The Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that Israel's COVID-19's basic reproduction number is edging toward 1, in a possible sign of a renewed outbreak, while results of one in every nine people tested for coronavirus a day earlier, returned positive.
The ministry said the R number — which indicates how many people on average a single COVID patient infects — stands at 0.90. Passing the threshold of 1 would indicate a renewed spread of the pathogen.
It was also reported that 6,310 Israelis have been diagnosed on Tuesday with coronavirus. Some 57,000 tests were conducted and the positivity rate stood at 10.93% – meaning that one in nine Israelis tested positive for COVID.
Hospitals, however, report the continued gradual and moderate decline in the number of severe patients. Currently, there are 335 patients hospitalized in serious condition, compared to 342 reported a day earlier. At least 151 of serious patients are connected to ventilators.
Also on Tuesday, 21 new patients in severe condition were hospitalized, far less than records heights of the fifth wave when on average 230 severe patients were admitted per day.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 10,401 Israelis succumbed to coronavirus, 157 of them died in March. And since the beginning of the year, 2,143 Israelis passed away from COVID-related complications.
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A new COVID outbreak might be on its way
(Photo: Wolfson Medical Center spokesperson)
The Health Ministry also said the chances of developing a severe illness from COVID among unvaccinated over the age of 60 is nine times higher than among their vaccinated peers, and slightly more than two times higher among those under 60.
Israel currently has 40,630 active patients, most of them in mild condition. Some 3,131 of them live in Tel Aviv, 1,821 in Jerusalem, 1,474 in Haifa, 1,424 in Petah Tikva, 1,182 in Be'er Sheva, 1,162 in Rishon LeZion, 1,011 in Ramat Gan, 877 in Netanya, 853 in Holon, 780 in the Rehovot, 765 in Kfar Saba, 722 in Herzliya, 687 in Ashkelon, 669 in Ashdod, 664 in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, 632 in Ra'anana, 520 in Bat Yam and 501 in Hadera.
In the meantime, 81 people were vaccinated against coronavirus for the first time on Tuesday, and the number of Israelis who received the first jab since the beginning of the month stands at 1,116. Also on Tuesday, 274 received their third COVID shot, and 559 the fourth. In total, over 736,000 Israelis received four doses of the COVID vaccine so far.