Serious COVID cases go below 1,000 for 1st time in a month

Data by the Health Ministry shows the number of serious COVID-19 patients in Israel has gone below 1,000 for the first time since January 10, underscoring the effect the vaccines are starting to have on serious illness.

The ministry says 5,635 cases were identified yesterday — with 7.5% of tests returning a positive result — and another 3,258 so far today.

The total cases since the pandemic started have reached 714,056, including 65,730 active cases. They include 992 serious cases, including 384 in critical condition and 313 on ventilators.

The death toll has reached 5,272.

The data also shows 3,734,894 Israelis have received at least one vaccine dose, with 2,376,138 also getting their second shot.