Israel on Wednesday saw its lowest coronavirus infection rate in over four weeks, health officials said.
The Health Ministry said that on Tuesday 6,062 Israelis tested positive for COVID-19 after more than 78,000 tests had been performed, placing the contagion rate at 7.8% - lowest in over a month.
At least 1,606 coronavirus patients are hospitalized, of whom 1,020 are in serious condition and 317 are ventilated. The official death toll now stands at 5,223, after 35 patients died on Tuesday alone.
The ministry also said that 65,424 Israelis received the first vaccine shot and 65,048 received the second dose on Tuesday. In total, 24.13% of Israelis already received both vaccine doses.
In Israel, there are 70,444 active patients currently ill with the disease. At least 10,159 of them live in Jerusalem, 3,696 in Bnei Brak, 2,698 in Tel Aviv-Yafo, 2,455 in Modi'in Illit, 2,315 in Petah Tikva, 2,081 in Ashdod, 1,804 in Beit Shemesh, 1,559 in Rishon Lezion, 1,430 in Holon, 1,424 in Netanya, 1,202 in Be'er Sheva, 1,152 in Ashkelon, 1,133 in Haifa, 1,093 in Rehovot, 1,078 in Bat Yam, 1,074 in Netivot, 914 in Kiryat Gat, 908 in Lod, 878 in Beitar Illit, 832 in Ramat Gan, 795 in Elad, 572 in Kiryat Ata, 569 in Hadera, 553 in Kiryat Malachi, 537 in Ofakim and 519 in Nazareth.
In the meantime, the government on Tuesday voted to allow children in kindergartens and grades 1-4 to return to school in "green", "yellow" and "orange" communities, provided the number of vaccinated people over 50 there is over 70%.