For the first time this month the number of new daily coronavirus cases in Israel has nearly topped the 2,000-mark, health officials reported Wednesday morning.
The Health Ministry said 1,943 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the highest daily tally seen in the country since July. With 33,272 virus tests conducted, the infection rate now stands at 6.1%.
The latest figures are a far cry from the 400 daily virus patients the National Security Council set out as a goal ahead of the reopening of schools on September 1.
The number of patients in a serious condition is also at a record high with 430 cases, of whom 118 are ventilated - the highest the figure has been since the start of the second wave.
The death toll from coronavirus-related complications has increased to 867, of whom 400 passed away over the past month alone.
Since the start of the outbreak in Israel, 107,341 people tested positive for the disease, of whom 20,581 are currently ill with the illness. At least 850 patients are currently hospitalized, with the rest fighting the virus at home or specially-designated hotels.
Coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu said Tuesday the COVID-19 infection rate in Israel is among the highest in the world and called the contagion in the Arab sector a "disaster".
He said that many Arab communities are seeing widespread outbreaks and warned the rate of infection is also rising again in ultra-Orthodox communities.
"The heads of the Arab local authorities see it, feel very, very uncomfortable, because this thing creates circles of contagion," Gamzu said. "We are suddenly seeing an increase [in infections] in Haifa. I want to make sure that this is not a situation we cannot control. I urge members of the Arab community and its leaders to act."