Coronavirus Commissioner Professor Salman Zarka on Sunday expressed concern over the recent uptick in the rate of COVID transmission.
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Health Ministry data shows that 5,745 Israelis contracted the virus over the past 24 hours, bringing the R number – or reproduction rate – to 0.85.
Two weeks ago, the R number stood at 0.66. The slow rise in infection rate has prompted some health officials to warn that a new wave of the virus could erupt in the wake of the Purim and Passover holidays.
Israel has recorded 3,721,410 COVID-19 cases since the global pandemic erupted in 2020, including 10,379 deaths.
According to Health Ministry data, there are currently 36,590 active cases, with 882 Israelis hospitalized. Among them, 353 patients are in serious condition and 158 are on ventilators.
"I'm concerned by this," Zarka said. "The R number is rising, but as it is still under 1 the coronavirus outbreak is retreating. We are constantly holding assessments of the situation and will be monitoring the situation closely.
"What we want to see is the number and condition of patients in serious condition," he explained. "The R number is concerning mostly with respect to elderly patients. They are at high risk and we want to keep them safe."
He further urged Israelis in high-risk groups to get vaccinated.
"I want people to take care of themselves and stay safe. Resuming full daily routines with the virus still raging will create additional circles of transmission. I hope we don't see the R number exceed 1 after Purim," he said.
Hagai Levine, chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians, said, "There is no reason to worry about the change around the infection rate. The thing is, coronavirus is here to stay, and we need to find the right balance.
"We are not comfortable with having a very large population that has not received all three vaccines, and many people are vulnerable to serious illness. The rate of immunization is very slow, and this is a point where there is something to be done."
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