From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Health Ministry says COVID cases in Israel up 10%, infections seen at evacuee hotels
Renee Ghert-Zand is the health reporter and a feature writer for The Times of Israel.
The Health Ministry reports a 9-10% increase in new COVID-19 cases countrywide in the last two weeks. This coincides with information relayed to the ministry about more COVID cases detected among displaced Israelis from the north and south living in hotels since October 7.
In response, the Health Ministry’s epidemiological service has issued instructions for handling the situation to medical teams at the hotels. These include ensuring that people with fevers or respiratory illnesses stay in their rooms until their symptoms pass. Those who test positive for COVID must stay quarantined in their rooms for five days and wear a mask if they must leave.
Staff should wear a mask, report cases of illness to the Health Ministry and get vaccinated for COVID and flu.
The instructions, also sent to the Tourism Ministry, say that ill patients should eat in their rooms or outside areas away from others. Hotels should also have clear signage directing guests to where they can get a COVID test.
As of today, there are 618 confirmed active COVID cases in Israel. Seventy-nine of these patients are hospitalized, with nine of them in serious condition. These statistics reflect only information confirmed by hospitals or HMOs and shared with the ministry. Individuals who test positive on a home COVID test and who do not report the result to their doctor or the ministry are not included.
