Israel sees slight drop in new daily coronavirus cases

Of the 70,660 patients currently fighting COVID-19, there are 807 people in serious condition being treated in hospitals with 196 of them on ventilators; death toll exceeds 1,600 since the start of the pandemic

Ynet|
The Health Ministry on Friday reported a slight drop in daily coronavirus cases with 7,639 positive test results on Thursday after a record breaking 9,000 the day before.
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  • The positivity rate still remains high and stands at 12.3% but is lower than any other day this week.
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    מחלקת קורונה ברמב"ם חיפה
    מחלקת קורונה ברמב"ם חיפה
    The coronavirus ward at the Rambam Medical Hospital
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Of the 70,660 Israelis currently battling the disease, 807 are in serious condition with 196 on ventilators.
    The country's fatality rate has reached 1,622 since the start of the pandemic.
    The rise in deaths continued after 39 people passed away from COVID-19 on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday and 31 on Thursday, totaling 106 people in only three days.
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    מחלקת קורונה שיבא תל השומר
    מחלקת קורונה שיבא תל השומר
    The coronavirus ward at the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv
    (Photo: AP)
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that if the current nationwide lockdown does not show any success in stemming the spread of the virus, "we will need to tighten it."
    "The only way we can minimize the morbidity rate is through a tight lockdown," he said during a Facebook Live event.
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    מעדבדה לבדיקות קורונה קופת חולים לאומית באור יהודה
    מעדבדה לבדיקות קורונה קופת חולים לאומית באור יהודה
    A coronavirus testing lab outside Tel Aviv
    (Photo: EPA)
    "If the current regulations allow lowering the infection rate, we had done our job and do not need to change anything. If not, we will need to amend certain aspects," Netanyahu said.
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