We are on verge of a state of emergency: Israeli PM over new COVID-19 variant

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met health experts on Friday to discuss how best to respond to a new variant of the coronavirus that has been detected in South Africa that he said was more contagious than the Delta strain.

"We are currently on the verge of a state of emergency," Bennett said, according to a statement from his office. "Our main principle is to act fast, strong and now."

Israel has reported one case of the new strain in a traveller returning from Malawi.

Israel announced on Thursday it was bIsraeli PM warns of state of emergency due to new coronavirus variant

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