Israel's coronavirus infection rate stands at 0.5%, according to Health Ministry data released Friday. Of the 42,982 people who tested for the virus, Thursday, just 209 were found to be carrying COVID-19.
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Israel currently has 4,414 active cases of the virus, 276 of which are serious. Of those in serious condition, 170 are critical, and 155 are on ventilators.
Although 824,947 people have recovered from the virus, 6,280 have died.
So far, over 5,304,870 Israelis have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine while at least 4,911,808 have received both doses.
With the infection rate remaining low, the government authorized a further easing of coronavirus restrictions, Wednesday.
Open-air stadiums will be allowed to increase their maximum capacity from 5,000 to 10,000 spectators, and up to 750 people will be able to attend outdoor, standing-room-only events, up from the previous 500-person cap on attendance. In addition, cultural events with seating will be allowed to offer customers beverages but not food.
Up to 1,000 people will be allowed to take part in group sporting events, and small museums will be allowed to increase their capacity to one person for every seven square meters (around 75 square feet) of space.
While Israel appears to be opening up in many fields, the education system has been left behind.
In their meeting, Wednesday, cabinet members canceled capsules for fourth-grade students only and lowered the percentage of 11th and 12th graders that must be vaccinated to hold regular classes from 90% to 65%.
Despite a majority of epidemic management team members supporting a faster reopening of the school system, the meeting ended with a recommendation for the "gradual and controlled opening of the education system, within a relatedly fast timetable."
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said, "Education is the most important thing, and we are making every effort to open the maximum we can with the minimum risk to students."
Health Ministry Director-General Hezi Levy said, "We prefer to go the cautious route and see what the opening brings."
Ahead of the meeting, the Education Ministry called for the opening of all educational frameworks without capsules for all ages.
"Enough with the divided classes. The time has come to fully open the education system," Education Minister Yoav Galant tweeted.
"The emotional, educational, and social risk is now dozens of times higher than the health risk," he said.
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