Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 21, 2022
From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 21, 2022
Nearly 13,000 daily virus cases amid concerns of Omicron subvariant infection wave
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A technician collects swab samples for COVID-19 at Ben Gurion International Airport on March 2, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/ Flash90)
The Health Ministry says 12,869 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed yesterday.
Experts believe the resurgence is most likely caused by the Omicron subvariant BA.2, which is thought to be more infectious. It is still unknown if it causes more serious illness.
Israel’s R number — the transmission rate of the virus — continued its steady climb, reaching 1.23.
The transmission rate represents the number of people each confirmed patient infects, on average. Any number over 1 signifies that the pandemic is growing. It is based on data from 10 days earlier.
The ministry says 328 people are hospitalized in serious condition — a slight decrease.
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