The Health Ministry reported Thursday evening that severe cases of COVID-19 have ticked up by 70% within just one week.
There were 445 patients hospitalized in serious condition with the disease, 72 of them connected to ventilators, up from just 262 at the same time last week.
Health authorities also reported that 4,048 Israelis have been tested positive for the virus out of some 85,000 tests carried out since midnight, putting the country's positivity rate at 5.03%
Health Ministry Director General Prof. Nachman Ash said on Thursday he was deeply concerned with the rampant spread of the disease throughout the country.
"We hope the measures the government approved on Wednesday will stop the surge in morbidity," Ash told a press briefing ahead of a meeting of an expert panel to discuss lowering the eligibility age for the coronavirus booster shot. Israel began offering a supplementary jab to citizens over 60 earlier this month, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
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Senior citizen receives a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Jerusalem on Wednesday
(Photo:: EPA)
"It is clear to all of us that the decision to vaccinate younger people is a complex one and must be made after careful consideration by medical professionals," he said.
Ash urged the public to act responsibly and adhere to health measures since "nobody wants to see another lockdown."
He also called on 1.1 million Israelis who have yet to receive the vaccine to do so to allow the country to return to normality, including allowing the safe opening of the school year in September.
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Health Ministry Dir. Gen. Prof. Nachman Ash briefing reporters on Thursday
(Photo: GPO)
"Get your vaccines," he said. "Vaccines are available all over the country and they are our most efficient tool at this critical time."
Ash also said he was worried about an increase in morbidity among the ultra-Orthodox sector and called on members of the community to observe regulations ahead of the High Holidays.
Synagogues are required to enforce the Green Pass regulations which limit the number of people allowed to congregate in public facilities and require people to provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID or a recent negative coronavirus test.