The coronavirus cabinet is set to meet on Sunday for the first time after nearly a month, amid growing criticism for the government's response to the months long surge in COVID-19 cases.
The last time the ministerial panel met was on August 30.
The Health Ministry said 670 people are hospitalized in serious condition from complications of COVID-19 and 222 of them are on ventilators.
On Saturday, 3,208 people tested positive for the virus after 76,257 tests conducted. Since the start of the pandemic, 7,684 people succumbed to the disease.
Director General of the Health Ministry Professor Nachman Ash said earlier this week that more restrictions on gatherings should be considered after daily confirmed cases remained in the thousands. "The coronavirus cabinet should sit down and discuss the situation," Ash said.
He recommended that the number of people allowed to gather in any one location should be reduced to no more than 400 in doors and 500 outdoors.
In a press conference on Sunday, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitaz said there is a reduction in new daily cases and that the booster shots administered to Israelis over the age of 12, are working to prevent further illness.
"I call on all those who have not yet received vaccines to do so in order to protect themselves and avoid hospitalization and severe symptoms," Horowitz said.
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A woman looks in as children wear masks in an elementary school in Jerusalem earlier this month
(Photo: AFP )
Still health experts warn that after the schools reopen after a month of High Holidays, cases will once again be on the rise.