Coronavirus transmission rate dips back below 1 after two weeks

A coronavirus testing center in Jerusalem, on March 22, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
A coronavirus testing center in Jerusalem, on March 22, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

New Health Ministry figures show the so-called coronavirus transmission rate dipping below 1 for the first time in two weeks, signaling that the virus’s spread is back in retreat.

The R number, currently at 0.98, represents how many people each coronavirus carrier infects on average and is used as measure for gauging how much the virus is spreading. Any reading above 1 means the spread of the virus is accelerating, and any below 1 means it’s slowing.

The ministry reports 7,338 new cases were confirmed yesterday, with 22.78 percent of tests coming back positive.

There are 58,749 active infections, including 277 hospital patients in serious condition, of whom 102 are on ventilators.

The death toll stands at 10,518.

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