Israel on Monday saw its tally of severe cases slightly drop after days of continued increase, while the national infection rate continued to rise.
Israel has in recent weeks accelerated its coronavirus vaccine booster shot campaign and the latest data might be the first sign of its effects in helping to curb the resurgence of the virus.
The Health Ministry reported that out of 50,056 active patients, 519 are in serious condition - a decline from 536 reported the previous day - with 92 connected to ventilators.
The ministry said that out of 85,503 tests conducted on Sunday, 5,075 returned positive, putting the infection rate at 6.07%, highest it has been in months.
The death toll since the start of the pandemic now stands at 6,668.
It was also reported that 97,446 Israelis received their booster shot on Sunday, bringing the country's total of thrice-jabbed citizens to 963,572.
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Foreign Minister Yair Lapid receiving his coronavirus vaccine booster shot
(Photo: Sofia Michalowska)
On Sunday, the ministry reported that coronavirus infection rates among Israelis over the age of 60 seemed to have declined in recent days, with the percentage of senior citizens accounting for Israel's daily caseload dropping from 13.3% to less than 10% within a week.
Data shows that 288 of 2,970 coronavirus cases confirmed since midnight were detected among senior citizens, accounting for 9.7% of the daily caseload. That figure stood at 10.7% the day before, 12.2% last Wednesday and 13.3% exactly one ago on Sunday.
The elderly still represent some 90% of Israel's severe cases.