Two days before the 2021-22 school year is due to open on Sept. 1, nearly 88,000 students in Israel's public school system were in quarantine on Monday, 32,528 of whom are active or symptomatic carriers, the Health Ministry reported Monday.
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An additional 4,288 school staff were in quarantine, approximately half of whom are symptomatic.
The positive test rate for teachers and students stood at 8.8%, higher than the national positive test rate of 7.81%, which still comprises the highest rate seen in Israel since Feb. 10.
From midnight Sunday to Monday morning, an additional 52 COVID patients were listed in serious condition, a relatively high number for so early in the day. The virus reproduction rate remained stable at 1.1.
Despite the rise in the number of new serious COVID cases, the total number of serious cases nationwide appears to be stabilizing, with 731 patients in serious condition on Monday morning, including 160 on ventilators.
A total of 1,167 COVID patients were hospitalized as of Monday morning.
Since the pandemic hit Israel in early 2020, 6,880 Israelis have succumbed to the virus, including eight who died on Sunday.
On Sunday, Israel decided to expand its booster shot campaign to all eligible age groups.
Announcing the decision, Health Ministry Director-General Professor Nachman Ash said,"The decline in the effectiveness of the vaccines with time is proving to be significant," he said. "Today we are expanding the possibility of receiving a booster for the entire population, provided that five months have passed since they've received the second dose."
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said there was no doubt that a booster shot was "effective in preventing infection, and it significantly reduces the risk of serious and fatal illnesses."
COVID booster shots will now be offered to everyone age 12 and over.
With the expanded booster shot guidelines, the Health Ministry has decided that starting Oct. 1, only Israelis who have received the booster or who received the second dose of the vaccine fewer than five months ago (meaning after May 1) will be eligible for the ministry's "green pass" vaccination certificate. The ministry plans to cancel the certificates of anyone who does not comply.
In addition, starting Sept. 3, Israelis who receive the booster shot will be exempt from mandatory quarantine upon returned from foreign countries listed "orange" (starting one week after receiving the booster) and will only have to self-quarantine until they receive a negative COVID test.
i24NEWS contributed to this report
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