Israel’s Health Ministry announced Wednesday that more than 12,500 new cases of the coronavirus (12,554) were diagnosed on Tuesday, setting a new record for new daily cases.
A record set the previous day – with 11,345 new cases of the virus diagnosed on Monday – was surpassed by the new total.
By late afternoon Wednesday, health officials had already identified another 8,135 new cases of the virus, raising the number of current active cases to more than 62,400. Of those, 290 Israelis are hospitalized, with 129 patients listed in serious and critical condition.
But coronavirus isn’t the only health challenge faced by Israelis: in particular, affecting those who have chosen not to get a flu shot.
The Health Ministry announced Wednesday there has been a sharp increase in “flu-like” illness; moreover, at least 2,825 patients have been hospitalized with the flu in the past week.
Included in that figure are 863 children and 181 pregnant women and new mothers.
The ministry urged Israelis to go to their local health clinics and get a flu shot.