Health Ministry says 106 patients are connected to ventilators, while 63 have succumbed to virus since start of this week; Bennett visits vaccination center in Tayibe to encourage inoculation in the Arab sector amid low turnouts

Prof. Ran Balicer, who heads panel of experts on pandemic, tells Ynet the country currently has 100 new serious patients a day, which is a huge burden on the health system; adds there is a slowdown in infections among over 60s

Authorization comes amid encouraging turnout of Israelis getting their third shot, with 1,245,325 eligible Israelis having already received their supplementary jab; Bennett said will get vaccinated Friday morning