Coronavirus-Diagnosed Cases Rise to 77 in Israel

The total number of coronavirus-diagnosed cases in Israel rose to 77, according to the Health Ministry on Wednesday, confirming a second case of "unknown origin" and increasing fears of widespread local transmission.

More than 4,000 students and and educational staff on Wednesday were also placed under a temporary 14-day quarantine.

A total of 63 Israelis, who tested positive to the virus, have been hospitalized, with one in a serious condition, another seven were en route to being hospitalized, three were being treated at home and three had already recovered and were released.

“This number is expected to be updated as the situation develops,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli government has taken drastic measures to contain the deadly contagion, known as COVID-19, in recent days, which includes requiring all travelers visiting the Jewish state to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The measures are expected to be extended as more than 100,000 cases have been reported across the globe, with China, the hardest hit among all nations.

"This is a very serious crisis," Economy and Industry Minister Eli Cohen told Hebrew media on Tuesday. "Over the next 48 hours, we will introduce the plan for dealing with the coronavirus crisis in an attempt to minimize the damage to the economy."

The Ministry has also announced that 9 South Koreans were diagnosed with the Coronavirus, and they are part of a group of tourists who returned to South Korea after a tourist trip to Israel between the eighth and fifteen of this month.

The Population and Immigration Authority of Israel is working to determine the whereabouts of members of the Korean group and is also studying measures to be taken with the Ministry of Health and the National Security Council.

Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities prevented passengers from a plane coming from South Korea to leave the plane and forced the plane to return its passengers from where it came from.

In South Korea, which is considered the main focus of the spread of the Coronavirus after China 123 new cases were detected, while the fourth person died from the virus.