Israel on Monday reported its highest daily coronavirus infection rate figure since February of this year as the Delta variant continues to rage in the country.
The Health Ministry said 6,576 Israelis tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. After more than 87,000 tests had been conducted, the country's infection rate now stands at 7.81% — the highest the figure has been since the start of the fourth coronavirus wave.
Israeli hospitals said they were treating 752 COVID-19 patients in serious condition - an addition of another 26 patients since midnight. This is the highest number of severe patients since the start of the fourth infection wave,. At least 156 of them are connected to ventilators.
The death toll since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 6,958 after eight more patients succumbed to the disease on Sunday.
With schools set to reopen on Wednesday, the ministry reported that some 88,000 students are currently either in quarantine or actively ill with the virus.
On Sunday, Israel approved the third coronavirus vaccine booster shot for anyone who has been fully vaccinated for at least five months in an effort to curb the raging Delta variant.
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A man receives his coronavirus vaccine booster shot at a pop-up facility in Holon
(Photo: AFP)
The country has gradually expanded its booster vaccination campaign to more and more age groups since its rollout several weeks ago as the coronavirus infection rate has surged to figures not seen in almost a year.
Those who have received the booster, or have recently been vaccinated, will be exempt from isolation when they arrive from abroad
Starting on October 1, only those who have received the second dose within the last five months, who have received a third booster shot, who have recovered within the last six months or who have recovered and received one shot will be eligible for the Green Pass.