Coronavirus commissioner Professor Ronni Gamzu warned Thursday that Israel must "drastically lower infection rates" over the next two weeks to avoid another major lockdown.
The Health Ministry said that as of Thursday, Israel has recorded 90,283 coronavirus cases. Including 651 deaths. Some 66,143 Israelis have recovered from the virus.
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In his briefing to the so-called corona cabinet, Gamzu said that Israel has to strive to lower the daily tally of new coronavirus cases to 400 or less.
Some 10,041 Israelis were diagnosed with the virus this week alone.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Gamzu to "prepare a strict contingency plan" in case the outbreak worsens following the beginning of the new school year in September.
Earlier this week Gamzu announce a plan to better control the spread of the virus using a "stoplight system" to better facilitates how authorities deal with municipal outbreaks.
The plan is based on a color-coded scale by which Israeli localities will be assessed to determine the type of restrictions imposed on them and their duration.
The plan defines corona-free communities as "white" and minimal-morbidity localities as "green," saying that their residents will be free of pandemic-related restrictions.
Cities where morbidity is showing signs that it is increasing but have a stable infection rate will be coded as "yellow" and public activity there will be restricted.
"Orange" communities will be defined as those with increasing morbidity and an inconsistent infection rate, while localities with high morbidity and an increasing infection rate will be designated as "red" and subjected to strict restriction on public activity, including potential lockdowns.
On Wednesday, Gamzu noted downgraded Jerusalem's corona status to "red," in line with accepted policies around the world given the ratio of patients in the capital.
The city now faces a potential lockdown to try and contain the outbreak.
According to the Health Ministry, in recent weeks, the spiking number of infections has occurred mainly in east Jerusalem neighborhoods.
Gamzu reiterated that unless infection rates are curbed, a nationwide lockdown may be imminent.
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