Posted on 11/21/21
| News Source: i24
Infection rate rising as country prepares to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11
Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will convene a special session to discuss Covid-19 measures as the winter holidays approach with more indoor gatherings expected.
"At this stage, it appears that the events will take place on the basis of the green pass rules," Bennett said in remarks Saturday night. "It will be made clear to the organizers that surprise inspections will be carried out and that the green certificate will be enforced."
The Jewish holiday of Chanukah begins on November 28.
The meeting comes amid troubling signs that the Jewish state could be experiencing a new surge of coronavirus infections after weeks of steady decline as the reproduction rate — indicating how many people on average are infected by a single virus carrier — has reached 1.02.
A number above 1 indicates that the virus is spreading.
However, there also indications that a fifth wave this winter can be prevented as Israel prepares to begin a vaccination campaign for children ages 5 to 11.
The first shipment of about a million Pfizer vaccines with adjusted dosage for the age cohort has arrived in Israel as the Health Ministry's vaccination committee is set to discuss on Sunday remaining questions about the inoculation campaign.