Israel warns of ’emergency’ after detecting new virus strain

By JOSEPH KRAUSS
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister says the country is “on the threshold of an emergency situation” after authorities detected its first case of a new coronavirus variant in a traveler who returned from Malawi. The Health Ministry says the traveler and two other suspected cases, all of whom were vaccinated, have been placed in isolation. A new coronavirus variant has been detected in South Africa that scientists say is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says the new strain is more contagious than the delta variant. Israel has barred travel to sub-Saharan Africa.