NEW DELHI, Dec 27: As Israel was set to begin its third nationwide coronavirus lockdown on Sunday, India reported its first drop of new caseload below 19,000 for the first time in six months.
According to a release by the union health ministry, the number of new cases recorded in the last 24 hours in the country was 18,732, the lowest since 18,653 new cases recorded on July 1. During the period 21.430 patients recovered and were discharge, 2,977 decline in active caseload. India’s total Active Caseload fell to 2.78 lakh (2,78,690) on Sunday, the lowest after 170 days, after 2,76,682 active cases recorded on July 10.
The total recovered cases stood at 97,61,538. The gap between Recovered Cases and Active Cases, that is steadily increasing, is nearing 95 lakhs and presently stands at 94,82,848.
In contrast to the improving situation in India, Israel suffered a re-surge in the Corona cases. After a sharp rebound in detected infections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government announced three days ago that it would re-impose the strict measures that had previously helped limit transmission while expressing the hope that the “world record” drive for vaccination in his country would bring the situation under control within few weeks.
From 5:00pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, most people will be forced to stay within 1,000 metres of their home in Israel, with exceptions for those seeking medical care, attending legal proceedings or exercising.
A key difference in Israel’s third lockdown compared to previous versions relates to schools, with more students able to attend classes.
Instead of near total closures, Israel is keeping schools open for children under six, as well as grades one to four and teenagers finishing secondary school in grades 11 and 12.
Israel’s National Council for the Child criticised the decision to close grades five through 10.
Speaking late Saturday following Shabbat, Netanyahu, however, said Israel was hoping to vaccinate a quarter of its population, or roughly 2.25 million people, against coronavirus within a month.
He said he had spoken with the heads of the companies making vaccines who had voiced confidence that the requisite number of doses could be provided.
Israel’s vaccination targets are of “such a magnitude (they amount to) a world record” pace, the prime minister said, as his government is slated to face a national election in the next few months, the fourth in two years, after his coalition partner broke away from the government last week.
(Manas Dasgupta)