The Health Ministry said on Tuesday that it had identified three cases of the so-called New York variant of the coronavirus, the first time the mutation was found in Israel.
The ministry said all three cases were from the same family.
Kan News reported that ministry officials believe the three had contacted someone who recently returned from New York and was concerned that others had already been infected. According to Channel 13 News, diagnosed individuals have not cooperated with epidemiological investigators.
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Authorities are said to be concerned that the variant may already be spreading undetected in Israel.
In addition, the ministry was evaluating new restrictions on family members of people who were infected with the virus. According to the vehicle, vaccinated persons could be subjected to examinations or quarantine, regulations from which they are currently exempt.
In addition, the ministry said two cases of variant B.1.525 were found. The variant is believed to originate in Africa and has characteristics similar to the so-called South African mutation, which is more resistant to vaccines than other variants. The mutation has already been detected in the United Kingdom, United States, Nigeria and Jordan.
Two research groups – at Caltech and Columbia University in New York – published articles last week describing their findings about the New York variant. None of the articles has been published or reviewed by other scientists.
A man passes an empty store on the left, which is available for rent on February 8, 2021, during the coronavirus pandemic in New York. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan)
But both groups noted that the new variant has a mutation that could weaken vaccine effectiveness.
They also found that patients infected with the mutated virus, first detected in late November, were more likely to be older and were hospitalized.
Viruses are constantly mutating as they spread and make copies of themselves. Some genetic adjustments can be worrying, especially if they help the virus to spread more easily, make it more deadly or reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. Scientists use genome sequencing and other research to find out what the potential problems are.
New variants have appeared during the pandemic, but three so far have been considered the most worrying and have been designated as “worrying variants”. They were first detected in Britain, South Africa and Brazil, but have spread to other countries.
The London Ambulance team transports a patient from the ambulance to The Royal London Hospital, in East London, on January 2, 2021. (DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
The highly contagious British mutation is now responsible for almost all new coronavirus infections in Israel.
Israeli air and ground tickets have been closed largely since January 25, with Ben Gurion Airport closed to everyone except a few special Israeli flights and some foreign airlines to bring back stranded citizens abroad, leaving thousands unable to turn back.
Entry into the country requires special government permission, which is granted on a case-by-case basis before the flight, as officials are concerned that other contagious strains of the coronavirus may arrive from abroad. However, ministers voted on Tuesday to reduce the panel’s work and place fewer limitations on the return of Israelis.
