Tel Aviv, Jan. 12, (dpa/GNA) – Despite being in the midst of a third national lockdown, the highest-ever number of daily coronavirus infections was reported by the Israeli Health Ministry on Tuesday.
The ministry recorded 9,589 new Covid-19 cases from the day before. The proportion of positive tests was 7.6 per cent.
The total number of people infected so far with the virus in Israel has exceeded half a million of the country’s population of 9.2 million.
Since Friday morning, all schools and kindergartens in Israel have been closed, with the exception of special education.
For over two weeks, Israelis have been restricted from travelling further than 1 kilometre from their homes, with exceptions. Other restrictions include the closure of businesses such as shopping centres and a ban on restaurants from offering any service other than delivery.
Israel hopes that in addition to the current lockdown measures, its swift vaccination campaign will soon result in a dip in the caseload.
According to the research website Our World in Data, Israel is the world leader in the number of vaccinated people per 100 residents, at 21.38, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Israel launched its vaccination campaign on December 20. It began by vaccinating people over the age of 60 as well as people in at-risk and other priority groups.
It has now invited those aged 55 and over to be vaccinated as well as teaching staff.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that every resident over the age of 16 will be able to get vaccinated by March.
GNA