Coronavirus testing nationwide identified 9,025 new cases on Tuesday, the Health Ministry reported. This was the second day in a row in which over 9,000 new cases were reported in a 24-hour period. The percentage of positive test results on Tuesday was 7.2%.
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As of Wednesday morning, 1,760 COVID patients were hospitalized, including 1,042 in critical condition and 262 on ventilators. The death toll since the start of the epidemic in Israel stands at 3,770.
The increased morbidity rate might lead to a longer nationwide lockdown than was initially planned.
"I very much hope that we can exit the lockdown next Thursday," Coronavirus chief Professor Nachman Ash said in a radio interview on Tuesday. "But there is a possibility that the number of infections will not decrease. If so, we will recommend that the government extend the lockdown, but I hope it won't come to that."
The Health Ministry announced Tuesday that Israelis over the age of 50 were now eligible for vaccinations, and urged Israelis to contact their healthcare providers to schedule appointments.
Meanwhile, Channel 12 News reported that according to preliminary data from the vaccination campaign, Pfizer's vaccine decreases the chance of infection by half starting 14 days after the first dose.
The second dose offers up to 95% protection one week after it is administered, the data indicates.
Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of the Public Health Service in the Health Ministry, told Channel 12 News that 19 patients were currently in critical condition after having contracted COVID-19 despite having had the first dose of hte vaccine. Alroy-Preis urged the public to continue to be cautious and protect themselves even after receiving the shot.
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