Israel on Sunday reported 97 new seriously ill patients, with 379 currently being treated in hospital and marking the highest single-day tally since September.
The Health Ministry said 96 patients were on ventilators.
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The COVID ward at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera
(Photo: Hillel Yaffe Medical Center spokesperson)
However, a few dozen patients recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours.
According to the ministry, 13 Israelis succumb to the virus, eight on Saturday, and five on Friday. and the tally of the dead now stands on 8,319, since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Israel's coronavirus R number — indicating the number of cases caused as the result of a single infection — decreased over the weekend and now stands at 1.59, which is still considered high.
The ministry said there are some 259,000 active coronavirus patients, ,most of whom reside in Jerusalem, followed by the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak.
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz instructed senior officials to prepare for a reduction in the required quarantine days, bringing them down from seven to five because of the large number of isolations affecting the economy and keeping children out of school.
During the weekly cabinet meeting, ministers called for the move which has already been adopted in the U.S. and the UK.
A decision is expected within days.
First published: 21:54, 01.16.22