4,993 Israelis died from Corona, 26 of them today. This is according to data from the Ministry of Health published tonight (Thursday). Since the beginning of the week, 225 corona patients have died. The data also show that 4,374 Israelis were diagnosed as positive for Corona at midnight. A total of 49,000 tests were solved and the positive rate was 8.9% – the same as yesterday.
1,686 corona patients are hospitalized in hospitals across the country, 1,098 of them in critical condition. 340 patients connected to respirators. This is an increase of close to 10% in the number of respirators since this morning. 67.5% of patients with a severe condition are aged 60 and over. One in 14 patients in critical condition is less than 40 years old. Three girls and two girls are hospitalized in critical condition.
In Israel, 79,752 active patients. 11,876 of them live in Jerusalem, 4,457 in Bnei Brak, 2,750 in Modi’in Illit, 2,471 in Tel Aviv-Yafo, 2,466 in Petah Tikva, 2,175 in Beit Shemesh, 2,150 in Ashdod, 1,504 in Rishon Lezion, 1,381 in Holon, 1,345 in Haifa, 1,326 in Netanya, 1,197 in Rehovot, 1,190 in Beer Sheva 1,115 in Ramla, 1,047 in Ashkelon, 970 in Beitar Illit, 959 in Elad, 943 in Bat Yam, 937 in Netivot, 935 in Kiryat Gat, 905 in Ramat Gan, 888 in Lod, 724 in Safed, 648 in Kiryat Ata, 636 in Ofakim, 596 in Nazareth, 513 in Rosh HaAyin and 501 In Modi’in Maccabim Reut.
The only two green cities in the country are Tira and Nesher. In addition there are several dozen green localities. Among the yellow cities you can find Rahat, Raanana, Givatayim, Herzliya, Afula, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Ono, Kfar Saba, Nahariya, Ramat Hasharon, Yokneam Illit, Haifa, Shefar’am, Kiryat Motzkin and Kiryat Yam.
Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign is expanding, and this morning it is open to the general public from the age of 16. According to the updated data from the evening, 3,334,629 Israelis received the first dose of the vaccine and 1,953,026 the second. A total of 5.3 million vaccine doses have been given since the start of the vaccination campaign. 36.3% received the first dose of the vaccine and 21.19% also received the second.
The main debate focused on the exit plan: The Ministry of Health presented a conservative exit plan that includes the opening of kindergartens and grades 1-4, 11-12 in green and yellow cities (about a third of the country at present). The ultra-Orthodox demand that studies be allowed in red and orange cities as well.
The Ministry of Health also proposed allowing one-on-one treatments, work without an audience and takeaways, but it was no longer decided whether this would be possible in red and orange cities as well. At the same time, the Ministry of Health proposes to leave the crowd limit (10 in an open place, 5 in a closed place). The mileage limit of one kilometer will be abolished.
At the end of a heated debate, the ministers approved the doubling of fines on open educational institutions from NIS 5,000 to NIS 10,000. Opposing Minister Aryeh Deri said at the hearing: “There has been a campaign against the ultra-Orthodox since the beginning of the yeshiva.” He claimed that “all of you unanimously support the idea that the ultra-Orthodox brought the corona over the State of Israel.”