From [HERE] After becoming one of the first countries to open up thanks to a widespread Covid-19 vaccination campaign, Israel is again on guard, this time against the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Mask mandates are back, including requirements to mask up for large outdoor gatherings. Many venues require people to show proof of vaccination, a negative Covid-19 test or proof of recovery from the virus. People returning from most countries have to quarantine for at least a week, even if they are fully vaccinated. Over-60s are being offered a third, booster shot of Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine, and the government is planning to offer it to younger recipients with the hopes it can suppress the rise of cases of severe illness.

Health officials are warning that Israel could face a fourth lockdown during the Jewish holiday season in September if the country doesn’t deliver more booster shots and improve on its wider vaccination rate; 60% of the total population are fully vaccinated, making up around 80% of adults.

Meanwhile, Recorded coronavirus infections remain low in the West Bank and Gaza, with only 2,723 active cases. But health officials warn that relatively little testing is being done, meaning that the virus could be spreading widely undetected. However, there are no reports of Palestinian hospitals being in crisis due to COVID. [MORE]

A little over a month ago, day-to-day life in Israel was quickly getting back to normal. People were dining indoors or attending concerts without needing the so-called green pass, a digital certificate stored on phones to show the holder is fully vaccinated. But the more contagious Delta variant is forcing a change in tack, in a test case for what could happen elsewhere, including countries with high vaccination rates.

“That window when we weren’t concerned about things was so brief,” said Rena Magun, 61 years old, who co-runs a tourism and Jewish events-planning business with her husband in Jerusalem. 

Ms. Magun said when she sent an invite to her friends for a meal last week she was careful to emphasize it would take place outside on the porch.

Her business has been badly damaged as families hoping to celebrate bar or bat mitzvahs with their children in Israel have been forced to reschedule the trips up to four times already since March 2020.

“It’s absolutely devastating,” Ms. Magun said.

She said she had decided to get the third Pfizer shot once she was sure it was safe. “I’m gonna get that booster so I can go back to feeling like Superman,” she recalled telling herself.

Other countries with similarly high vaccination rates, notably the U.K., have seen a wave of Delta infections, but hospital admissions have remained low and are falling, according to official data through early August.

Israeli health experts are watching closely for indications that Israel will follow the U.K.’s trajectory. If not, it could be a worrying sign for other countries.

There has been a jump in Israel in cases of severe illness caused by the virus since the start of August, doubling to 400 in a population of 9 million, with 240 of those patients already having been vaccinated. Patients over 50 years old account for 90% of the severe cases, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday.

“I ask every Israeli citizen over 50 to be very careful in the coming weeks,” he said.

Though the number of severe cases remains low, the rate of growth has raised concerns. Hospitals are preparing for an influx of patients similar to the early days of the pandemic, with a seven-day average of nearly 4,000 new coronavirus cases now being recorded daily.

To head off the outbreak and prevent larger numbers of vaccinated Israelis falling ill, Israel last month became one of the first countries to begin offering a third Pfizer dose to people 60 years old and over—without any clinical evidence that it would be effective. The decision came after preliminary data made available to medical experts advising Israel’s government showed that protection against severe illness for vaccinated people in the age group had dropped to 81% from 97% in mid-April.