The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel is approaching 4,000, with a total of 3,865 tallied as of Sunday morning. A fourteenth patient succumbed to the virus on Sunday, and a total of 66 patients were in serious condition, with 54 on ventilators, and another 82 listed in moderate condition. Fourteen Israelis have died of the virus, mostly elderly patients with serious pre-existing medical conditions and 89 have made a full recovery.
However, a 22-year-old man battling coronavirus at Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod is in a medically-induced coma and attached to a respirator. The patient had no pre-existing medical conditions, is not a smoker, and reportedly has a normal body weight.
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The hospital reported that the patient had been in quarantine at home and was brought to the hospital with a light case of the virus, but his condition began to deteriorate a few days ago. As of Sunday, he was being cared for in a special intensive care unit opened for coronavirus patients.
The center of Tel Aviv (Dizengoff square) right now- basically empty besides police stationed on the square to check if people have a purpose for being outside. @i24NEWS_EN pic.twitter.com/0V0EkPqrDd
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) March 28, 2020
As the medical establishment battles the epidemic, the government stepped up its measures to enforce a strict shut-down. Starting Sunday morning, hundreds of armed soldiers were attached to police patrols assigned with making sure that the population complied with the stay-at-home orders.
The cabinet was due to decide on Sunday whether or not to enact new restrictions that would further limit public movement. Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and Interior Minister Arye Deri oppose a full shut-down and are arguing in favor of quarantine for citizens age 65 and over, who are most at risk from the virus.
Meanwhile, authorities are adopting a policy of stricter enforcement of social distancing at supermarkets and convenience stores and are considering banning people from shopping for food at locations more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from their homes. All supermarkets and other food vendors are under orders to have a staff member at the entrance who is responsible for taking customers' temperature prior to allowing them into the premises.
The Israel Police were kept busy on Saturday trying to enforce the shut-down and social distancing laws. Police issued orders to close 58 businesses that were violating social distancing regulations and handed out 1,296 fines to individuals, of which 105 went to business owners.
The police also conducted home visits on Saturday to ensure that 2,718 people instructed to quarantine themselves were observing the orders. Investigations were opened in 135 instances of suspected quarantine violations. Meanwhile, 40 cases have been opened against individuals suspected of spreading false information about the coronavirus epidemic.
"The Israel Police are working with added personnel to enforce the restrictions, and are deployed nationwide to stop the spread of the virus. We take every violation that endangers the health of the public seriously, and we will adopt a zero-tolerance policy against anyone who dares to put the public at whole at risk," a police statement read.
