Israel on Thursday saw its tally of severe coronavirus cases spike to over 600 for the first time in months, health officials said.
The Health Ministry said at least 603 patients are now in severe condition, of whom 106 are connected to ventilators.
The official death toll has increased to 6,726 after four patients died on Wednesday. Since the start of this week, 63 patients have succumbed to the disease.
The COVID-19 forecast model developed by Ichilov Medical Center, projected back on July 26 that in two weeks Israel will have somewhere around 550 coronavirus patients in a serious condition if the contagion rate keeps its current pace.
The ministry also said that 7,856 people tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. After 145,724 tests had been conducted, the infection rate now stands at 5.5%.
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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visits a vaccination center in the Arab city of Tayibe
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
In the meantime, 1,201,254 people have already received the third dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while 5,871,532 Israelis have received their first dose and 5,431,133 the second.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday morning visited a vaccination center in the Arab city of Tayibe to encourage inoculation in the wake of a low vaccination rate reported in the Arab sector.
"I appeal to all the public leaders in the Arab sector - all the teachers, the principals, the mayors, the honorable ones - to join the fight to save lives. Your life is important to me," Bennett said.