PM, Knesset Cancel Events Amid Rising COVID-19 Numbers

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the Knesset have canceled events amid the climbing Coronavirus (COVID-19) numbers in Israel and as Bennett warns of the coming of the fifth wave of infections. Bennett canceled the New Year's Reception with foreign journalists on Sunday and an appearance at a convention on Tuesday. The Government Press Office stated Sunday that it "regrets to announce that due to growing concerns over a potential new COVID wave in Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has decided to cancel the reception. We apologize for the inconvenience, thank you for your understanding, and wish you a better, healthier 2022." The Knesset canceled all its non-essential events. Ten Members of Knesset from seven parties entered quarantine on Sunday after being exposed to a verified COVID-19 case, a Knesset Channel reporter who tested positive for the virus and is suspected of having the new Omicron variant. Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and some 130 other people at the Knesset entered quarantine Friday night after four Knesset personnel were confirmed to be infected with the virus. Bennett warned during Sunday's Cabinet meeting that "time is running out, and it is just not enough. The Omicron is already in the country, that is - there are already infections within the community, and we are already seeing an increase in the coefficient of infection. It has begun." "This time, because of the highly contagious nature of this variant, one must understand - the collective, national protection that the state gives is not enough. Everyone, every citizen, must take care of himself, his family, and his children," he declared. "The wave is coming. Every family needs to be prepared. Every person should make sure that he himself is vaccinated with three vaccines and that his children are vaccinated," he added. According to a presentation displayed at the Knesset's Constitution Committee on Sunday, the number of Omicron cases in Israel has risen to 137, of whom 39 are defined as recovering. Another 386 are of "high suspicion" of being infected with the strain, of which 19 have already recovered. Of the 134 verified cases, 85 returned from abroad, 27 are related to returnees from abroad, and 18 became infected in the community, in Israel. Head of the Public Health Services Headquarters at the Ministry of Health Ilana Gens told the Committee that a recent flight returning from the US has 17 verified Omicron cases on board. The Health Ministry updated Sunday that 1.05% of the Corona tests done over the weekend returned positive, the highest percentage since October. The R coefficient is 1.14, indicating the spread of the virus again. Eight Israelis have died of the virus in the past week, bringing the total number of Israelis who have died of COVID-19 in the past two years to 8,232.