Report of the Center for Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, whose data was collected from 36 clinics: "Corona morbidity rate is relatively low for influenza" • High respiratory morbidity in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak

• Heat tests at the entrance to Ziv Medical Center in Safed // Photo: Eyal Margolin - Ginny

Corona prevalence in the general population is about 2.3% of the symptoms of fever or respiratory problems, according to the first "Corona Monitoring Report" published by the Center for Disease Control at the Ministry of Health.

The data were collected from 36 monitoring clinics across the country. Of the 218 samples taken - five returned positive. Samples from the nose and pharynx were taken from patients attending clinics with fever or respiratory symptoms, but without exposure to a proven corona patient or returning from abroad.

The Center for Disease Control notes that the prevalence rate is relatively low. By comparison, at the end of the flu season, its rate stands at 10%. However, it is believed that many of the symptoms such as fever and cough were asked to stay home, so did not come to clinics and were not sampled, so this may be missing data.

The report, compiled by Prof. Little Keenan Booker, director of the Center for Disease Control, found unexplained respiratory illnesses in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Holon, Lod, Kelswe and a restaurant. The HMOs with complaints of lung infections and respiratory infections, which indicates a fear of many patients being present in these cities.

The report found a decline in referrals to Maccabi and general clinics due to upper respiratory tract infections and due to pneumonia morbidity. On the other hand, there has been an increase in the number of Maccabi call center callers complaining of shortness of breath.