Israel's Health Ministry on Saturday night announced that 591 new cases of Omicron have been identified and confirmed in Israel.
So far, 1,118 Israelis have been diagnosed with Omicron; 723 of them are recent returnees from abroad.
In addition, there are 861 people who were exposed to Omicron and who are highly suspected (emphasis by the Ministry) of having contracted the Omicron variant, but who have not yet received the results of their tests' sequencing.
At this stage, anyone exposed to a confirmed Omicron carrier or to one who is considered to be at "high risk" of having contracted it must undergo a PCR test and quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine may be shortened if a second PCR test performed on day seven comes out negative.
This instruction applies to those who are recovered or vaccinated as well as to those who are not.
Earlier on Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett instructed that everyone, regardless of their vaccination or recovery status, undergo a rapid test for COVID-19 prior to entering an assisted living residence or a nursing home.