Signs of COVID Resurgence... Israel Discusses 5th Dose for High-Risk Groups

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Amid signs of a resurgence of COVID-19, Israeli health authorities have recommended indoor mask-wearing for high-risk groups and discussed the issue of a fifth vaccine dose.

According to local media including the daily Haaretz on the 8th (local time), Nitzan Horowitz, Israel's Minister of Health, discussed the COVID-19 spread situation and countermeasures at a high-level officials' meeting the previous day.

As of the 6th, Israel recorded 3,731 daily confirmed cases (based on voluntary antigen tests), the highest in a month and a half. The average daily confirmed cases over the past week was 2,886, an increase of more than 500 compared to the previous week's average of 2,359. As of the morning of the 7th, the number of severe cases also reached 103, up 20 from 83 three days earlier.

The Israeli Ministry of Health recommended that high-risk groups such as the elderly "wear masks in enclosed spaces including public transportation." COVID-19 response information will also be provided again to the general public.

Additionally, the public broadcaster KAN reported that the infectious disease response team decided at the meeting to discuss providing a fifth vaccine dose to high-risk groups and a third dose to children and adolescents aged 5 to 12.

However, a senior health official stated, "Unless the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, it is too early to consider this a new wave of infection spread."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.