Covid figures stay high amid cabinet argument over lockdown
Another 7,079 cases and 9.3pc positive tests were recorded on Thursday, with 1,135 patients in serious condition and 321 connected to ventilators. There were 31 deaths from coronavirus-related complications thereby boosting the total to 1,135.
The current lockdown restrictions expire on Sunday night. The extension demanded by the health authorities may not go into effect on time since defense minister Benny Gantz and his Kahol Lavan ministers stipulate that, first, the bill doubling fines for violations be rushed into law. The main miscreants are the ultra-Orthodox schools which defiantly stay open.
The pace of vaccinations continues to race against the spread of infection. All in all, nearly 3 million Israelis have received their first jabs and 1.6 million the two doses.