In an unprecedented increase, the Israeli health authorities announced today, Thursday, that more than 3.9 thousand new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) were recorded during the past 24 hours.
In a report published today, the Ministry of Health confirmed that 3,951 new infections had been recorded with the virus that causes "COVD-19" during the last 24 hours.
About 825 of these infections had been detected since last midnight between Wednesday and Thursday.
This brings the total number of corona infections recorded since the beginning of the pandemic in Israel to 143,049, including 1,055 deaths, 109,775 recoveries, and 32,217 active cases, including 487 patients in critical condition, 137 of whom are on artificial respirators.
The Ministry indicated that the number of infections that were detected during the last day exceeds three times the total number of infections recorded during the month of May.
The Cabinet will hold a meeting later today with the aim of studying the possibility of imposing a comprehensive closure throughout the country in order to curb the pandemic.
This comes against the backdrop of news that the country's top health officials, including Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Director General of the Ministry of Health Hezi Levy, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act immediately to impose a comprehensive lockdown.
On the other hand, the Israeli government have voted to further ease the Coronavirus restrictions on businesses, malls, restaurants and gyms to remain closed; business owners who violate Health Ministry's orders could face up to 6 months in prison
The Israeli government approved during past weeks further lifting of Coronavirus restrictions, which includes the reopening of all street shops, barbershops and beauty salons. The new directives set to take effect on Sunday morning.
An employee must be placed at the entrance of each business equipped with digital thermometers to measure the temperature of each customer. Businesses that require employees to work shifts will have the same employees working in each shift.
Employees at barbershops and beauty salons must wear gloves, which have to be changed between each client, as well as protective face gear.
Staff must try to keep a two-meter distance from customers if possible.
Business space that measures 75 meters can have no more than six customers at once, while eight customers are allowed if the space measures over 100 meters.
A decision to reopen the malls again will be discussed in a week after a tracking app to monitor shoppers gets approval from government officials.
In addition, the cabinet approved NIS 200 fines for anyone not wearing protective face masks in public spaces in yet another measure meant to combat the virus.
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 Netanyahu, , said in an interview with "Army Radio": It seems necessary to make concrete decisions but Israel must not return to the state of closure, Katz added .
However, Netanyahu has warned several lawmakers from his "Likud" party that the novel Coronavirus "COVID-19" may inflict a deadly blow on the whole of humanity.
Israeli Channel 12 quoted one of the of the Knesset as confirming that Netanyahu, at a time when the battle against the Coronavirus in Israel reached its climax last month, expressed his deep concern about reports coming from other countries in the world on new infections among people who had previously recovered from the virus.
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