The number of Israeli fatalities from COVID-19 rose to 142, the Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday. The 10 latest victims, like most of the Israelis struck down by the coronavirus, have been elderly and suffered from multiple pre-existing illnesses. One of the victims to succumb to the respiratory disease was an 85-year-old man who died Thursday evening.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases claimed to 12,758. Of those, 181 patients are in serious condition and 137 are intubated.
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According to the Health Ministry, 158 patients are in moderate condition, and the rest displayed only mild symptoms. As of Thursday, 2,624 Israelis have recovered from the virus.
Thursday morning saw the lifting of the nationwide closure imposed over the end of the Passover and Mimouna festivals, and the cabinet was scheduled to debate the gradual easing of restriction on public life, ordered as part of the effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak and several Haredi neighborhoods in Jerusalem that proved to be coronavirus hotspots remained under quarantine. The measure was expected to be eased on Thursday evening.
Wednesday saw the Health Ministry impose similar measures on four Arab villages in the Galilee – Deir al-Assad, Nahf, Ba'ana and Majd al-Kroum – after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Galilee spiked from five to 23 on Wednesday and to a total of 31.
The ministry further said that over the past two days – and for the first time since the outbreak began – it has exceeded 10,000 coronavirus tests a day.
According to Channel 12 News, the Health and Finance ministries continue to be at loggerheads over the lifting of restrictions, with the latter pushing to restart the economy and the former urging caution.
Deputy Director of the Health Ministry Professor Itamar Grotto told Army Radio on Thursday that while "this coming Sunday is too soon to resume operations in daycares and kindergartens, it will have to happen sooner rather than later. We won't postpone that until the next school year begins" in September, he said.
