The 27,657 coronavirus tests conducted in Israel from midnight Wednesday to midnight Thursday have confirmed another 1,672 cases – a positive rate of 6.3%, the Corona National Knowledge and Information Center reported Friday morning.
Since the start of the pandemic, 80,054 people in Israel have contracted the virus, and the death toll has remained at 576 since Thursday.
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There were 778 COVID patients hospitalized at Israel's various medical centers, including 358 in serious condition, of whom 102 were on ventilators. Another 143 of the hospitalized patients were listed in moderate condition.
In total, there were 24,220 active or symptomatic patients nationwide.
There has also been a rise in the number of cities and towns coded "red" due to high numbers of new confirmed cases among their residents. As of Friday, the list included Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit, Ein Naqquba, Kfar HaOranim, Elkana, and Ilut. Cities coded "orange" included Jerusalem, Ashdod, Beit Shemesh, Elad, Betar Illit, and Qalansawe.
Meanwhile, a survey of hospital directors conducted by Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod in May found that most hospital heads in Israel are dissatisfied with the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, and feel that the health care system is unprepared to handle the situation if it worsens.
The main challenge the hospital directors cited was a shortage of protective equipment for hospital staff, followed by frequent changes in government policy.
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