Israel confirms first Omicron-related death, deceased was double vaccinated against COVID

Amid Omicron surge across world, Israel has recently confirmed its first verified fatality from ‘highly mutated’ COVID-19 variant in Beersheba city. On Tuesday, December 21, Israel's media reported that an elderly man died at Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba after contracting Omicron strain. As per Israel's Kan brocaster, patient was a 75 years old man who also h pre-existing medical issues. 

Furr,  elderly person was reported to have received only two doses of COVID-19 vaccination, with third booster injection. last dos of vaccination was given to individual about six months ago. Requests for confirmation from Health Ministry and Soroka were t immediately returned. Israeli Ministry of Health previously said that re were approximately 340 kwn cases of Omicron in nation. 

Indicating rise in COVID cases in nation, Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, warned on Sunday that country's fifth COVID wave has started, i24 News reported. As per Worldometers, over 1,357,974 individuals have been affected by disease in nation since outbreak, and more than 8,232 people have lost ir lives due to Coronavirus. number of active cases in nation is 8,322, while 1,341,420 have recovered.  

Nations on Israel's 'Red List'

In dition to this, Omicron strain which is spreing swiftly over world has prompted Israel to impose travel restrictions in order to prevent virus from spreing furr.  Israeli government stated on Monday, December 20, that it is expanding number of "red" nations on its COVID travel list, ding 10 more nations to list, including US, Cana, and Germany. 

 Apart from se nations, earlier on December 15, Israel also imposed travel restrictions on some of European nations like Ireland, Spain, rway, Finland, France, Sweden. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also been ded to Israel's COVID-19 'red list'.  restriction on foreigners entering country will be extended until at least December 29. prohibition, which was initially imposed at end of vember, has w been extended a second time. Over new Omicron-related worries, Israel has previously red-listed roughly 50 countries, predominantly from Africa, followed by United Kingdom and Denmark. 

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