Health Ministry director: We hope rising COVID cases won’t reach high numbers

A technician collects a nasal swab sample for COVID-19 at the coronavirus lab, at the Ben Gurion International Airport on March 2, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
A technician collects a nasal swab sample for COVID-19 at the coronavirus lab, at the Ben Gurion International Airport on March 2, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Health Ministry director general Nachman Ash says that he hopes rising COVID figures do not indicate a new wave of the virus.

“I hope and believe that this rise won’t reach high numbers,” Ash tells Kan public radio. “Our concern is over the waning of the vaccine, and therefore we call on the older population to get vaccinated.”

Anyone over 60 in Israel is eligible for a 4th dose of the COVID vaccine, but only about 50% have received it.

The R number in Israel surpassed 1 last night for the first time since January, Health Ministry figures show. More than 7,000 new cases were diagnosed on Friday, the highest one-day figure in more than 10 days.

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