There will be “distinct differences” between vaccinated and unvaccinated Omicron experiences

Israel’s daily Covid downloads rose above 1,000 for the first time in two months as the country’s fifth wave of Covid-19 infections began to stabilize.

According to the Health Ministry, there were 1,004 new infections recorded on Sunday, and the country’s R-number – the number of people infected with Covid per person – rose to 1.22, the highest level since August.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office said government ministers had approved the addition of the US, Canada and eight other countries to its “red” no-fly list. Israelis will be banned from flying to these countries from Wednesday, unless they have special permission.

Travelers returning from the countries on the list will have to self-isolate for 7 days.

They will initially have to stay in a designated “isolation hotel,” before being allowed to return home as long as they return a negative PCR test result and agree to have their movements tracked.

Israel has been steadily adding countries to its red list, including the UK and Italy. Many African countries are also in that category. Most of Israel’s 175 confirmed cases, and 380 suspected cases, have recently returned from abroad.

On Sunday night, Bennett held a televised press conference, urging Israelis to take the new wave seriously and encouraging those working in the private sector to work from home. Public sector workers are expected to follow suit next week.

He also sought to revive Israel’s stalled vaccination campaign, especially for children, where reception has been particularly weak.

“Our time to buy is running out,” Bennett said, “but “with God’s help, we’ll get through this wave safely”.