Some 200 Israelis have tested positive for COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Of those, 157 are hospitalized and five others are expected to be hospitalized.
Two of those hospitalized are in serious condition, 11 are in moderate condition, 178 have so far exhibited only mild symptoms and four are considered to be recovered.
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A ministry official said that there are concrete fears that over 2,500 Israelis have yet to be diagnosed. Concern rose after at least four of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were of unclear origin.
Nearly 40,000 Israelis are currently under home quarantine, as are 2,479 healthcare workers, including 949 doctors.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the partial shuttering of the economy is an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett has ordered the IDF to call up 2,000 reservists to bolster Home Front Command troops. The move is necessary because if the current shutdown is upgraded to the state of "special situation in the home front" or worse, a national emergency is declared, the Home Front Command will assume the lead in managing the crisis.
Late on Saturday night, Justice Minister Amir Ohana declared a special emergency situation in the judiciary, all but suspending it operations in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines over the outbreak. The decision was cleared by Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit.
Consequently, the Jerusalem District Court announced Sunday that the opening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial will be postponed from March 17 to May 24.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said that this year's cadet course was ordered into self-quarantine after one of its members tested positive for the coronavirus.
The course had started only two days prior. The cadet who tested positive likely caught the virus while staying in the same place as a group of US tourists, two of whom carried it, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
