Israel tops 1,300 new daily cases as labs warn of test overload

New figures mark third time in week that number of diagnoses in one day exceeds 1,000; Health Ministry expected to narrow criteria for testing as labs say they cannot cope with demand; Haredi settlement heads into lockdown after spike and new restrictions introduced for buses
Adir Yanko, Yaron Druckman|
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Israel saw 1,319 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, according to the daily report by the National Coronavirus Information and Knowledge Center.
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    • This is both a new high in daily cases for the country and the third time in one week that the number of new diagnoses has exceeded 1,000.
    4 View gallery
    מעבדה בדיקה בדיקות קורונה קופת חולים לאומית אור יהודה    מעבדה בדיקה בדיקות קורונה קופת חולים לאומית אור יהודה
    A healthcare professional processes coronavirus tests at a lab in Or Yehuda
    (Photo: AFP)
    The national death toll for the virus also climbed Tuesday to 342 people, after 12 people succumbed to the disease in two days. There are now 83 people in serious condition, a slight downturn from recent days.
    According to data provided by the Health Ministry, Israel conducted 25,570 tests on Tuesday, with a positive rate of 5.2%.
    Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is expected to tighten the criteria to qualify for coronavirus testing after a massive uptick in cases has led to soaring numbers of people requesting a test.
    4 View gallery
    תורי ענק של תלמידים מחוץ לדרייב אין בדיקות הקורונה בירושלים בעקבות התפרצות הנגיף בגימנסיה    תורי ענק של תלמידים מחוץ לדרייב אין בדיקות הקורונה בירושלים בעקבות התפרצות הנגיף בגימנסיה
    Health officials staff a pop-up testing site at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem
    (Photo: Shalev Shalom)
    Healthcare providers have warned the ministry that they cannot cope with the astronomical numbers of tests for the virus, which last week reached a daily record of 24,000 as compared to just 1,000 tests conducted on May 30.
    The more significant changes are likely to include reducing the authority of family physicians to refer patients for testing and a significant reduction in tests carried out in schools.
    Another option being considered is to forgo tests for patients who may have recovered from the disease already and wait several weeks until all symptoms have completely disappeared.
    4 View gallery
    A child is tested for coronavirus by a healthcare worker at testing center for migrants in Tel Aviv     A child is tested for coronavirus by a healthcare worker at testing center for migrants in Tel Aviv
    A child is tested for coronavirus by a healthcare worker at testing center for migrants in Tel Aviv
    (Photo: AP)
    Israel is fighting to contain the second wave of the pandemic, which health experts say was triggered by the speedy reopening of the economy several weeks ago.
    On Wednesday, the Transportation Ministry said it is restricting the number of passengers permitted on public buses at one time.
    Intercity buses will only be allowed to carry 30 passengers, urban buses will be able to hold 32 people and articulated buses (with two joined segments) can take up to 50 passengers. Bus services will also stop at 10 pm every night and air conditioning on vehicles will run alongside open windows.
    The West Bank ultra-Orthodox settlement of Beitar Illit was to begin a week-long lockdown on Wednesday after the community witnessed a spike in cases, with 179 new diagnoses in a week and a positive test rate of 16%.
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    שלט חוצות בביתר עילית    שלט חוצות בביתר עילית
    The settlement of Beitar Illit was due to go into lockdown on Wednesday
    (Photo: Amit Shabi)
    Other Israeli hot spots for the virus include Kiryat Malachi, Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit, Ra'anana, Kuseife, Kafr Qara, Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Tel Aviv.
    There are currently 1 ,871 active cases of the disease in Jerusalem, 1,217 in Tel Aviv and 1,037 in Bnei Brak.
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    2.
    You must go into lockdown now....Covid causes many long term
    health problems. For every day you are in the hospital recovery period is 7 days. This is a mean killer for many people esp those who are overweight and those who are what we call vulnerable, HBP Diabetes etc. Self isolate now! The ravages of this virus is just now coming out and it is scary. Listen to the working Doctors, those who see the patients day in day out. They know whats going on. Don't listen to the Dr Professor quacks who are sitting in the Universities and who are not on the front lines.
    Al| 07.08.20
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    1.
    Narrowing already too narrow testing means lots more....
    asymptomatic and less sick but still CONTAGIOUS people walking around spreading it.... lots more becoming sick.... and thousands more deaths. MORE tests need to be done to find and isolate these people. You already know those with your narrow criteria are probably positive. Can we please hire an INTELLIGENT PERSON to make these decisions?
    RM| 07.08.20
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