The Health Ministry reported that 4,537 people tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the number of active patients in the country to 44,984.
The ministry on Thursday morning added that since midnight, 531 people tested positive for COVID-19.
With 52,597 tests conducted, the contagion rate now stands at 8.8%, slightly down from the same figure a day earlier.
At least 1,163 patients are being treated in hospitals, with almost half of the patients, 549, are in a serious condition, of whom 140 are ventilated. The death toll from coronavirus-related complications has gone up to 1,165.
Jerusalem over the past seven days reported the highest number of new diagnoses with 3,164 cases, followed by Bnei Brak with 1,553, Ashdod with 945, Modi'in Illit with 659, Petah Tikva with 642. Be'er Sheva and Holon both reported 569 and 565 cases respectively, officially becoming "red" cities.
In the meantime, early Thursday the government unanimously approved a set of restrictions for the coming lockdown, expected to go into effect on Friday. The Knesset's Constitution Committee is set to convene later in the day to also vote on the restrictions.
Notable restrictions, which were not imposed during the first lockdown in March and April, include a ban on visiting private homes of other people and permission to travel to Ben Gurion Airport at least eight hours ahead of the flight.