Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Tuesday that early data show that people who have received the coronavirus vaccine booster shot are well protected against the new Omicron variant.
He added that more comprehensive data on the booster's efficacy will be made available soon.
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Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks at a press conference at Be'er Sheba's Soroka Medical Center on Tuesday
(Photo: GPO)
Visiting Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheba alongside Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, Horowitz said that Israel will continue to work to keep the economy open.
"Our policy is, and will remain, living alongside coronavirus," he said. "This means ensuring the public's health through any protective measures we have at hand against the virus and its variants while maintaining an open economy, businesses, schools, culture, sports, day-to-day life and people's livelihood."
Horowitz said that officials are still not fully sure how dangerous the new strain is, but that the country will "return to normalcy as soon as possible."
"We have no intention to enact unnecessary restrictions for a prolonged period of time," he said. "Once we are able, we will work to end this."
Horowitz urged Israelis not to panic about the new strain, adding that the state was prepared for such a scenario.
"The situation is under control, there is no need for panic," he said. "We expected a new variant, and we're ready. We must continue the vaccination campaign and make sure that people are financially able to continue living."