The Health Ministry Wednesday morning reported that 2,862 new coronavirus cases have been diagnosed on Tuesday, the highest daily rise since Israel began exiting its second nationwide lockdown in October.
The death toll since the start of the pandemic stands at 3,022.
Out of the 19,887 patients currently battling the virus, 381 are in serious condition, with 138 connected to ventilators.
With a record 83,277 tests conducted on Tuesday, the positivity rate is at 3.5%.
Last week, after dropping a proposal for a nationwide nighttime curfew, ministers said that if more than 2,500 new virus cases were confirmed daily, or the R, the reproduction number is fount to be over 1.32, a tightening of restrictions will be triggered.
Health Ministry officials said on Tuesday that Israel may have to tighten coronavirus restrictions within 7-10 days to prevent another general lockdown as cases surge nationwide.
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Pfizer's coronavirus vaccines stored at Teva's refrigeration storage in Modi'in
(Photo: Nadav Abas)
Officials voiced their concerns during a meeting with hospital directors as the ministry prepared to begin distributing the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to health workers, in several hospitals on Sunday.
Although the hospitals taking part in the pilot have not been named, the country's major medical centers, such as Sheba near Tel Aviv or Rambam in Haifa, are expected to be first to receive the vaccines.
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Head of Public Health Services at the Health Ministry Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price
(Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Earlier Tuesday, Head of Public Health Services at the Health Ministry Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price told Ynet that if the government fails to tighten the coronavirus restrictions now, a "much longer" nationwide lockdown will be needed.
"If we wait too long, in the end the price will be heavy for both the economy and health," she said.
"There will be a much longer lockdown, and we will be required to take actions such as closing the education system and imposing traffic restrictions."
First published: 08:22, 12.16.20