Israel’s rate of coronavirus infection continues to creep up on Thursday, with children aged 11 and under making up 56 percent of active cases, Health Ministry data shows.
Out of 5,971 cases in the country, 19 percent are children under the age of five, while the other 37 percent are aged five to 11, who were given the clearance to receive the first inoculation in November but are still not considered vaccinated.
The R number – the average number of people each coronavirus carrier infects – rose to 1.09, meaning the pandemic is expanding.
Although the number is calculated from data from 10 days prior, and does not reflect the jump in infection after Hanukkah festivities, Israel also saw the highest number of new COVID cases since October on Tuesday, fresh on the heels of the holidays.
Though 786 people tested positive on Tuesday, the daily increase in infections fell to 651 by Thursday and the number of seriously ill fell to 96, the lowest figure since July. Fifty-four are on ventilators.
In light of the spread, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is weighing up restrictions on unvaccinated Israelis.
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In a discussion with Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, it was decided to increase enforcement of Israel’s Green Pass regulations, barring unvaccinated people from several activities. The plan will introduce immediate fines for violators, with instructions passed onto police to begin preparations.
There will also be a further meeting on the two-week travel ban following the discovery of the country’s first omicron case.
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