UK COVID-19 Mutation Discovered in Israel
24 December, 2020 |
3 years ago
Jerusalem, 24 December, 2020 (TPS) -- Four Israelis have been discovered to be infected with a mutation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that was discovered in the United Kingdom earlier this month, the Ministry of Health announced Wednesday evening.
The Ministry of Health said that in three of the cases the patients are from England and are in quarantine in a state-run hotel. Another patient was discovered in Israel and the case is under investigation.
Israel closed its skies almost completely on Wednesday night following the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant in the United Kingdom that is rapidly spreading around the world.
British scientists have warned that a new variant of the Coronavirus ripping through the country is more infectious and is spreading more rapidly.
Analysis suggested that the new variant could increase the R number, which indicates if an epidemic is growing or shrinking, by 0.4 or more, making it 70% more contagious.
Some Israeli health officials said that the discovery of the UK variant in Israel could explain the recent sharp increase in morbidity in the country.
Israel will enter a third countrywide lockdown on Sunday to stem the spread of the virus.
