In a troubling trend, the Health Ministry reported another uptick in COVID-19, as 5,817 Israelis tested positive for the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, sparking concerns of a resurgence of the pandemic.
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The ministry's data shows that there are currently 28,316 active patients including 100 people in serious condition and 22 requiring artificial ventilation.
The positivity rate for screening tests is 26.3% and the virus reproduction rate R has exceeded 1.5.
A total of 10,882 Israelis have died from the virus since the onset of the global pandemic in March 2020.
Over the last week, Israel has recorded some 33,000 new coronavirus cases – a 105% increase over the previous week.
While the reason for the spike in cases in Israel has not been confirmed, it is likely due to the spread of new omicron subvariant BA.5, which represents 80% of new cases in Portugal – another country that has seen a recent rise in cases.
The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants circulating are similar to other subvariants of the omicron strain of the virus in that they produce milder symptoms upon infection compared to previous variants.
In view of the significant increase in cases, the Health Ministry said it was exploring reimposing mask-wearing in enclosed spaces and vaccinating the population at risk with a fifth dose.
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In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the Health Ministry recommended indoor mask-wearing for the first time since the requirement was removed in April of this year.
"We ask you to make sure to wear a mask in closed spaces, not because it is obligatory - but because it is an act of solidarity and caring for others," the statement said.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
