JERUSALEM, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 83,653 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,488,924.

This is the highest daily figure since the coronavirus outbreak in Israel in February 2020, the ministry added.

About 8.6 percent of the new patients, or 7,235, have been infected with the virus at least the second time, and 3,491 of them were vaccinated with one shot or more.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the virus rose to 8,488, with 14 new fatalities added, while the number of patients in serious condition rose from 816 to 856, the highest figure since February 2021.

The number of active cases reached a new high of 549,199, while the positive rate of all daily COVID-19 tests in Israel stood at 21.83 percent.

Israel's COVID-19 reproduction number indicator, also known as the R number, has dropped to 1.23, compared to 2.12 in early January.

On the same day, an expert panel of Israel's Ministry of Health recommended a fourth booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults aged 18 and above amid the sharp rise in morbidity throughout the country.

The fourth vaccination campaign in Israel currently includes only people aged 60 and over, and those at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease.

The recommendation is still pending final approval of the ministry's director general Nachman Ash, the statement said. Enditem

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