Thursday Jun 19, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Special Coverage Coronavirus Outbreak

Health Ministry places hospitals on alert, orders they reopen coronavirus wards

PM Netanyahu says he is not ready to call the latest uptick in infections a "second wave," but has instructed relevant bodies to take urgent preventative measures to enforce public safety protocols.

by  Maytal Yasur Beit-Or , Ariel Kahana , i24NEWS and Reuters
Published on  06-21-2020 08:34
Last modified: 06-21-2020 13:29
Health Ministry places hospitals on alert, orders they reopen coronavirus wardsYossi Zeliger

The coronavirus ward at the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center in central Israel | File photo: Yossi Zeliger

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Health Ministry on Sunday ordered all Israeli hospitals to reopen their coronavirus wards, following an uptick in the number of cases diagnosed over the weekend.

As of Saturday evening, 341 new COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in the span of 24 hours, the country's highest daily figure since April. Israel has recorded 20,633 infections since the outbreak of the epidemic, out of which 15,659 people have recovered.

The number of deaths caused by the virus is 305 people. Throughout the country, 192 coronavirus patients are currently hospitalized, 40 are in critical condition, and 27 are on ventilators. Additionally, 905 healthcare workers are in isolation.

 Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Officials in the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday described the significant rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Israel, specifically the number of patients in serious condition, as "disconcerting." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still isn't categorizing the renewed outbreak of the virus as a "second wave," but is instructing the relevant bodies to take urgent preventative measures to enforce public safety protocols in an effort to curb the chain of infections.

The goal is for 100% of Israelis to wear protective masks. To that end, Netanyahu is examining the possibility of increasing monetary fines for those caught without a mask in public, significantly bolstering the ranks of epidemiological investigators by about 300 people, and reintroducing localized quarantines and other actions to curb the rate of infection.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Emil Salman) Emil Salman

At this stage, there was still no intention to reinstate the use of the Shin Bet security agency's tracking technology. However, officials at the National Security Council said it is now extremely difficult today to immediately locate people who have come into contact with confirmed coronavirus carriers. Without the tracking mechanism, an infected person can pass the virus on to others for at least 48 hours without being flagged.

National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat was expected to meet with the directors of the various government ministries early Sunday morning. Netanyahu was also expected to attend the meeting. The so-called corona-cabinet was scheduled to convene again on Monday to discuss the situation. At this stage, the prime minister still opposes imposing a countrywide quarantine in an effort to maintain economic recovery.

"As time goes by, the whole world is also learning more and we are learning lessons. We need to get used to living with the pandemic until a vaccine is found," an official in the Prime Minister's Office said.

Also Saturday, the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate issued a report saying the new outbreak has "different characteristics" from the initial wave which hit Israel earlier in the year, yet it's no less deadly and will cause thousands of new cases every day, resulting in many hundreds of fatalities.

"Difficult economic decisions," meaning renewed shutdowns of wide swaths of the economy, can be avoided only if more localized measures are adopted immediately, the report said.

However, Dr. Hagai Levine, a senior Hebrew University epidemiologist, dismissed the report as "unprofessional," saying that the task force was made up chiefly of IDF officials and did not include medical professionals.

A mobile testing operator in Safed, northern Israel (David Cohen / JINI)

The pandemic was accelerating in other parts of the world as well.

"The world is in a new and dangerous phase," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual briefing from WHO headquarters in Geneva. "The virus is still spreading fast, it is still deadly, and most people are still susceptible."

More than 8.53 million people have been reported infected by the coronavirus globally and at least 453,834​ have died.

Tedros, whose leadership of the WHO has been severely criticized by US President Donald Trump, urged people to maintain social distancing and "extreme vigilance."

As well as the Americas, a large number of new cases were coming from South Asia and the Middle East, Tedros added.

WHO emergencies expert Mike Ryan drew attention to the situation in Brazil, which has the world's worst outbreak outside the United States, with 978,142 confirmed cases and 47,748 deaths.

With many nations easing restrictions but fearful of another wave of infections, Ryan urged a gradual and scientific approach.

"Exiting lockdowns must be done carefully, in a step-wise manner, and must be driven by the data," he said. "If you don't know where it is the chances are the virus will surprise you."

Ryan said the resurgence of new clusters did not necessarily mean a second wave, while "second peaks" were also possible in one wave. He praised Germany, China, and South Korea for their handling of the pandemic.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

With trials underway around the world to find medicines and a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, WHO officials warned that large-scale testing would be needed, with side-effects carefully monitored.

"Although it is not impossible to find a vaccine ... it's going to be a very difficult journey," Tedros said.

Tags: Benjamin NetanyahuCoronavirusIsraelWHO

Related Posts

A bat from the past? Scientists identify new Covid-like virusThomas Peter/Reuters

A bat from the past? Scientists identify new Covid-like virus

by Adi Nirman

Discovery at Wuhan facility shows virus uses similar cell entry mechanism as COVID-19.

Israel reinstates PCR tests at Ben-Gurion AirportYossi Zeliger

Israel reinstates PCR tests at Ben-Gurion Airport

by Shimon Yaish

Travelers returning from abroad can be tested for COVID at the government's expense. Testing is voluntary, for now.

Israel launches COVID vaccination campaign for children 5 and youngerGetty Images

Israel launches COVID vaccination campaign for children 5 and younger

by Maytal Yasur Beit-Or

Parents inoculating young children will be able to choose between Moderna and Pfizer shots. Healthcare providers stress the importance of...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il