Israel on Monday reported 5,135 new daily coronavirus cases diagnosed the day before, with the infection rate rising to 6.6%.
The Ministry of Health said medical authorities on Sunday performed 79,395 COVID-19 tests and 134,226 vaccines against the pathogen.
Coronavirus ward at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
(Photo: Getty Images)
At least 731 patients are in poor condition, of which 201 are ventilated. The official death toll is now at 3,416 after a further 12 died on Sunday. The Ministry of Health said 69 people have died from coronavirus-related complications since the beginning of 2021.
Over the past week, 38,228 new infections were reported in Israel, an average of 5,461 diagnoses per day. At the height of the second wave in late September and early October, a national average of 5,660 cases was reported. However, the number of tests performed in the last few days is much higher than the number of tests performed during the second wave.
According to Oxford University, Israel over the past week has been ranked third in the world when it comes to per capita infections, surpassing the US and Britain alone.
Be’er Sheva High School during coronavirus
(Photo: Barel Efraim )
In the meantime, the coronavirus cabinet is scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss tightening the national lockout across the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to want a tougher closure for a period of at least 10 days, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz opposes school closures altogether.
Leaders of some local authorities decided to shut down parts of the education system independently for fear of widespread incidents.