Israel: “Omicron Variant Is Under Control” (N. Horowitz) – i24NEWS in English

Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Sunday that the development of the new variant of the coronavirus Omicron was “under control” in the country.

“We assumed that a new variant was going to emerge. Thanks to our defensive and coercive measures, we located this variant quickly. We were among the first to find and isolate it. Everything is under control, it doesn’t. There is no need to fear or panic, “said N. Horowitz at a press conference.

The minister also defended the emergency decree signed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett authorizing the Shin Bet security services to track the cell phones of people who have come into contact with those infected with the Omicron variant, while expressing doubts.

“I have a big problem with the use of tracking. I prefer the Shin Bet to deal with security issues and not civil issues,” he said, adding that “the implementation of tracking of the Shin Bet is very limited, temporary and under heavy surveillance. “

This new tracing measure will be in effect, for the moment, until December 2 inclusive and will be stopped in the event of a “large-scale” propagation of the Omicron variant, the Prime Minister’s office said, specifying that this measure had been approved by the cabinet of ministers.

The announcement of these measures comes a few hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights”, which lasts for eight days and during which many gatherings and festivities take place.

In addition, Israel will ban from Sunday evening the entry of foreign nationals into its territory in the hope of slowing the spread of the Omicron variant, of which two cases have been confirmed.