30,000 People in Israel Contract Covid-19, Cabinet to Impose More Restrictions

The Ministry of Health in Israel revealed that the confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has crossed the 30,000 threshold on Monday.

The Israeli government met to discuss additional tough measures aimed at curbing the pandemic there.

The ministry pointed out the deadly virus claimed lives of 331 people so far.

The number of active cases infected with the virus in Israel has reached 11,796, including 89 patients in serious condition, 30 of them are on respirators.

A medical examination was conducted in the country yesterday, 18,948, to diagnose cases of COVID-19

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the new restrictions expected to be taken include reducing the number allowed to the beaches, restaurant persons.

The expected restrictions also include closing fitness rooms and reducing the percentage of employees in the private sector.

On its part, the Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Ministry of Health will recommend the government to suspend the work of banquet halls, synagogues, and gyms, and close down religious activities, in addition to tightening restrictions on restaurants and transportation.

Yisrael Katz, Finance Minister and one of the closest allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in an interview with "Army Radio": "It seems necessary to make concrete decisions today (Monday) but we must not return to the state of closure."

The Cabinet decided yesterday evening to impose a ban, starting at eight in the morning, on gathering in wedding halls, bars and nightclubs for more than 50 people and on other occasions for more than 20 people.

Meanwhile, the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved today the increased fine as punishment for not wearing a medical mask in public places up to 500 shekels (more than $ 145).

Professor Eli Watsman , Israeli Prime Ministers advisor to combat the Coronavirus, announced that the Israeli health authorities have lost control of the deadly virus.

He warned that the number of seriously ill patients will rise over the next three weeks from 86 thousand now to 300 thousand, if the government does not go ahead with tighter measures to rein in the pandemic.

In the next several weeks, this figure will reach 1,200 thousand people, according to the professor's expectations, which will put serious pressure on the health care system in Israel.

Watsman urged the government to prevent gatherings with more than 20 participants. He grills the government for failing to act quickly forthwith.

He said that Tel Aviv will be forced to re-impose a comprehensive closure system within the next two weeks.

He described the Corona pandemic as "the worst civil crisis facing Israel in its history."

He appeals to the army to chair a new inter-ministerial body to contain the crisis.