As the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread across Israel, the Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that over 10,000 new coronavirus cases have been diagnosed the previous day, the highest single-day rise in infections in months.
The Health Ministry said 10,644 people tested positive for the virus on Monday out of some 197,000 tests conducted - putting the national infection rate at 5.51%.
Meanwhile, Israel's coronavirus R number — which gauges how many new cases crop up as a result of a single infection — has also increased and now stands at 1.91.
Coronavirus hospitalizations also continued to rise slightly, with hospitals currently treating 236 patients, of whom 117 are in serious condition, with 38 connected to ventilators.
Since the start of the pandemic, 8,247 Israelis have succumbed to coronavirus-related complications.
The ministry also reported that Jerusalem has been declared a "red" locality due to its coronavirus morbidity. The capital also leads the country with 1,427 active cases.
It's the latest city to join the list, which already includes Tel Aviv, Or Yehuda, Ma'ale Adumim, Kiryat Ono, Givat Zeev, Givatayim, Givat Shmuel, Hod Hasharon, Ness Ziona, Ariel, Modi'in Maccabim Reut, Raanana, Ramat Hasharon, Nazareth, Carmiel, Beit Shemesh, Kfar Saba, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan, Herzliya, Rosh HaAyin, Yavne, Yehud, Holon, Tiberias, Maalot Tarshiha, Rishon Lezion, Nof Hagalil, Pardes Hanna Karkur, Rehovot, Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, Netanya, Bat Yam, Beer Yaakov and Migdal Haemek.
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Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash receiving the fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine
(Photo: Ranaan Ben-Zur)
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash received the fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday morning as part of the country's second booster campaign for those over the age of 60.
"This is a very, very contagious variant, as we can see. The morbidity rises and jumps every day. The best answer is the vaccine," Ash said. "Therefore, I also chose and came this morning to get vaccinated with the fourth dose, and I call on everyone to get vaccinated."