The number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition reached 140 in Israel on Friday (June 17), marking a near 70% rise since last week as health experts warn that the current situation is “unstable.” The number was up from 85 seriously ill COVID-19 patients last Friday (June 10).
While Israel has seen rising infection numbers for a few weeks, a rise in seriously ill patients marks a real concern as the country deals with the spread of the new variant BA.5, with experts warning that hospitals may need to reopen COVID-19 wards.
“It’s an unpredictable and unstable situation,” said immune system expert Professor Cyrille Cohen of Bar Ilan University, urging lawmakers to “actively encourage herd immunity among the vulnerable” by “calling people who haven’t received the vaccine and encouraging them to get it.”
Cohen also advised wearing masks in crowded places like on buses and at shopping centers.