Special Coverage

In address to the nation, prime minister calls for unity and says health concerns should put politics aside to make second lockdown is a success.

IDF Home Front Command data shows many Israelis who have tested positive do not cooperate with epidemiological investigation, violate quarantine directives.

Strict limitation of public life, economic activity to be in place throughout High Holidays. Finance Ministry official: Full lockdown through mid-October to cost over $10 billion.

The Health Ministry reported 6,861 new cases on Wednesday as a raging outbreak shows no signs of slowing.

The development comes as the country broke a record of daily infections with nearly 7,000 new cases on Tuesday.

Ministers consider imposing new restrictions on the private sector, as well as limiting prayer services on Yom Kippur, which could spark a coalition crisis.

Israel has so far recorded 190,929 coronavirus cases, including 1,273 deaths. "The growing number of doctors and nurses who must be quarantined over potential exposure to the virus plays a major role in increasing the burden shouldered by the medical teams," official says.

Dubbed "Cornerstone," the new system allows hundreds of users to work on it simultaneously, something the Home Front Command hopes will expedite epidemiological investigations.

As Rosh Hashanah kicks off second nationwide lockdown, some in the government warn that the current rate of infection merits more restrictive measures. University experts predict 1,000 or even 2,000 new deaths by November.

Health Ministry says 5,238 new cases have been confirmed between Thursday and Friday, setting yet another negative record. Restriction on movement somewhat relaxed from 500 yards from one's home to 1,000 yards.