Within a day, the number of confirmed cases doubled • Gantz: Prepare for 5,000 a day

December 21, 2021   

Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a coronavirus cabinet preparation discussion this evening (Tuesday), with the participation of the Defense Ministry's Defense Commissioner, Brigadier General (res.) Moshe Edri, and Home Front Command Commander Major General Uri Gordin. The Defense Minister instructed the Home Front Command to expand the activities of the 'Alon' headquarters to a level of 5,000 confirmed cases per day, as presented by the Home Front Command Commander. The Defense Minister also approved the vaccination campaign in local authorities, which will be led by the IDF and the Home Front Command. The Health Ministry updated this afternoon that 170 new confirmed cases of the Omicron strain were identified in Israel today - thus doubling the number of confirmed cases of the new strain, which stands at 341. There is a high suspicion of another 807 cases of infection that the health system continues to test. Of those 341 confirmed cases, 95 are not protected (unvaccinated, recovering six months after recovery, and vaccinated with a second dose six months after vaccination), and 246 are protected. 234 confirmed cases came from South Africa, England, France, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Italy, Namibia, Tanzania, Germany, Morocco, Spain, Serbia, Belgium, Cyprus and Turkey. 29 confirmed cases were infected by those who returned from abroad, 66 were infected in three community events. This evening, government ministers approved in a telephone poll the reduction of physical presence to a scope of 50% in the workplace in the government and public sectors. In addition, it was decided to instruct the Pay Commissioner to contact all budgeted and supported bodies so that they act in accordance with this decision, including with regard to their employees. The decision will take effect as of Sunday. The Corona Cabinet will meet tonight at 6:00 PM in the Kirya in Tel Aviv to decide on the continued fight against the Omicron strain that continues to spread in Israel.