Israel hits record daily Covid infections

Jerusalem, Jul 6 (EFE).- Israel on Tuesday reported 501 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily infection rate since March but the advanced rate of vaccination in the country prevented around 93% of severe Covid-19 cases.

The vaccine efficiency has fallen to 64% since June amid the spread of the Delta variant, although it is still preventing serious cases and hospitalization, the health ministry said.

The fresh infections, half of which are students, bring the total number of active cases to 2,901, including only 33 who are actually hospitalized.

Health authorities are promoting an inoculation rollout for teenagers with over 5.1 million people out of Israel’s 9 million inhabitants fully vaccinated.

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday announced a deal to swap Pfizer vaccines with South Korea, who will receive jabs that would expire later this month.

The Israeli government has reactivated the so-called coronavirus cabinet, which has approved two studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine by age and characteristics as well as cellular immunity.

The indoor mask mandate has been reinstated in Israel, while the entry of foreigners has been banned since the pandemic began in March 2020. EFE

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