Israel's coronavirus death toll exceeded the grim 2,000 mark on Monday, new data released by the Health Ministry showed.
Having recorded 16 more deaths since midnight, the death count hit 2,016 since the outbreak of the pandemic in mid-March.
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The ministry said that 1,915 new coronavirus cases were added by the ministry, bringing the country's overall tally of cases to 293,553.
Of the 52,892 active cases throughout the country, 827 patients are in serious condition – including 227 on artificial lung ventilation – 287 individuals in moderate condition, and the rest in mild condition or showing no symptoms at all.
While more cases were detected on Monday versus Sunday's 1,618 infections in 24 hours, the positive test ratio downwards trend continued at 6.5% – the lowest figure in weeks.
In total, the country conducted 23,032 screening tests on Monday.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said he was optimistic as to the possibility of some lockdown restrictions being lifted next week amid the downward trend in morbidity.
However, he still urged caution and stressed that kindergartens will reopen only when coronavirus infection figures decrease further.
"We need a two-week interval between each [gradual] opening and opening, but red cities will remain in lockdown," Edelstein told broadcaster Channel 12.
The minister commented on mixed messages sent in statements by top officials in his office, asserting "there is no dispute. Someone may have spoken unclearly. We don't have dates, we have morbidity figures."
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Edelstein was referring to remarks made by Health Ministry Director-General Professor Hezi Levi who assessed that preschools will reopen as soon as next week. At the same time, Head of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis told reporters that schools are likely not to reopen on Sunday.
"We are still far from the goal," Edelstein stressed. "I understand the hardship, I am not cynical in that regard. [But] we are not in an exit plan, we are with a plan to prevent a third lockdown."
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
