Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Saturday night held a telephone conference focused on the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Participating in the phone conference were Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz), as well as senior Health Ministry officials and other professionals.
Bennett ordered that protection for Israel's elderly population immediately be increased, emphasizing the Magen Avot program.
In accordance with this, rapid tests will be conducted at the entrances to both nursing homes and assisted living residences, including for vaccinated individuals.
Bennett also ordered that an assessment be conducted of Israel's stockpile of equipment, and that Israel prepare itself for a possible sixth wave of the virus. As part of this, he ordered that the purchase of 50 million antigen test kits be advanced.