Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Monday that a lockdown is "not on the table" despite the fast spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country.
Israel on Sunday announced it was adding a host of new countries, including UK and Denmark, to its "red" list of countries that Israelis are forbidden to visit, citing concern over the spread of the Omicron variant. Some 50 countries, mainly in Africa, have been declared "red" by Israel since the discovery of the highly contagious variant and the government said it is considering implementing further restrictions on movement.
Horowitz told Ynet the government is hoping to avoid another lockdown "at all costs".
"I was asked the same question at the start of the Delta variant wave of morbidity, and I can give you a similar answer - lockdown is not on the table," he said. "I was asked then if schools would be shut and I said that too would not happen. Our aim today is the same," Horowitz said.
He added that his ministry was disappointed by the slow rate of vaccination among children in the 5 to 11 age group.
2 View gallery
A child prepares to receive her coronavirus vaccine in the West Bank settlement of Efrat last week
(Photo: Yoav Davidovitch)
"We expected more," he said. "I hope we will see greater numbers because children who are not vaccinated are compromised and in danger of disease, including that caused by the Omicron variant. COVID in children can be a very serious illness.
"I see children with post-COVID symptoms, who have trouble climbing stairs," the minister said. "Parents should vaccinate their kids in order to keep them healthy and in school and not in order to issue them their Green Passes."
The health minister added he had "no idea" whether a fourth vaccine would be administered any time soon, as was suggested by some health officials. "Maybe [it will be offered], but maybe not, I do not know. It is not a decision of the politicians, it is the decision of the experts. So far there is no such decision. I can not say anything at this stage."