Israel saw a sharp drop in the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the second part of February, health officials said on Monday.
The Ministry of Health said 2,393 people had died of coronavirus since the beginning of 2021, with 1,459 succumbing to the disease in January and in a slight decline, reaching 934 in February. These figures represent the average of 40 deaths per day.
In the first half of January, there were an average of 53 deaths from COVID-19 per day and the success of the vaccination campaign that began in December is credited with reducing deaths.
In fact, in the second half of February, the daily average death rate dropped to 25 virus-related deaths per day.
These numbers are still considered high compared to the last month of 2020, when 488 people died of the virus. An average of 16 deaths per day.
In November, 313 people died of COVID, indicating an average of 10 deaths per day, while October 2020 had 957 deaths, a daily average of 32 deaths due to complications from the virus.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, there was a reduction not only in deaths during the month of February, but also in the number of serious cases of COVID-19 in hospital treatment.
The ministry said 742 people were in serious condition – the lowest number since 2 January 2021, representing a 43% reduction. Vaccines are once again credited for the fall in serious diseases caused by the coronavirus.
But as people over 60 become largely immune through vaccination, the average age of critically ill patients has dropped. As of Monday, 57.1% of critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19 appear to be over 60, while 40% are between 30 and 59 years old.
One in five patients, 20.2%, is in the 50 to 59 age group, 10.7% in the 40 age group, 7.4% in the 30 age group.
There are now 17 critically ill adults in their 20s and 15 teenagers and children still hospitalized with symptoms.
The Ministry of Health also reported on Monday that the factor indicating the spread in the community (R) rose to 1, from 0.79 just two weeks ago, raising concerns that the contagion rate is increasing again.
In the Arab sector, in turn, the R is even higher at 1.16, which led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call a special meeting to discuss a low vaccination rate in Arab communities. The ultra-orthodox community currently has an R factor of 0.82.
Israel began to lift its blocking restrictions earlier this month, with malls and shopping centers reopening last week. Mass improvised Purim parties also took place over the weekend, despite the nightly curfew imposed for the three days of the holiday. This change in public behavior is seen by medical authorities as a catalyst for a major infection.
Among those who are being infected with the virus at a faster rate are younger populations, some of whom have no symptoms.
Of all new infections on Sunday, 76.7% are under 39 and only 5.2% are over 60. A closer look at the data shows that 43.4% of new infections detected on Sunday were in the 0-19 age group.
Netanyahu posted on his Twitter feed on Monday that 97% of recent deaths occurred in patients who did not receive two doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
“I cannot stand the delegitimization of vaccines by cynical politicians. I have zero tolerance for false news, while fighting to save lives,” said Netanyahu in his post, calling on Israelis to get vaccinated.
There is a politician who spoke out against vaccines.
5 צפייה בגלריה
MK Yifat Shasha-Biton, a political opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who criticized his way of dealing with the pandemic
(Photo: Kobi Quankas)
In an interview on Radio Kan on Monday, Netanyahu was asked about Israel’s nearly 6,000 deaths since the pandemic began. He responded with a derogatory comment directed at one of his now political opponents, former Likud legislator Yifat Shasha-Biton, who headed a Knesset oversight committee that blocked some of Netanyahu’s policies and criticized his way of dealing with the pandemic. .
“Ask Yifat Shasha-Biton,” said Netanyahu, mocking his name.
Yoaz Hendel, a former Netanyahu aide and now together with Shasha-Biton, a member of Gideon Saar’s New Hope party, said in response that it is sad to hear the prime minister joke about so many Israeli deaths.