Students have switched to distance learning after a major outbreak of coronavirus cases was reported at an elementary school in Kiryat Yam near Haifa, local officials said on Thursday.
The northern town recorded a 174% spike in confirmed virus cases compared to the previous week as 2% of tests have yielded a positive result.
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Elementary school students wearing face masks in class during coronavirus outbreak
(Photo: Nadav Eves)
"After consulting the Health Ministry, we've decided to return to distance learning until Sunday next week to allow our students and their families to get tested," a municipality official said.
The municipality opened coronavirus testing sites around town.
"We are confident that infection rates will drop within days," the official said. "We have a high percentage of vaccinated residents and an outbreak in one school should not reflect on the town as a whole."
Other cities including Ashkelon in the south, Elad in the center and Acre in the north have also recorded an increase in confirmed cases compared to the previous week.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry reported Thursday morning that 489 Israelis have tested positive for coronavirus out of 75,409 tests carried out over the previous 24 hours, putting the country's positivity rate at 0.65%.
Israeli hospitals were treating 146 COVID-19 patients in serious condition, 102 of whom were connected to ventilators.
According to ministry data, unvaccinated patients accounted for 85% of all severe cases and 94% of all severe cases in the 60 plus age group.