80% Adult Vaccination in Israel, Zero COVID Deaths in 10 Months

Over 5 Million People Have Received the Second Dose

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] For the first time in 10 months, Israel reported no new COVID-19 deaths.

According to local Israeli media on the 23rd (local time), the Israeli Ministry of Health reported no additional deaths due to COVID-19 on the previous day, the 22nd. This is the first time in about 10 months since June 29 of last year that no new deaths have been reported in Israel.

According to Ministry of Health statistics, the number of people who have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Israel surpassed 5 million as of last night. As of the morning of that day, the number stood at 5,003,113. The proportion of second-dose recipients compared to the total population (approximately 9.3 million) is about 54%, and the proportion compared to the eligible adult population aged 16 and over is close to 80%. The proportion of first-dose recipients (about 5.37 million) relative to the total population is about 58%.

Israel imported the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 19 of last year and rapidly proceeded with nationwide vaccinations. Starting from February 7, when the first-dose vaccination rate approached 40% of the population, Israel began lifting lockdown measures, and now most commercial and public facilities are operating normally.

Vaccinated individuals receive a certificate called the Green Pass, which allows them to use indoor facilities and participate in events with large gatherings. Since the 18th, the outdoor mask-wearing mandate has also been lifted.

Despite easing restrictions based on vaccine immunity, Israel's infection indicators continue to improve. The daily new confirmed cases, which exceeded 10,000 in mid-January, have decreased to the low 100s, and as of the 22nd, the positivity rate among all tests is 0.4%. Although the cumulative confirmed cases reached about 837,000, approximately 9% of the total population, and deaths totaled 6,346 due to initial inadequate response, the number of patients currently under treatment has decreased to 1,954, with 161 in severe condition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.