Two unvaccinated women in their 20s with no preexisting conditions have been hospitalized in serious condition with COVID-19 complications, Hebrew media reported Friday.
The pair were being treated at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. According to Channel 12 news, they were hooked up to ventilators and anesthetized.
Both women were in the hospital’s intensive care unit and one of them has been hospitalized for a week after birthing a baby via Caesarian section.
Most serious cases have been concentrated among older Israelis and those with preexisting conditions, with only 1.8 percent of those listed in serious condition over the past month younger than 30.
After new daily cases declined to low double and even single digits, Israel has faced a resurgence in infections since June that has seen morbidity hit the highest levels in months. However, a top Health Ministry official said Friday there was “cautious optimism” that serious morbidity was coming under control.
According to the latest Health Ministry figures, 984 people infected with coronavirus were hospitalized as of Friday evening, including 597 in serious condition and 96 on ventilators.
Magen David Adom health workers perform rapid coronavirus tests at temporary testing station outside the Science Museum in Jerusalem on August 19, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
The ministry reported 4,876 more cases were confirmed Friday since midnight, with active cases at 63,559. There have been 978,212 verified infections and 6,759 COVID fatalities in the country since the pandemic began.
Friday’s positive test rate stood at 5.43 percent.
The figures also showed 5,885,726 people have received at least one vaccine dose and 5,438,868 have gotten two shots. Another 1,322,827 Israelis have received a booster.
On Saturday, Channel 12 reported far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir was hospitalized at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem for COVID complications, days after contracting coronavirus.
The network did not specify what Ben Gvir’s condition was, saying only there was a deterioration in his health. Ben Gvir said Monday that he was feeling well and quarantining after experiencing symptoms.
MK Itamar Ben Gvir Yehudit protests outside Facebook’s offices in Tel Aviv on July 15, 2021.(Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
Ben Gvir was one of several lawmakers to be infected with coronavirus in the current, fourth virus wave. In recent weeks, fellow Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rotman was infected with the virus, along with MKs Gilad Kariv (Labor), Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), Inbar Bezek (Yesh Atid), and Ofer Cassif (Joint List).
Kariv was released from the hospital Thursday after suffering a serious case of COVID. Though his condition has improved, he still requires oxygen while at home.
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