New Covid Variant: Israel Records Two Cases Of Unidentified Variant

The strain was recorded during PCR tests on two travelers showing up at Israel's Ben Gurion air terminal.

Students wait to receive a dose vaccine against COVID-19 at a school (File photo: AFP)

New Delhi: The Delta variant has started wreaking havoc in Israel as the country on Wednesday recorded two cases of the new Covid variant, as reported by news agency AFP.

The strain, consolidating two sub-variations of the Omicron form of the Covid-19 infection - - named BA.1 and BA.2 - - was recorded during PCR tests on two travelers showing up at Israel's Ben Gurion air terminal.

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"This variant is still unknown around the world," the ministry statement read.

"The two cases of the combined strain, which have been discovered so far, suffered from mild symptoms of fever, headaches and muscle dystrophy, and do not require a special medical response," it added.

Israel's pandemic response chief, Salman Zarka, played down the risks.

"The phenomenon of combined variants is well known," Zarka told Army Radio. "At this stage, we are not worried about it leading to serious cases".

On Tuesday, 6,310 individuals tested positive for COVID in Israel, and 10.9 percent of tests returned positive. There are as of now 335 patients in difficult condition, of whom 169 are in basic condition and 151 are on respirators.

More than four million people out of Israel's populace of 9.2 million have received three Covid vaccine shots. Israel had run the world's fastest vaccination campaign against the coronavirus. 

Last month, Israel declared that unvaccinated tourists will be permitted to enter the country as COVID-19 cases subside.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has restored the five-year e-tourist visa for citizens of 156 countries with immediate effect.