As Israelis were preparing to celebrate the holiday of Rosh Hashanah on Monday evening, health official reported in the afternoon hours the country's coronavirus infection rate has hit a two-week low.
The Health Ministry said 5,810 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. After more than 115,000 tests had been conducted, the infection rate now stands at 5.31% - the lowest it has been since August 19.
The ministry did not post any other data on COVID in its daily update due to the Jewish New Year, which is set to begin Monday evening and end Wednesday evening.
The Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, however, said that 689 patients are currently being treated in hospitals due to complications from the virus.
The center, which is part of the IDF's intelligence unit, also said that 49.9% of newly diagnosed are under the age of 19, some 30.2% are between the ages of 20 and 39, 15.1% are aged 40-59 and only 4.5% are aged 60 and over.
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Volunteers on Rosh Hashanah at Rambam Health Care Campus' COVID ward
(Photo: Rambam Health Care Campus)
It added that the R number (the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to) is still above 1, although it continues to decline.
"Along with the optimistic signs of a certain halt in infection spread, it remains to be seen whether the reopening of the education system and High Holidays will affect the current trend," said the center in a statement.
It added that in order to overcome the fourth virus wave, authorities and the public must continue with the vaccination campaign, continue to wear masks in confined spaces and enforce quarantine on new arrivals in the country.