3 Israelis reinfected with South African coronavirus variant: health officials

Two Israelis who contracted but recovered from the novel coronavirus have since been reinfected with a concerning coronavirus variant that was first identified in South Africa, according to the county’s Health Ministry.

At least 44 cases of the B.1.251 variant have been reported in Isreal to date, though health officials have said the total number of such cases is likely higher. The country’s first case of the South African variant was reported in late January in a 57-year-old man who contracted the mutation while on a trip to Turkey, per the Post.  Soon after, Israel closed its only international airport, Ben Gurion, in an effort "to prevent the entry of the virus mutations and to ensure that we progress quickly with our vaccination campaign," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January, the Post reported. The airport is expected to remain closed past the Feb. 20 deadline.