A highly mutated COVID variant called BA.2.86 has now been detected in Switzerland and South Africa in addition to Israel, Denmark, the US and the UK, according to a leading World Health Organization official.

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The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023 - a number roughly on par with the Omicron variant that caused record infections compared to its predecessor.

It was first spotted in Denmark on July 24 after the virus infecting a patient at risk of becoming severely ill was sequenced. It has since been detected in other symptomatic patients, in routine airport screening, and in wastewater samples in a handful of countries.

Video: Could Brazilian viper venom cure COVID? / Credit: Reuters

A dozen scientists around the world said while it was important to monitor BA.2.86, it was unlikely to cause a devastating wave of severe disease and death given immune defenses built up worldwide from vaccination and prior infection.

"It's still low numbers," Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead at the WHO, said in her first interview regarding BA.2.86.

That the known cases are not linked suggests it is already circulating more widely, particularly given reduced surveillance worldwide, she said.

Scientists are testing how well updated COVID-19 vaccines will work against BA.2.86. Kerkhove noted that vaccines have been better at preventing severe illness and death than re-infection.

"We are in a very different phase (of the pandemic) than if this popped up in the first year," said Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist who advises the WHO.

Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency and others spotted the new variant last week, held meetings with scientists throughout the weekend, and issued a risk assessment on Wednesday. There have been nine such cases detected as of Aug. 23 and the variant was also found in wastewater in Switzerland.

It appears that current tests and medications remain effective against BA.2.86, although the variant may be more capable of causing infection in vaccinated people and those who have had COVID previously, the assessment said. There is no evidence yet that it is causing more severe illness.

Still, the potential risk must be taken seriously, experts said, and surveillance must continue, if not at levels undertaken at the pandemic's peak.

"Governments cannot drop the ball," Van Kerkhove said, adding that the coronavirus continues to circulate, evolve, infect, and kill people.

Another COVID subvariant called EG.5 already has some people on high alert in the US

Pharmacy chains CVS CVS.N, Walgreens WBA.N, and Rite Aid RAD.N told Reuters on-site molecular tests and sales of at-home tests increased in recent weeks.

How much surveillance is needed to track the virus remains an open question, health experts said, and the countries that have detected the new variant all have strong genomic sequencing capacity. As of December 2022, 84% of countries could sequence Sars-CoV-2 in-country, according to WHO figures.

But data submitted to the international database, GISAID, has fallen dramatically. In the first week of Omicron, more than 200,000 coronavirus sequences were submitted. Last week, it was around 20,000.

"When we do sequencing now, it's like (finding) a needle in a haystack," said Tyra Grove Krause, a Danish epidemiologist at the Statens Serum Insitut which identified three BA.2.86 cases.

The WHO said COVID testing has declined by 90% worldwide from the peak. Testing has also plummeted in the US, and sequencing is down by around 90%, said Dr. Ashish Jha, who served as White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator until June 2023.

Data from hospital admissions, emergency room visits, deaths, wastewater sampling and sequencing, including at airports, has helped fill in the global picture, he said.

Jha and others, including the European public health agency and COVAX, the global program for getting vaccines to the world's poorest, said COVID surveillance and defenses could be reactivated in the event of a major infection wave.

"It would take resources; it would take will; it would take people deciding this is important to do," Jha said. "But ... we've largely figured out how."

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Iran, grappling with its most severe surge of the coronavirus to date, reported more new infections and deaths across the country on Sunday than any other single day since the pandemic began.

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Health authorities logged over 39,600 new cases and 542 deaths from the virus. The fatality count shatters the previous record set during Iran's deadliest coronavirus surge that gripped the country last November, signaling the current wave will likely only get worse. The new all-time highs push Iran's total number of infections over 4.1 million and death toll over 94,000 – the highest in the Middle East.

The crush of new cases, fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant, have overwhelmed hospitals with patients too numerous to handle. The country has never seen so many COVID-19 patients in critical condition, with 6,462 more severe cases reported Sunday.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, last week ordered officials to discuss the possibility of a total national shutdown. The government has been loath to enforce such a lockdown, fearing the damage it would do to an economy reeling from years of American sanctions.

Iran's sputtering vaccination campaign hasn't helped matters. Only 3.3% of the total population of some 80 million has been fully vaccinated, according to data compiled from government sources by the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford.

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Israel is unlikely to take further steps to lift the restrictions put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the immediate future, a senior Health Ministry official said on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference, Sharon Alroy-Preis, who heads the ministry's Public Health Services department, warned that as the government continued to ease restrictions, the transmission of the virus was on the rise, albeit below the level registered before the nationwide lockdown was implemented in mid-September.

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For Israel to enter the next stage in rolling back the restrictions, the number of new daily cases must drop below 500, she said.

The warning came as street shops reopened across Israel after some two months of closure. Alroy-Preis warned that it would be at least a week before officials would be able to assess the full impact of the reopening.

On Saturday, Israel saw 208 new infections, a low figure the result of scaled-back testing carried out over the weekend.

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There are currently 8,219 people infected with the coronavirus in Israel, 144 of whom are on ventilators. While a total of 319,515 people have contracted the virus, some 308,622 have recovered thus far. Israel has recorded 2,674 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Believe it or not, you can have a restaurant-like experience without going out of you way. A little effort goes a long way in terms of creating an elegant, exotic, and exciting meal in the comfort of your own kitchen, and a recent collaboration between Israeli company Natural Intelligence and the "Top 10" website, has come up with 10 easy ways that will transform your entire meal experience from drab to fab.

1: Clean up

This may seem obvious, but it's worth saying. You'll never walk into a messy restaurant, and while there's no need to spend three hours scrubbing down the house, taking a few minutes to tidy up the dining area can make a world of difference. Create an atmosphere where you'd want to sit down and spend a few enjoyable hours with someone you love.

2: Set the mood

Another aspect of restaurant dining is the ambiance. You don't have to have fine china and silver cutlery to feel like you're at an upscale restaurant – all it takes is a little attention to details: Use a pretty tablecloth or runner; put flowers on the table; set the table to amp up the elegance; perhaps choose a color scheme to be a conversation starter. It's amazing what a few small details can do for the experience.

3: Have menus

Part of the fun of going to a restaurant is perusing the menu and looking at all the scrumptious options. Other than the whimsical aspect of having a list of options to choose from while dining in, creating a menu will prove a time-saver when you shop for and prepare your meal as it will help you have everything you need beforehand. Moreover, the menu's design can play into your desired restaurant style.

4: Play music

Adding music really enhances the entire dining experience. Prepare an enjoyable playlist to play in the background. This can be fast and loud, slow and romantic – whatever you want to set the tone. If this is a special occasion, you can include songs that have sentimental meaning to you and your dining partner.

5: Let there be light

Ever notice how different restaurants have different types of lighting to set the mood? Why not do the same? Light some candles, use a fireplace of you have one – or look up a fireplace video on YouTube to create a more romantic, rustic atmosphere or, if you prefer, light up the night with some bright lights for a more vibrant, upbeat feel to the meal.

6: Break bread

One of the quiet little pleasures of eating out is having a breadbasket and dips to dip into throughout the meal. Make your own or buy a fresh loaf, slice it up, and serve warm bread for an easy and delicious meal enhancer.

7: Start with a drink

There's something luxurious about sitting back with a flavorful drink in your hand while you dine. Whether it's wine, a cocktail, beer or even a soft drink, kicking off the meal with a drink definitely adds more appeal to a meal and the entire evening.

8: Presentation is everything

If the era of cooking competitions and Instagram has taught us anything, is that you eat with your eyes first, and to be honest, when you go out to a restaurant, the way your food looks takes care of 90% of the experience. But you don't necessarily have to take a course to spice up your presentation skills: Choose attractive plates to serve on and don't be afraid to mix and match shapes; don't overcrowd the plate; think about colors and contrast and add some fresh greens or brightly-colored fruits to really give your plate a color punch.

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9: Get saucy!

Liquids actually play a major role in plate presentation, so learn from the experts: Place moist ingredients – sauce, coulis, or a puree – as the base of the dish then serve the drier food on top of it. It's also nice to use some sauce or other liquid for a color pop on the plate. Use a squeeze bottle to make pretty designs on, under, and around your food.

10: Just desserts

Lastly, everyone knows that the best way to end a restaurant experience is with a decadent dessert. Whether it's chocolate souffle, sorbet and fruit, or a light meringue, desserts are usually the dish by which you remember your experience, so don't skimp on this luxurious extra when dining in. Whether you buy something delectable from the bakery or whip something up yourself, there are plenty of options out there to round off the perfect at-home experience ending the evening with a sweet treat that will leave a sweet taste in your mouth and your heart.

So, don't be afraid to experiment with the food in the kitchen and the design of the dining area. You just might find that creating an indoors eating experience is just – if not more – fun than going out!

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Netanyahu warned that the lockdown, which begins at 2 p.m. Friday just before Rosh Hashanah commences, may get another layer of restrictions next week, in the wake of criticism that there were too many exceptions aimed at catering to specific interest groups.

The current lockdown, approved earlier this week, is to last until early October at least. But even before it expires, Netanyahu said Thursday that stricter measures that would do away with virtually all exceptions might become "unavoidable" throughout that period. A decision would only be made in the coming days, after the Rosh Hashanah holiday.

"This lockdown is important, and it is essential; we will go through this together," Netanyahu said in a special televised address.

He added that his government would soon pass an additional stimulus package aimed at encouraging businesses to keep employees and help individuals make ends meet despite the expected loss in income, including through government-backed loans.

"I suspect all countries will ultimately have to decide whether to go into lockdown or not, and they will most likely have to do so as a last resort," Netanyahu said. "As I have said before, we will lift some of the measures when morbidity drops, and increase it when it spikes. One of the main criteria is the healthcare system and how overwhelmed it is, and that is why we are imposing the lockdown tomorrow."

Netanyahu said that the lockdown could become much more restrictive because of the data he had received Thursday. "I held a long discussion with the health minister, with the coronavirus manager, and with various experts ... and following that meeting I have come to the conclusion that under the current infection rates, as per the recommendations of many, there may not be any other option but to add more restrictions. My job, as prime minister, is not just to take care of people's health, but to take care of those who are sick."

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As of Sunday morning, there were 33,965 active or symptomatic cases in Israel, with 329 hospitalized in serious condition, four more than were listed in serious condition on Friday.

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Since the start of the epidemic, 61,388 Israelis have contracted the virus, and 26,959 of them have recovered. The death toll stood at 464.

The virus is still spreading quickly in a number of cities, with Bnei Brak, Kalanswa, Elad, Betar Illit, Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, Modi'in Illit, and Ein Mahal leading the list in numbers of new cases.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom has learned that the Health Ministry's Infectious Diseases Unit opposes any easing to the policy of mandatory masks in public, even in extremely hot weather. Earlier Sunday, Army Radio reported that the ministry was considering easing its mask policy due to the extreme heat forecast for this week.

In early May, Israel saw several days of record-breaking heat, and the public was permitted to remove masks while outside. This is when an outbreak hit a Jerusalem high school, infecting 64 students and 14 staff members. Some 1,400 students and staff were quarantined as a result.

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As of Wednesday, there were 31,011 active or symptomatic cases, including 257 patients listed in serious condition, of whom 77 were on ventilators. Another 128 corona patients were listed in moderate condition. A total of 22,983 Israelis have recovered from coronavirus since the start of the epidemic.

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At the current rate of spread, the number of cases nationwide could double in 22 days, the center reported. If the rate of infection does not change, the Corona National Knowledge and Information Center report warned, the number of patients listed in serious condition could reach dozens per day, with hundreds of dead.

"The rate of infection in Israel in the second wave is widespread, in a manner that makes it very difficult to control and stop. Israel is doing particularly poorly when it comes to this, in comparison to other western countries," the report stated.

Researchers from the center noted that the comparative leveling-off in the number of new cases seen in the past few days was not a "real" number and instead reflected the lower number of tests carried out.

The Haredi cities Bnei Brak, Betar illit, and Beit Shemesh, which were listed as "red" cities because of the spikes seen in the number of cases among their residents, continued to lead the list in Wednesday's report. A total of 2,334 active cases were reported in Bnei Brak; 1,121 in Betar illit, and 818 in Beit Shemesh.

Jerusalem, where 4,651 active cases were reported as of Wednesday, has seen a decrease in the number of new cases and is no longer classed as an infection hotspot.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry recommended Wednesday that the mandatory quarantine time for asymptomatic carriers be cut from 14 days to 10, and that symptomatic carriers be quarantined for 13 days.

The ministry's new recommendation came in response to new research from the World Health Organization. Only doctors will be authorized to change patients' status to "recovered" and release patients from quarantine.

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