There has been a drastic increase in the number of patients that tested positive for the coronavirus, the Health Ministry reported Sunday. Some 569 people tested positive of the total of 17,472 that were tested over the weekend, which catapulted the infection rate to 3.3%.
As it happens every week, the number of tests conducted on the weekend was below average. This might be the reason behind the increase in the number of positive tests, a ministry official said.
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Israel has recorded 335,132 corona cases since the pandemic erupted in mid-March. There are currently 9,923 active cases, with 510 patients in hospital. Of those, 273 are said to be in serious condition, and 112 are on ventilators. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 2,854 Israelis have died.
The government launched a pilot program Friday to open 15 shopping malls across the country. Hundreds of Israelis lined up for Black Friday sales.
Former Director-General of the Health Ministry, Moshe Bar Siman-Tov said, "The lines in the shopping malls can contribute to the spread of the virus. It can endanger us all. Tonight [Saturday] we will have a meeting with the minister to discuss the situation. The pilot program might be changed significantly. I do not rule out the possibility that it might be canceled altogether."
Director-General of the Health Ministry Professor Hezi Levi told Israel Hayom, "The situation cannot continue like this. The photos we saw from the Machane Yehuda market are disturbing. The Health Ministry created guidelines and they are not being followed."
Coronavirus Commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash visited Saturday the Nazareth municipality, and the northern Arab village of Yafia after both areas were declared "red" zones and are now restricted areas. Ash thanked all those present for their efforts, especially during holiday season. He expressed hope that Nazareth will overcome the crisis and return to being a "green" city again.
Ash reported earlier that the possibility of a third lockdown is not off the table. He stressed that a lockdown is not a punishment, rather an efficient tool to reduce morbidity and halt the spread of the virus.
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