Israel reached another worrying milestone as coronavirus infection rate has surpassed the 10 percent-mark, health officials reported on Sunday morning.
The Health Ministry said that although on Saturday only 1,493 people tested positive for COVID-19, the contagion rate has remained alarmingly high since the number of tests conducted has dropped to 15,837.
The ministry said one out of every 10 tests returned positive.
At least 877 patients are being treated in hospitals, of whom 445 are in a serious condition and 119 require ventilator support. The death toll from coronavirus-related complications has increased to 1,010.
Jerusalem still boasts the highest number of new coronavirus cases, with 1,738 diagnoses recorded in the city over the past seven days. The capital is followed by Bnei Brak, with 875 cases reported over the past week, followed by 679 diagnoses in Ashdod, 481 in Modi'in Iillit and 474 in Beit Shemesh.
Coronavirus cabinet approved on Thursday a lockdown of so-called “red towns” with high infection rates, set to take effect on Monday.
About 30 communities, mainly with Arab or ultra-Orthodox populations, have already been put in that category, with the final list set to be decided on during a government meeting on Sunday.