The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel was continuing its downward trend, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning, as the country's healthcare system was preparing to return to normal under the shadow of the coronavirus.
There were 15,870 confirmed cases in the country as of Thursday morning, among them 8,412 who have recovered and 7,239 who are still considered active patients, the ministry said.
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Ministry officials added that 12 more people died since Wednesday night, bringing the overall death toll in Israel to 219 people; 7,043 people in mild condition, 79 in moderate condition and 117 patients in critical condition, among them 85 on ventilators.
In the town of Deir al-Assad in northern Israel, which has the largest number of infections in relation to the size of its population, there has been just one new confirmed case of the virus in the past three days. The number of infected residents stands at 147.
Half of the confirmed cases in Bnei Brak have recovered and just 21 new cases have been reported in the past three days.
The greatest amount of new cases over the past three days was recorded in Jerusalem with 101. An additional 20 people contracted the virus in Beit Shemesh and zero in Netivot, two cities that are under partial lockdown.
In Tel Aviv another three people contracted the virus over the past three days, bringing the city's overall number to 532 – a morbidity rate of just 34 cases per 100,000 residents. In Modiin, Sderot, Herzliya, Nof HaGalil, Ra'anana, Gedera, Or Yehuda and many other cities, no additional infections were recorded in recent days
Within the framework of returning the healthcare system to a regular routine, meanwhile, the Health Ministry said on Thursday that hospitals would begin functioning on a normal basis. As of Thursday, elective procedures, surgeries and treatment at outpatient clinics were reinstated, including physical therapy and alternative medicine treatments. Non-urgent surgeries will be performed in accordance with anesthesia reserves.
With that, the healthcare system will not be returning to complete normalcy: Morning surgeries will be conducted on a 60% basis compared to the pre-pandemic period, and afternoon procedures on a 50% basis.
Health fund clinics and other treatment facilities were also authorized to return to normal, except in areas under lockdown or restrictions due to the relatively large number of confirmed coronavirus cases there. Treatments that can be done remotely, such as consultations, will continue within those parameters.
As for in vitro fertilization treatments, special directives are expected to be published separately later Thursday.
Director of the Clalit national health fund, Prof. Ehud Davidson, said: "In recent weeks we experienced a 30%-35% drop in the public's requests for check-ups and follow-ups with family and children's' doctors… and a 43% drop in emergency room visits. In light of attaining control over the rate of spread of the virus and relatively small scope of morbidity, we are returning to regular activities."
Also as a result of the reduced number of coronavirus patients, hospitals have already begun closing their corona wards. There are currently just 383 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the country, compared to 750 two weeks ago.
