The number of new confirmed cases has spiked in recent weeks across the country, reflecting significant community spread in addition to the import of the virus from overseas, according to a new report from the Military Intelligence task force on the coronavirus.
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The report further found Israel has seen a 50% increase in the number of seriously ill over the past two weeks.
Israel recorded 343 new cases of the coronavirus, Sunday, for an infection rate of 0.7%. A total of 49,074 tests were carried out that day.
Although 833,993 Israelis have recovered from the virus, 6,428 have died.
There are currently 2,597 active cases of the virus, a record not seen since April 18. Thirty-five of those cases are serious. Of those in serious condition, 16 are on ventilators.
The coronavirus reproduction rate, meanwhile, has dropped to 1.41.
There are no longer any "red" cities according to the traffic-light system for ranking localities on their coronavirus infection rates. Eight localities are "orange" and 24 are "yellow" according to the system.
With infections on the rise, nursing homes are once again at the forefront of the government's concerns.
A senior Health Ministry official told Israel Hayom the health system was preparing to demand green pass restrictions limiting entry to the vaccinated or those who have recovered from the virus be reinstated at nursing homes and geriatric hospitals across the country.
The official said there would "meticulous adherence to mask-[wearing] and the green pass. Vaccinated people will enter and will be in touch with their parents."
Increased testing will be carried out on nursing home staff to thwart infection and contain any potential outbreak.
With the so-called coronavirus cabinet set to convene at the Prime Minister's Residence Tuesday night, Health Ministry officials are examining alternative solutions to help limit the virus' spread.
"We will come with proposals for restrictions or additional activities," a senior Health Ministry said, noting the challenge would be finding solutions that do not significantly harm the economy.
"These could be things that cost money, with the aim of avoiding a difficult blow to the population. For example, performing tests on unvaccinated children at the entrance to events." While the official noted this would not be simple "logistically and economically, it's preferable to restrictions."
Other possibilities include the return of the purple badge that would see unvaccinated people allowed entry to various facilities although with distancing guidelines in effect and caps on the number of attendees.
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