COVID in Israel: Nearly one million Israelis receive third booster shot

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As Israel’s booster COVID shot campaign is underway, 963,572 Israelis have received their third shot; 5.8 million Israelis have received their first vaccine, and 5.4 million have received their second.

According to health ministry data published Monday, 5,075 Israelis tested positive with the coronavirus on Sunday, and 519 Israelis are in serious condition; 17 fewer than on Saturday.

Meanwhile, new restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport will take effect on Monday with arrivals from only 10 countries will be exempt from quarantine.

Passengers from Austria, Australia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Taiwan, Moldova, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the Czech Republic will not be required to enter isolation. However, only Austria, Hungary, Moldova and the Czech Republic allow Israelis to enter at the moment.

People who return from these ten countries will be required to isolate for 24 hours, or until they receive a negative COVID test result – the earlier of the two.

Israel has also updated its list of countries where travel is barred. People who wish to travel to these countries must apply for a permit via an ‘exceptions committee.’

As of Monday, the list will include Bulgaria, Brazil, Georgia, Mexico, Spain and Turkey. The rest of the countries in the world are defined as orange, meaning that those returning from them require a full period of isolation – including those who have been vaccinated or recovered from coronavirus, and regardless of their age.

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Israel ignores WHO plea to stop booster shots

Also on Monday, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked has instructed local authorities to prepare for open-air prayers during the September holidays.

On Sunday, the Israeli Health Ministry ignored the World Health Organization’s plea for countries to stop administering third coronavirus shots.

In a response the ministry told Haaretz that the decision to administer a third shot was made after medical factors were taken into consideration and that inoculating Israelis with a third dose saves lives.