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Coronavirus resurgence in Israel continues at an alarming pace as infection rate increased further and now stands at a startling 12 percent, health officials said Monday.
The Health Ministry reported that on Sunday 2,257 people tested positive for COVID-19, with one out of every nine tests returning positive, after 19,353 tests had been conducted.
The ministry said 916 patients are being treated in hospitals, of whom 476 are in a serious condition. The number of patients requiring ventilator support has gone up to 137, equaling the record high reported in Israel back in April.
Only seven days ago on September 1, the number of intubated patients stood at 115, which represents an increase of 22 patients in just a week.
Since the start of this month, 13,773 people tested positive for the pathogen, with an average of 2,300 cases a day, bringing the number of active patients in Israel to 26,776.
The death toll from coronavirus-related complications has increased to 1,022.
Jerusalem still boasts the highest number of active patients, with 3,268 diagnoses, followed by Bnei Brak with 1,350, Ashdod with 1,100, Modi'in Illit with 718 and Tel Aviv with 701.
Ministers on Sunday approved night-time curfews for 40 "red" settlements, cities and communities with a high infection rate, following pressure from ultra-Orthodox leaders to halt plans for full lockdown on the areas.