Israel sees encouraging virus downturn across all sectors

Drop in new coronavirus cases also seen in ultra-Orthodox community, where proportion of positive tests fell from 26.7% rate at the start of month to 20.9% on Saturday; top health official warns shift does not yet warrant easing lockdown
Yaron Druckman|
Israel has been seeing a decline in positive tests for coronavirus over the past few days, indicating an encouraging trend that extends across every sector of society.
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  • The National Security Council on Sunday published data showing the positivity rate in the ultra-Orthodox communities - where authorities have struggled to bring the morbidity down - has fallen from 26.7% rate to 20.9% on Saturday.
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    עומסים רבים בעמדות בדיקות הקורונה בבני ברק
    עומסים רבים בעמדות בדיקות הקורונה בבני ברק
    Crowds gather for coronavirus testing in ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak
    In the Arab sector, the rate of infection has dropped from 12.5% to 7.4% and in the general public the drop recorded was from 11% to 7.1%.
    The NSC reports that in the past weeks data shows 51% of all those infected by the virus were under 30 years of age.
    Among those hospitalized in serious condition, the report said half were over the age of 70.
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    מחלקת טיפול נמרץ קורונה בבית החולים איכילוב
    מחלקת טיפול נמרץ קורונה בבית החולים איכילוב
    The coronavirus ward in the Ichilov Medical Center
    (Photo: TPS)
    Health Ministry Deputy Director-General Prof. Itamar Grotto on Sunday told the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee that there is no plan to lift any lockdown restrictions at this time.
    "We are still in a state of emergency and have not reached our goal of no more than 2,000 new cases daily in any consistency," he said.
    "The limitation on keeping no further than one kilometer from home is very important. Once we see the numbers come down we will allow more businesses to open, people will be able to go to the beach and other restrictions will be lifted," Grotto said.
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    מחלקת טיפול נמרץ קורונה בבית החולים איכילוב
    מחלקת טיפול נמרץ קורונה בבית החולים איכילוב
    The coronavirus ward in the Ichilov Medical Center
    (Photo: TPS)
    "We are currently at an R factor of 0.95 [the average number of new infections per person] and must reach 0.8 before we make any changes," he said.
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