Posted on 09/03/21
| News Source: i24
Hebrew University researchers say spike in new infections due to testing children ahead of school year
Hebrew University researchers predict that the number of severe COVID-19 cases in Israel will decline to below 500 in the next week or two.
Friday's update from the Health Ministry shows 654 seriously ill patients with 212 in critical condition and 155 on respirators.
The researchers sent their report on Friday to the government and the National Security Council.
“It is estimated that the current wave of illness has been halted thanks to a combination of the booster campaign and the application of soft restrictions,” the report states. “It should be noted that deviating from restrictions in mass gatherings can lead to a resurgence.”
While Israel has been experiencing a spike in overall infections in recent days, the researchers attribute this to increased testing of children ahead of the new school year that started on September 1. The government distributed 1.7 million rapid test kits to parents before the academic calendar began.