In another milestone in the war against the coronavirus, the number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition in Israel dropped below the 500 mark (499) for the first time since late December 2020. Among patients who are hospitalized, 204 are on ventilators, while the reproduction rate continued to drop and now stands at 0.6.
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On Monday, 942 new cases were confirmed out of 59,605 tests that were administered, for a percentage of 1.6%. Altogether, there are 14,697 active cases of the coronavirus in Israel.
The number of people who have died as a result of the virus or complications from it is 6,114.
The vaccination rate, however, also continued to drop, and on Monday 12,491 people received their first dose and 38,585 received their second dose. The overall number of people in Israel who have received the first dose is 5.189 million, while 4.601 million have already received their second dose.
Despite the encouraging trends, Israel still plans to take precautions during the upcoming Independence Day celebrations on April 15. Large musical performances will be prohibited, and large gatherings will be restricted based on up-to-date information. The guidelines still require cabinet approval and of Tuesday all potential restrictions were still prone to alterations.
Public ceremonies on Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, which the country marks one day before Independence Day (April 14), will be subject to green pass guidelines as well. Bereaved families will be allowed to visit their fallen loved ones in family capsules with children.
Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Manchester and Manchester Biomedical Research Centre said on Monday that 7.6% of people who contracted the coronavirus experience hearing loss and 14.8% suffer tinnitus.
Vertigo was also prevalent in 7.2 % of Covid-19 infected individuals, they said.
Other viruses can cause hearing impairments as well, including measles, mumps and meningitis, which damage sensory cells in the inner ear.
The researchers stressed that the reason for Covid-19 affecting auditory senses is not known, but they believe that a wide variety of people have been affected.
Also on Monday, Israel and New Zealand gave interim approval for the sale of biotech firm SaNOtize Research and Development's Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS), which could help prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus, the company said on Monday.
Manufacturing of NONS, under the brand name Enovid, has begun in Israel with SaNOtize's partner Nextar Chempharma Solutions Ltd and it is expected to be on sale there this summer.
In New Zealand, SaNOtize has registered its nasal spray with the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, which permits the company to distribute and sell NONS over the counter immediately, the Vancouver-based company said.
NONS protects users from viruses that enter the body through the upper nasal pathways.
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