The 24 hours between midnight Monday and midnight Tuesday saw a new record high of 1,971 coronavirus cases confirmed by the 25,339 tests carried out in that same period, the Corona National Knowledge and Information Center reported in its daily report, released Wednesday morning.
As of Wednesday, there were 31,011 active or symptomatic cases, including 257 patients listed in serious condition, of whom 77 were on ventilators. Another 128 corona patients were listed in moderate condition. A total of 22,983 Israelis have recovered from coronavirus since the start of the epidemic.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
At the current rate of spread, the number of cases nationwide could double in 22 days, the center reported. If the rate of infection does not change, the Corona National Knowledge and Information Center report warned, the number of patients listed in serious condition could reach dozens per day, with hundreds of dead.
"The rate of infection in Israel in the second wave is widespread, in a manner that makes it very difficult to control and stop. Israel is doing particularly poorly when it comes to this, in comparison to other western countries," the report stated.
Researchers from the center noted that the comparative leveling-off in the number of new cases seen in the past few days was not a "real" number and instead reflected the lower number of tests carried out.
The Haredi cities Bnei Brak, Betar illit, and Beit Shemesh, which were listed as "red" cities because of the spikes seen in the number of cases among their residents, continued to lead the list in Wednesday's report. A total of 2,334 active cases were reported in Bnei Brak; 1,121 in Betar illit, and 818 in Beit Shemesh.
Jerusalem, where 4,651 active cases were reported as of Wednesday, has seen a decrease in the number of new cases and is no longer classed as an infection hotspot.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry recommended Wednesday that the mandatory quarantine time for asymptomatic carriers be cut from 14 days to 10, and that symptomatic carriers be quarantined for 13 days.
The ministry's new recommendation came in response to new research from the World Health Organization. Only doctors will be authorized to change patients' status to "recovered" and release patients from quarantine.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
