Israel: Protests against renewed Covid restrictions as cases rise to highest levels in months | Israel

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Several hundred Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv against the novel coronavirus and vaccination restrictions as positive cases rose and hospitalizations reached levels not seen in months.

The Ministry of Health said on Saturday that 2,435 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded the previous day – the highest number since March – driven by the more contagious delta variant.

There were 326 hospitalizations, the highest since April, although it is well below the January peak when more than 2,000 people were hospitalized daily.

Israel in recent days has launched a booster vaccine for older citizens, reimposed requirements for masks indoors and reinstated “green corridor” restrictions that require vaccine certificates to enter indoor spaces such as gyms, restaurants and hotels.

The spike in infections is a step back after Israel’s world-leading vaccination campaign slashed new Covid-19 cases from 10,000 per day to less than 100.

On Saturday, protesters carried a banner that read, “No pandemic, it’s a hoax.” They held banners condemning coronavirus vaccines, with one poster linking the vaccines to the Nazis.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz told Israel’s Channel 12 that he intends to strike a balance between public health and livelihoods.

“The economy must remain open,” he said.

“I don’t want to impose the lockdown and I will avoid the lockdown at all costs. Everything is open – but we need masks and we need vaccines.”

Nearly 60% of Israel’s population of 9.3 million have had two injections, mostly through the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

But about a million Israelis still refuse to be vaccinated, even though they qualify.

Starting Sunday, some children ages 5 to 11 who are at risk of health complications will be eligible for vaccinations.

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