Israel on Tuesday recorded over 100 daily coronavirus cases, diagnosed a day earlier, for the first time in months.
The Health Ministry said that on Monday, 125 people tested positive for COVID-19, the highest the figure has been since April 23.
The ministry said there are 397 active coronavirus patients in Israel, currently ill with the disease. At least patients 51 are hospitalized, of whom 25 are in serious condition and 18 on ventilators.
After 32,400 tests conducted, the test positivity rate increased on Monday to 0.3% from its 0.1% average.
After outbreaks of COVID-19 were detected in schools in Modi'in and Binyamina in recent days, the Health Ministry on Monday evening issued what they described as a "strong recommendation," for young teens aged 12-15 to get vaccinated, causing an increase in requests for the jabs.
The ministry set the end of July as a deadline for the teens to receive both vaccine jabs. Health officials said that no adverse side effects were reported in the United States after 2.5 million kids received their vaccines there.
At least 4,420 vaccines were administered on Monday to mostly young teens, majority of whom received their first dose of the vaccine and 928 were given the booster shot.
"I don't think the coronavirus pandemic is over," said Fahima, who works as a nurse at an HMO. "The outbreak is localized at the moment but can spread quickly," she said.
In the meantime, some Israeli businesses and individuals say they intend to keep using face masks in the wake of recent outbreaks, despite the fact the indoor mask mandate was lifted by the Health Ministry last week.
Anna, who recently returned from a vacation in Rhodes, Greece said she intended to keep using her mask. "There is a real danger and we must protect ourselves," she said.
Ynet's parent company Yedioth Ahronoth on Monday informed its employees that the use of mask was once again required inside its facility.
One merchant in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda Market said on Monday that out of concern for his business he opted to bring back the use of masks.
"We are afraid that health measures could return so we are taking proactive steps. Our staff is on board and cooperating," he said.
"Some people thought what we were doing was strange, but others were very supportive when we asked them to keep a distance. We are young and this is a new business and we don't want to see the it close," he said.
Coronavirus czar Nachman Ash told Ynet on Monday that the ministry was considering bringing back coronavirus curbs. "We don't want to take unnecessary steps that could affect public trust," he said, adding decisions would be taken according to daily developments.