The Health Ministry on Wednesday reported that 7,832 Israelis have tested positive for coronavirus out of some 143,000 tests carried out over the previous 24 hours, putting the country's infection rate at 5.6%.
Out of 59,278 active coronavirus patients nationwide, 578 were hospitalized in serious condition and 104 of them were connected to ventilators.
2 View gallery
A healthcare worker handling a coronavirus test sample at a testing hub in Jerusalem
(Photo: AFP)
The national COVID-19 death toll stood at 6,708 fatalities since the start of the pandemic, 230 of them succumbed to the virus in August alone.
According to the ministry's data, 36% of new cases were reported among Israelis under the age of 18, 29% between the ages 19–39, 22% between the ages 40-59 and 13% among those aged 60 and over.
With just two weeks left until the opening of the school year, 21,746 students were reported to be carrying the virus and about 69,000 students were in quarantine. So far, 556,632 youths aged 12–18 have been fully vaccinated against the pathogen.
Israel on Wednesday reintroduced restrictions on gatherings and reimposed social distancing measures in businesses as daily COVID-19 infections kept creeping up precipitously.
2 View gallery
Inspectors enforcing coronavirus restrictions at Tel Aviv's Dizengof Mall
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
The new measures include the expansion of the Green Pass mandate, which requires people to present proof of vaccination or recovery at the entrance to public facilities, to include all Israelis from the age of 3.
This includes conferences, exhibitions, hotels, gyms and fitness studios, country clubs and public swimming pools, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, academic institutions, tourist attractions, museums, libraries and nursing homes.
Entry would be allowed only to those who can show proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 or a negative coronavirus test.
Babies and toddlers aged 0–3 will be exempt from taking a COVID test. Children between the ages of 3–12, who are not eligible for a coronavirus vaccine, will have to take a virus test that will be paid for by the state.