Israel's infection rate stands at 1.88%, according to the Health Ministry. Of the 82,387 people who tested for the virus Sunday, 1,457 were found to have COVID-19.
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There are 25,155 active cases of the virus. There are 447 people in serious condition, 186 of whom are on ventilators.
Although 1,273,091 Israelis have recovered from the coronavirus since the outset of the pandemic, 7,920 have died.
On the vaccination front, 3,755,175 Israelis have received all three available doses of the coronavirus vaccine, while 5,684,354 have received two doses. Over 6 million – 6,183,984 – have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
New data released by the Health Ministry over the weekend indicates a third dose of the vaccine is effective in preventing infection not only in those aged 60 and over but among people of all ages.
According to the data, which was collected and analyzed by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Health Ministry, Israelis aged 16 to 29 were 17 times less likely to contract the virus than those who did not receive the third dose of the vaccine.
Nevertheless, the researchers conceded "it remains unclear why the protection in this age [group] is higher." They noted protection from serious illness among younger Israelis could not be calculated because no members of this age group had fallen seriously ill with COVID-19 after receiving their third dose.
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Director of Public Health Services at the Health Ministry Dr. Sharon Elroi Preiss said: "We saw the morbidity rate began to rise in the group that was vaccinated with the second dose within the framework of the trial. We're doing this alongside lab tests to lower antibody levels, and I hope we can set a standard for antibodies."
On Saturday, the Education Ministry announced a planned quarantine exemption for students that was to be implemented across the country in "green" cities with low morbidity levels on Sunday would instead be rolled out gradually due to a lack of preparedness, according to a Times of Israel report.
Under the new quarantine regulations, students exposed to a confirmed virus carrier would need a negative PCR test result to return to class. Upon returning to the classroom, students would continue to take rapid coronavirus tests every day for a week. They would then need to produce another negative PCR test to be given the all-clear.
The Kan public broadcaster reported that Israel was set to receive some 30 million rapid tests meant for families with schoolchildren aged 12 and under by mid-October. Education Ministry officials have expressed concerns, however, that 30 million tests may not be enough to meet the country's needs.
The move to ease quarantines comes as infections inside Israel continue to trend downward in a sign the Health Ministry has said the fourth wave of the virus is waning.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
