The coronavirus infection rate continued to decline on Friday, Health Ministry data showed. Of the 35,768 tests the ministry administered the day before, 331 came back positive, placing the infection rate at 1%.
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There are currently 6,581 active patients in the country. Some 525 Israelis are hospitalized, 368 are in serious condition, and 192 are on ventilators.
Israel has reported 833,707 cases and 6,220 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic. To date, 820,906 Israelis have recovered from the virus.
As per ministry data, 4,804,891 Israelis have been fully vaccinated, which constitutes 51.67% of the population, and 5,252,718 received the first dose.
In light of the consistent decline of the infection rate, meanwhile, the government is considering lifting the obligatory donning of protective masks in outdoor spaces. While some health ministry officials, such as national coronavirus commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash, support the move, others are not keen on it.
The virus, Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezi Levi told the Kan public broadcaster, continues to pose a risk despite Israel's encouraging morbidity rates.
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"I don't think we're out of the [pandemic] and should still behave cautiously," Levi said.
The government is set to convene to deliberate on the matter next week.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
