Health official raises alarms over ‘third wave,’ travelers

Health Ministry Public Health Director Sharon Alroy Preis says at a press conference that coronavirus infection numbers are “very worrying.”

She says the daily caseload is at 982 infections, based on a seven day average, noting that Monday saw over 1,200 new cases. “This rise does not include the opening of malls or the return of grades five and six, meaning there will be more rises. This is the start of the third wave.”

“This is exactly how the second wave started. Many of the sick are coming from red countries — it’s a serious vector,” she adds, referring to countries with high infection rates.

She says that officials are looking into the possibility of reopening isolation hotels for those returning from abroad.

But her boss, ministry head Chezy Levy, tells Kan that he does not think the government will, or necessarily can, ban travel to Turkey, after a report that Netanyahu has ordered his top national security aide to explore the matter.