The rise in coronavirus cases in Israel is becoming dramatic and cause for concern, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said Tuesday.
"At this rate, we are heading toward 200 new cases per day. Just so we're clear, the situation is not good. If we don't wake up, we'll find ourselves in a very problematic situation. Ignoring the [Health Ministry] instructions and brushing them off is causing a change in the [downward] trend of cases," Edelstein said.
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A total of 148 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday, compared to 176 on Monday and 140 on Sunday. The number of confirmed cases in Israel now stands at 2,722, with 111 hospitalized. A total of 31 corona patients are listed in serious condition, 24 of whom are on ventilators.
Thus far, 299 Israelis have succumbed to coronavirus, while 15,159 have recovered from the virus.
Tel Aviv leads the list of the most new cases, with 81 positive tests for residents since Sunday. A total of 30 new cases have been identified in Jerusalem; 25 in Bnei Brak; 15 in Netanya; 14 in Rishon Lezion; and 13 in Sderot.
Given the rise in confirmed corona cases, enforcement measures will be stepped up against anyone violating Health Ministry guidelines. In a meeting on Tuesday evening, Edelstein, Interior Ministry Arye Deri, police, and National Security Council officials agreed that local authorities would train inspectors who will help issue fines.
Also on Tuesday, Edelstein visited Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. He addressed the crowding and disorderly conduct of a group of fans at a soccer match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem this week, saying, "Every sight of crowding and disturbances at a sports event makes us less inclined to ease regulations further. If things go on this way, there won't be a championship [match]."
However, Edelstein said he did not support reverting to earlier measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, which he said would "hurt the economy and the lives of citizens."
The new health minister discussed the importance of a major increase in the number of corona tests being administered.
"Our goal is 30,000 tests per day. Because the labs are under a tremendous burden, we are working with the Finance Minister to fund another 200 [laboratory] positions so employees won't collapse," he said.
Meanwhile, 137 schools and daycare centers shut down on Tuesday after cases of coronavirus were identified in their facilities. Schools were closed in Bat Yam, Mazkeret Batya, Rishon Lezion, and the Shoham Regional Council. The cities of Rishon Lezion and Modi'in have also started conducting corona tests.
The number of students and teachers who have tested positive for the virus stands at 418, and a total of 21,877 students and teachers are in quarantine after cases were confirmed at their schools.
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In a related development, a passenger on an El Al flight from New York that landed in Tel Aviv Tuesday morning has tested positive for coronavirus. It is unclear whether there were other carriers on the flight, although the woman who tested positive appears not to have been travelling on her own. The flight was reportedly full and there were no empty seats between passengers.
Shimon Yaish contributed to this report.
