Israel’s Health Ministry instructed hospitals this week to prepare for an increase in pediatric coronavirus cases ahead of the reopening of the educational system. “In the coming months, we are expecting to see a rise in infections in children of all ages in Israel due to the end of the lockdown, the opening of the educational system, and the fact that children cannot be vaccinated,” the Health Ministry stated. “In addition, evidence is accumulating of higher infection rates in children due to the British variant.” “The pediatric hospitalization system must be prepared for this challenge by preparing beds for at least four coronavirus patients on the regular pediatric wards.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Many people suffer only light symptoms from the coronavirus and recover without any apparent ill effect but unfortunately, there are those that have a different experience, suffering from serious health issues long after having recovered from the virus. In Israel, a clinic treating people with “long COVID” was opened last month in the Baruch Padeh Medical Center (also known as the Poriya Medical Center) in the Lower Galil, just south of Tiveria. The clinic is headed by Dr. Nazal Salah, a respiratory specialist and senior physician in the medical center’s respiratory department.

As Israel’s vaccination campaign has slowed down to a crawl in recent weeks, the Health Ministry is considering a variety of options to encourage more Israelis to vaccinate, such as sanctioning those who don’t vaccinate and businesses that accept them. The measures would be part of Israel’s “Green Passport” program, which would allow those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the coronavirus to access non-essential businesses, such as gyms, hotels, restaurants, and stadiums.

After surging ahead in the race to vaccinate its population against the coronavirus, Israel is blaming online misinformation for a sudden slowdown in the campaign. Now, officials are fighting back. Israel’s Health Ministry, which is spearheading the vaccination efforts, is employing both warnings and incentives as it tries to persuade reluctant holdouts to get immunized. It has beefed up a digital task force to counter spurious claims about the vaccines, while local governments are turning to DJs and free food to lure people to vaccination centers. Concerts and museums could soon be off-limits to the unvaccinated. “Decide whether you are part of the celebration or whether you will be left behind,” Health Minister Yuli Edelstein declared on Twitter.

A vaccination drive for yeshivah bochurim in central Israel began last week, coordinated by the Va’ad HaYeshivos, the L’Ma’anchem organization, and Ichilov and Tel HaShomer hospitals. The drive began at Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak, where hundreds of bochurim were vaccinated, and continued to Orchos Torah, Slobodka, and Beis Medrash Elyon yeshivas. On Sunday, hundreds of high school girls were vaccinated at Beis Yaakov HaRav Wolf and special vaccination drives were held for Vihnitzer and Derager chassidim. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Many Europeans are desperate for a coronavirus vaccine. But not just any vaccine. As AstraZeneca shots are rolling out to European Union nations this month, joining the Pfizer and Moderna doses already available, some people are balking at being offered a vaccine that they perceive — fairly or not — as second-best. Poland began vaccinating teachers Friday with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and some had misgivings about being put in line for a vaccine they believe is less effective than the others.

Another 14 cases of the South African virus variant were identified in Israel on Sunday, increasing the total number of cases in the country to 44. One of the patients had already recovered from the coronavirus and was reinfected with the South African variant. The Health Ministry identified 124 of the carriers’ contacts in 36 infection chains. A patient in France who was reinfected with the South African variant is now seriously ill, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal. The patient recovered from the coronavirus in September 2020 and four months later tested positive for the South African variant. He is now sedated and ventilated. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Almost 40% of seriously ill coronavirus patients hospitalized in Israel’s hospitals in the past week are under the age of 60, as the nationwide vaccination drive begins to take effect among older Israelis. There is a clear decrease in serious illness among those ages 60 and older,” a report by the IDF’s Coronavirus Knowledge and Information Center stated. “There is an increase in the number of patients in serious condition among younger groups, which last week constituted about 40% of new serious cases.” Five girls aged 10-19 are currently hospitalized in serious condition as well as 17 patients in their 20s, 75 patients in their 30s, 103 patients in their 40s, and 177 patients in their 50s, according to a Channel 12 News report.

Karlin-Stoliner chassidim throughout Israel were informed on Motzei Shabbos that whoever attends tefillos or simchos at the chassidus in Givat Zeev is required to bring documentation that he either recovered from the coronavirus or has been fully vaccinated. The instructions come despite the fact that the Karlin-Stoliner Rebbe, Baruch Hashem, recovered from the coronavirus in October. The message added that anyone who received the second dose of the vaccine less than a week prior should continue to adhere to regulations and shouldn’t come to the chatzer at all until a week has passed.

The majority of new coronavirus cases in Israel is currently among people under the age of 40, the IDF’s Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center stated on Sunday. Israel’s reproduction number (R) is continuing to decline, currently standing at 0.85, which means that each virus carrier is infecting less than one person. The reproduction number dropped to 0.88 on Friday, the lowest in three months. “However, the infection rate and the burden on hospitals continue to be high,” the task force continued, adding that the public must continue adhering to health regulations.