This past weekend saw Israel's COVID numbers drop off, with the reproduction rate falling to 1.05, meaning each confirmed carrier infects 1.05 other people, the Health Ministry reported Sunday.
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On Saturday, tests confirmed 4,975 new cases, or 5.76% of the 89,081 tests processed in the same 24-hour period. This is considered a relatively low daily number, due to the weekend.
On Sunday morning, an addition 884 new cases were identified as the number of active or symptomatic carriers rose to 91,346.
There were 1,126 patients hospitalized nationwide, 679 of whom were listed in serious condition and 143 were on ventilators.
As of Sunday, the number of COVID deaths in Israel since the start of the pandemic stood at 7,154 after seven patients succumbed to the virus on Saturday.
The number of Israelis who have received a COVID booster shot was up to 2,581,893, and over 6 million have received at least a first dose of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Director-General Professor Nachman Ash discussed the latest data in an interview to Radio 103FM on Sunday.
"I am definitely seeing a slowdown in new cases. When we look at the numbers from this weekend and the number of patients in serious condition these past few days, the numbers have stopped – but are still disturbing," Ash said.
When asked about an expected drop in new cases due to the booster shot campaign, Ash said, "It depends on the effects of the start of the school year and holiday events, vs. the influence of the vaccine. I hope and expect that the vaccines will have more influence and we'll see a drop [in new cases]."
Ash called public gatherings "concerning."
"It's infuriating to see people not taking the spread of the virus into account. In the end, it's a matter of personal responsibility … It's very hard to exert control over events like these," he said.
The Health Ministry has issued COVID guidelines for the High Holidays that include a recommendation that prayers be held in the open. Synagogues expecting over 50 worshippers will be required to check green pass vaccination certificates at the entrance to the premises, even if prayers are held in a courtyard.
Children under age 12 will be permitted to enter synagogues only if they present proof of a negative COVID test. A negative rapid antigen test will not meet the criteria.
Meanwhile, Israel's national coronavirus coordinator Dr. Salman Zarka said Saturday that the country should prepare for a fourth round of vaccines.
"Given that that the virus is here and is here to stay, we must also prepare for the fourth jab," Zarka told local radio.
The next booster shot should be modified to offer better protection against new variants of the coronavirus, such as the highly transmissible Delta strain.
"This is our life from now on, in waves," Zarka said.
Zarka did not indicate when Israel might have to administer a fourth round of vaccines.
i24NEWS contributed to this report
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