Israel extended a national lockdown on Sunday as coronavirus variants offset its vaccination drive and officials predicted a delay in a turnaround from the health and economic crisis.
Netanyahu has promoted a speedy vaccination of Israel’s most vulnerable cohorts – around 24% of 9 million residents – and the lockdown as twin pathways to a possible reopening of the economy in February.
However, a projected mid-January turnaround in curbing the pandemic did not transpire. Critical cases have surged amongst Israelis who haven’t but been vaccinated. Officials blame this on communicable overseas virus strains and on lockdown scofflaws.
Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to extend the five-week-old national lockdown till Friday, pending parliamentary approval, Israeli media reported. Parliament earlier voted to double fines for lockdown violators to 10,000 shekels ($3,051).
Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch mentioned there can be “a few weeks’ delays” to the Israeli exit plan, and set a higher vaccination threshold for a turnaround.
“Our goal is to achieve 5.5 million (fully vaccinated citizens) and I reckon that the moment we cross the 3-to-3.5 million (mark) you will already see change,” he informed Kan radio.
As of Saturday, 1.7 million Israelis had received the second dose of the Pfizer Inc. vaccine more than a week ago, achieving the maximum 95% protection, the Health Ministry mentioned.
Around another 1.3 million had either received one dose and were awaiting the second or had received the second dose within the final week and so were not but designated as fully vaccinated.
