Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged Israelis to comply with public health measures in the wake of the global spread of the new coronavirus variant known as Delta.
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Speaking at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Bennett warned: "This strain is spreading fast around the world, at a pace much higher than we have seen before, and it could infect people who have been vaccinated." He further noted that it was important to be vaccinated because that could add a layer of protection, as the viruses are designed to help counter symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by those who have the virus.
Israel has topped virtually all other countries in its vaccination rates, and this has allowed the Jewish state to return to normal as COVID-19 cases dropped rapidly.
Bennett arrived the airport with various cabinet ministers to discuss new measures aimed at containing the virus. At the end of the meeting, the government announced that the special coronavirus ministerial task force would be reassembled and that all incoming passengers from abroad would have to undergo special coronavirus diagnostic tests.
The ministers also announced that anyone entering the airport, which serves as Israel's main port of entry and exit, will have to wear a mask and that new travel restrictions would soon be published. "My advice is that if you can avoid going abroad, do so. Travel domestically, we have a beautiful country," he added.
"In countries like the UK, we saw a major uptick in the number of children being hospitalized [from coronavirus]," he said. "In light of this, we are going to treat this new situation as a new outbreak and make sure the fire is extinguished while it is still small."
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