Three million Israelis, a third of the population, have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the Health Ministry reported on Monday. Some 35,000 Israelis received the first dose of the vaccination within the last two days. A similar number received their second jabs too.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The ministry also reported that of the 44,288 Israelis tests on Sunday, 3,324 were positive for COVID-19. Some 1,303 Israelis are currently hospitalized, 313 are in critical condition, and 256 of them are on ventilators.
Thirteen Israelis died of the coronavirus on Monday, the lowest number recorded in over a month, as January saw an average of 45 COVID deaths per day. The decrease in the morbidity rate brought much-awaited relief to the healthcare system.
Israel reported 757,150 cases and 5,604 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year.
Meanwhile, ministry officials are concerned that celebrations on Purim, a holiday known for its large gatherings, might set back its efforts to curb the pandemic and leave the ministry no choice but to close educational institutions mere days after they resumed operations after a six-week look.
"If there is an increase in the morbidity on Purim, we will need to close the doors," Coronavirus Commissioner Professor Nachman Ash said in an interview with local radio station 103FM.
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein expressed similar concerns.
"The good news is that more than 70% of Israelis over the age of 16 have been vaccinated. However, I am much less enthusiastic about the upcoming mass gatherings. We will therefore work to impose a curfew and decrease public transformation over Purim," the minister said.
The government is set to convene later on Tuesday to rule whether to impose such a curfew.
Meanwhile, the government ruled that Israelis who return from abroad will no longer need to quarantine in state-run hotels. Instead, they will be required to do so at home.
"We are trying to promote the solution that everybody [every Israeli who returns from abroad] should be sent to state-hotels after testing negative for the virus at Be Gurion Airport and be sent home with a electronic bracelet," Edelstein said, referring to the measures that enable the ministry to keep tabs on those in quarentine.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
