back after Israel’s world-leading vaccine campaign drove down Covid-19 cases from 10,000 a day to fewer than 100.
Protesters yesterday flew a banner that read “There’s no pandemic, it’s a con”. They held up placards denouncing coronavirus vaccines, with one poster linking the jabs to the Nazis.
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz told Israeli Channel 12 TV that he intends to balance public health with livelihood.
“The economy must remain open.
“I don’t want to impose a lockdown, and I will avoid a lockdown at all costs. Everything is open – but we need masks and we need vaccines.”
Nearly 60% of the country’s 9.3 million people have received both shots, mostly the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
However, about a million Israelis still refuse to be vaccinated even though they are eligible.
From today, children aged between 5 and 11 at risk of health complications are eligible for vaccination. – AFP, August 1, 2021
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