Israel’s COVID-19 death toll surpasses 8,000

Serious cases dip further to 357, amid continued decline in morbidity; another 1,000 infections confirmed since midnight

By ToI Staff 18 October 2021, 11:22 pm

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Medical workers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem treat patients in the hospital's coronavirus ward, on October 14, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Nineteen months into the pandemic, Israel’s death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 8,000 on Monday.

The death toll stood at 8,010, with the Health Ministry reporting 11 more fatalities since the morning.

Israel recorded a jump in deaths during this most recent coronavirus wave, especially as compared to mortality rate prior to the Delta variant’s spread, but that rate has been comparatively lower than in the previous waves, prior to mass vaccination.

Monday’s grim milestone came after the death toll passed 7,000 in late August.

Recent weeks have seen a decline in fatalities, as the fourth wave of the pandemic wanes.

Globally, close to 4.9 million people have died from COVID-19, per the World Health Organization.

A man turns on LED candles at a memorial for Israel’s victims of COVID-19, in Jerusalem, November 8, 2020. (AP Photo/ Oded Balilty)

According to the latest Health Ministry figures, 1,004 more infections have been confirmed since midnight, with active cases standing at 17,536. Over 1.3 million infections have been confirmed in Israel since the start of the pandemic.

The number of serious cases further fell to 357.

According to the ministry, 357 people remain in serious condition with COVID. Another 1,004 cases were recorded since midnight.

More than 6.2 million Israelis have received at least one vaccine dose, over 5.7 million have had two, and more than 3.8 million have been administered a booster shot.