The Health Ministry announced on Thursday morning that a record-high of 8,919 Israelis were diagnosed with the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, warning that the relentless resurgence of the pandemic could soon overwhelm the healthcare system.
According to the ministry, 13.6% of the 65,694 tests performed between Wednesday and Thursday came back positive.
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The high number of positive tests was partially due to the fact that fewer tests were conducted last weekend and over Yom Kippur, the ministry said.
Israel has recorded 248,133 coronavirus cases since the global pandemic erupted in mid-March, including 1,571 deaths.
Some 177,752 Israelis have recovered from the disease.
Additional ministry data shows that, of the 68,811 active cases, 810 patients are in serious condition, and 206 are on ventilators.
Overnight, the government voted to tighten coronavirus restrictions and extend the nationwide lockdown until Oct. 14.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the country's exit from the second lockdown could take up to a year to be fully completed.
Also on Wednesday, the Ministerial Committee on Intelligence Services extended the mandate given to the Shin Bet security agency to trace the mobile phones of coronavirus patients, as part of the epidemiological investigations held by the Health Ministry.
The Israel Security Agency's license on the matter was extended by 21 days.
The committee agreed that in some cases, the mandatory quarantine period imposed on those exposed to coronavirus patients could be shortened to 10 days, instead of 14.
The panel also discussed whether to mandate members of the public to use the Health Ministry's phone app that allows tracking by law or through an incentive program, but did not vote on the matter.
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