5,452 new COVID-19 cases reported, highest number since October

• Date: 29 December 2020
• Author: TZVI JOFFRE
• Published date: 29 December 2020
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Of those infected, 604 patients were in serious condition and 156 patients were on ventilators. Some 30 people have died since the Health Ministry's Monday morning update, bringing the death toll to 3,256 since the beginning of the outbreak.

The number of daily cases is almost a thousand cases higher than the number reported when the second coronavirus lockdown began in September.

The Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center warned on Tuesday that the numbers were expected to continue rising as large amount of tests were being conducted, indicating a significant increase in infection rates. The number of patients in serious condition is also "on a clear upward trend," according to the center.

"In order to shorten as much as possible the duration of the restrictions that began this week, the high level of infection must be stopped," warned the Center. "To this end, gatherings must be reduced, enclosed spaces must be well ventilated, proper, extensive and systematic wearing of standard masks, which cover the mouth and nose well, must be maintained, and other restrictions must be observed during the coronavirus period. Leaving the education system - and especially high schools - open will challenge the reduction of infection rates and may be a component in expanding it and accelerating the development of the third wave, before the onset of the effects of vaccines."

As new classification requirements came into effect under the updated version of the traffic light program, 74 cities and neighborhoods were labeled as red, 117 were orange, 151 were yellow and 946 were green.

The high numbers come the day after the first case of community spread of the...