Israel is on “the verge of a state of emergency”, PM Naftali Bennett warned today as the country recorded its first case of a "highly contagious" new Covid-19 strain.
The strain first detected in South Africa and that emerged in several neighbouring countries was also discovered in an Israeli traveller returning from Malawi, health officials said Friday.
Two others suspected of being infected with the strain are in quarantine and awaiting confirmation. All three were vaccinated, though officials did not confirm further details.
Mr Bennett said the new variant was “highly contagious” and that it spread more quickly than the Delta strain.
