13 mar 2020
New number marks increase of 20 patients since Thursday night; tens of thousands are in self-quarantine, including at least 2,479 healthcare workers; rabbis urge religious Jews to avoid Western Wall, synagogues
The number of coronavirus patients in Israel has risen to 143, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday, marking an increase of 37 diagnoses since Thursday night.
Most of the patients are hospitalized and a handful are being treated at home. Two of the patients – a tour driver who transported Greek pilgrims found to be infected upon their return home and a worker at Ben-Gurion Airport – are still in serious condition. Five others are in moderate condition and the rest in mild condition.
Israel has taken stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus, canceling public gatherings of more than 100 people, suspending sports and cultural events, calling on employers to let staff work from home and closing schools and universities.
Rabbis are also calling on religious Jews to stay away from the Western Wall and avoid mass gatherings, including in synagogues.
Tens of thousands are also in home quarantine and anyone entering the country must spend 14 days in isolation. Non-nationals who cannot prove they have somewhere to spend this isolation period are denied entry.
The Health Ministry said that at least 2,479 healthcare workers are in quarantine for the virus, of which 1,174 are hospital employees. The number includes 949 doctors, 635 nurses and 171 paramedics.
The National Association of Nurses in Israel on Thursday demanded that the Health Ministry implement measures to protect medical staff from the virus.
Ilana Cohen, the head of the Association, wrote in a letter to Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov: "The medical teams in all health institutions are at the forefront of eradicating the coronavirus, and it is morally and legally necessary to provide them the best protection in order to perform their job without fear and to the best of their abilities. "
She added: "We ask that the Health Ministry issue uniform guidance to all health institutions regarding the safeguards and measures to be taken to best protect against coronavirus, including the maximum time allowed for any disposable equipment."
On Thursday, the ministry reported that a six-month-old baby had contracted the virus - the youngest patient so far in Israel. On Tuesday, it was also announced that two children in grades 4 and 6 from two elementary schools in Kfar Yona had tested positive for the virus.
The baby is being treated at home along with other family members who were found to be infected after they returned from a trip in Barcelona. The baby himself did not travel abroad.
The family members are being treated through their HMO and monitored remotely. All are experiencing minor symptoms but will hospitalized if necessary.
On Thursday evening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that universities and schools are closed as part of measures aimed at halting the spread of the virus.
The measure, which does not include special education facilities, kindergartens and boarding schools for at-risk youth, saw 1.5 million children remain at home on Friday morning.
The number of coronavirus patients in Israel has risen to 143, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday, marking an increase of 37 diagnoses since Thursday night.
Most of the patients are hospitalized and a handful are being treated at home. Two of the patients – a tour driver who transported Greek pilgrims found to be infected upon their return home and a worker at Ben-Gurion Airport – are still in serious condition. Five others are in moderate condition and the rest in mild condition.
Israel has taken stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus, canceling public gatherings of more than 100 people, suspending sports and cultural events, calling on employers to let staff work from home and closing schools and universities.
Rabbis are also calling on religious Jews to stay away from the Western Wall and avoid mass gatherings, including in synagogues.
Tens of thousands are also in home quarantine and anyone entering the country must spend 14 days in isolation. Non-nationals who cannot prove they have somewhere to spend this isolation period are denied entry.
The Health Ministry said that at least 2,479 healthcare workers are in quarantine for the virus, of which 1,174 are hospital employees. The number includes 949 doctors, 635 nurses and 171 paramedics.
The National Association of Nurses in Israel on Thursday demanded that the Health Ministry implement measures to protect medical staff from the virus.
Ilana Cohen, the head of the Association, wrote in a letter to Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov: "The medical teams in all health institutions are at the forefront of eradicating the coronavirus, and it is morally and legally necessary to provide them the best protection in order to perform their job without fear and to the best of their abilities. "
She added: "We ask that the Health Ministry issue uniform guidance to all health institutions regarding the safeguards and measures to be taken to best protect against coronavirus, including the maximum time allowed for any disposable equipment."
On Thursday, the ministry reported that a six-month-old baby had contracted the virus - the youngest patient so far in Israel. On Tuesday, it was also announced that two children in grades 4 and 6 from two elementary schools in Kfar Yona had tested positive for the virus.
The baby is being treated at home along with other family members who were found to be infected after they returned from a trip in Barcelona. The baby himself did not travel abroad.
The family members are being treated through their HMO and monitored remotely. All are experiencing minor symptoms but will hospitalized if necessary.
On Thursday evening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that universities and schools are closed as part of measures aimed at halting the spread of the virus.
The measure, which does not include special education facilities, kindergartens and boarding schools for at-risk youth, saw 1.5 million children remain at home on Friday morning.
12 mar 2020
Health worker from Tel Aviv's Sheba Medical Center returned from France before Health Ministry extended quarantine instructions to travelers returning from country, worked at hospital's ER before virus diagnosis; number of patients stands at 109
Health authorities confirmed Thursday that an six-month-old baby has contracted the coronavirus. A 17-year-old youth is also confirmed to have been infected. They will both be hospitalized.
Newest COVID-19 patient tally puts number of sick in Israel at 109.
Nine more Israelis, both children included, have tested positive for the pathogen, bringing the country's total sick count to 109. The Health Ministry said it will release further details on the cases.
Also Thursday, an emergency room doctor at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a hospital spokesperson said on Thursday.
The hospital reported that the doctor returned from France on March 2, before the Health Ministry extended its quarantine instructions to travelers returning from the country, and worked at the ER the same day.
The doctor is in light condition and he was taken to a quarantine compound far from the medical center. All people who came into contact with the health worker were sent to home quarantine.
According to the hospital, patients who treated directly by the doctor will be personally updated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday a series of new restrictions in an effort to combat the rapid spread of the new virus, formally known as COVID-19. Among the latest guidelines is a ban on mass gatherings of 250 people or more.
The Health Ministry said out of 109 people at least 91 have been hospitalized, one newly-diagnosed patient is in a process of being hospitalized, five are quarantined at home and three others have recovered.
Health officials also say that two people are in a serious condition, three in a moderate and the rest appear to be only slightly affected by the disease.
In addition, a United States tourist who also tested positive for the virus has been hospitalized in a moderate condition but is not included in the official government count of the infected since she is not an Israeli national.
The 70-year-old woman is said to be suffering from pneumonia and breathing difficulty. She is treated in Baruch Padeh Medical Center, also known as Poriya Medical Center, in the northern city of Tiberias.
At least two children appear to be among the newly-infected with the virus, which seems to attack kids at a much lesser rate than the elderly. The two, aged 10 and 11, recently returned from a trip to Spain with their father.
Israel's coronavirus cases reach 100, health officials confirm
Health Ministry says at least 91 of the infected are hospitalized, with two being in a serious condition; 4 others are in a moderate condition, including a U.S. tourist; the rest appear to be lightly affected
Eighteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of cases in Israel to 100, health officials confirmed on Thursday.
The update comes just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of new restrictions in an effort to combat the rapid spread of the new virus, formally known as COVID-19. Among the latest guidelines is a ban on mass gatherings of 250 people or more.
The Health Ministry said out of 100 people at least 91 have been hospitalized, one newly-diagnosed patients is in a process of being hospitalized, five are quarantined at home and three others have recovered.
Health officials also say that two people are in a serious condition, three in a moderate and the rest appear to be only lightly affected by the disease.
In addition, a United States tourist who also tested positive for the virus has been hospitalized in a moderate condition but is not included in the official government count of the infected since she is not an Israeli national.
The 70-year-old woman is said to be suffering from pneumonia and breathing difficulty. She is treated in Baruch Padeh Medical Center, also known as Poriya Medical Center, in the northern city of Tiberias.
At least two children appear to be among the newly-infected with the virus, which seems to attack kids at a much lesser rate than the elderly. The two, aged 10 and 11, recently returned from a trip to Spain with their father.
Health authorities confirmed Thursday that an six-month-old baby has contracted the coronavirus. A 17-year-old youth is also confirmed to have been infected. They will both be hospitalized.
Newest COVID-19 patient tally puts number of sick in Israel at 109.
Nine more Israelis, both children included, have tested positive for the pathogen, bringing the country's total sick count to 109. The Health Ministry said it will release further details on the cases.
Also Thursday, an emergency room doctor at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a hospital spokesperson said on Thursday.
The hospital reported that the doctor returned from France on March 2, before the Health Ministry extended its quarantine instructions to travelers returning from the country, and worked at the ER the same day.
The doctor is in light condition and he was taken to a quarantine compound far from the medical center. All people who came into contact with the health worker were sent to home quarantine.
According to the hospital, patients who treated directly by the doctor will be personally updated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday a series of new restrictions in an effort to combat the rapid spread of the new virus, formally known as COVID-19. Among the latest guidelines is a ban on mass gatherings of 250 people or more.
The Health Ministry said out of 109 people at least 91 have been hospitalized, one newly-diagnosed patient is in a process of being hospitalized, five are quarantined at home and three others have recovered.
Health officials also say that two people are in a serious condition, three in a moderate and the rest appear to be only slightly affected by the disease.
In addition, a United States tourist who also tested positive for the virus has been hospitalized in a moderate condition but is not included in the official government count of the infected since she is not an Israeli national.
The 70-year-old woman is said to be suffering from pneumonia and breathing difficulty. She is treated in Baruch Padeh Medical Center, also known as Poriya Medical Center, in the northern city of Tiberias.
At least two children appear to be among the newly-infected with the virus, which seems to attack kids at a much lesser rate than the elderly. The two, aged 10 and 11, recently returned from a trip to Spain with their father.
Israel's coronavirus cases reach 100, health officials confirm
Health Ministry says at least 91 of the infected are hospitalized, with two being in a serious condition; 4 others are in a moderate condition, including a U.S. tourist; the rest appear to be lightly affected
Eighteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of cases in Israel to 100, health officials confirmed on Thursday.
The update comes just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of new restrictions in an effort to combat the rapid spread of the new virus, formally known as COVID-19. Among the latest guidelines is a ban on mass gatherings of 250 people or more.
The Health Ministry said out of 100 people at least 91 have been hospitalized, one newly-diagnosed patients is in a process of being hospitalized, five are quarantined at home and three others have recovered.
Health officials also say that two people are in a serious condition, three in a moderate and the rest appear to be only lightly affected by the disease.
In addition, a United States tourist who also tested positive for the virus has been hospitalized in a moderate condition but is not included in the official government count of the infected since she is not an Israeli national.
The 70-year-old woman is said to be suffering from pneumonia and breathing difficulty. She is treated in Baruch Padeh Medical Center, also known as Poriya Medical Center, in the northern city of Tiberias.
At least two children appear to be among the newly-infected with the virus, which seems to attack kids at a much lesser rate than the elderly. The two, aged 10 and 11, recently returned from a trip to Spain with their father.
Israeli soldiers accompanied, Thursday, dozens of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers into the archaeological site in Sebastia Palestinian town, northwest of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, defying a closure by Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Nablus governor in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus disease.
Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia, said the invasion comes in defiance of the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to avoid large gatherings, in addition to a decision by the Palestinian governor, and the Tourism Ministry to close the site as a precaution, due to the current Coronavirus outbreak.
He added that the soldiers closed many roads around the site, before invading it along with the illegal colonists.
Azem stated that the Palestinian Authority has been taking various serious measures across the occupied West Bank, to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.
The army frequently invades the site to accompany dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of colonists into the area, after closing it and forcing the Palestinians away.
The number of confirmed “Covid-19” cases in Israel currently stands at 100, while 31 confirmed cases have been recorded in the West Bank.
Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia, said the invasion comes in defiance of the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to avoid large gatherings, in addition to a decision by the Palestinian governor, and the Tourism Ministry to close the site as a precaution, due to the current Coronavirus outbreak.
He added that the soldiers closed many roads around the site, before invading it along with the illegal colonists.
Azem stated that the Palestinian Authority has been taking various serious measures across the occupied West Bank, to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.
The army frequently invades the site to accompany dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of colonists into the area, after closing it and forcing the Palestinians away.
The number of confirmed “Covid-19” cases in Israel currently stands at 100, while 31 confirmed cases have been recorded in the West Bank.
11 mar 2020
76 people now have virus in Israel; all those who were in contact with the new cases instructed to spend 14 days in quarantine, including child's 465 schoolmates, mourners at funeral attended by yeshiva head and medical staff who treated Ben-Gurion employee
A renowned rabbi, a nine-year-old boy and a worker at Ben-Gurion Airport were among the latest Israelis confirmed as infected with coronavirus on Wednesday as the number of people in the country with the virus continued to climb.
By Wednesday noon, 76 people were confirmed to have been infected with the pathogen and tens of thousands more were in self-quarantine.
Israel has taken some of the most stringent steps by any nation to counter virus, now requiring that any person entering the country must spend 14 days in isolation.
Travelers who cannot prove they have somewhere to spend the two-week quarantine period are denied entry to the country.
The dean of Makor Chaim yeshiva in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, Rabbi Dov Singer, tested positive for the virus after his return from the U.S. last week.
The rabbi, who is well-known in religious-Zionist circles, lives on the settlement of Tekoa, where he is in quarantine and in good condition.
He returned from New York on March 1 on El Al Flight LY002, which took off at 5.30pm and landed in Tel Aviv at 10am on March 2.
On Tuesday, the rabbi attended the funeral for one of his students at the settlement of Elon Moreh. All those who were present at the funeral are also being told to go into self-quarantine as are the members of the yeshiva who met with the rabbi following his return.
At the moment, the students at the yeshiva are not being instructed to go into quarantine.
A nine-year-old from Azur near Tel Aviv who recently returned from Spain has also tested positive for the virus, sending 465 of his schoolmates and 26 teaching staff into self-quarantine.
The boy's mother said: "He feels fine. He came back from Spain on March 2 and on Saturday night began to show symptoms [of the disease]. We called the Magen David Adom emergency service, and they sent us a test kit on Monday. He was in solitary confinement on Wednesday, from the moment we were instructed to do so.
"Magen David Adom took two days to arrive, due to their own considerations. The boy is currently at home because it is the first case in a child of his age. The Health Ministry calls us every hour and they just do not know how to deal with it," she said.
"His temperature was 38.3 degrees, and he only had a fever once. I feel fine, but we too at the moment don't know how to handle this."
The worker at Ben-Gurion Airport, known as Patient 71, arrived at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Sunday with suspected pneumonia. He was admitted to a ward and released after a few hours when his condition improved.
But on Tuesday he returned to Ichilov, saying that he was still feeling unwell. He was not tested for coronavirus as he did not meet the Health Ministry criteria for such a check to be conducted.
Only after a specialist insisted that he be given the test was he found to suffering from the virus. He is now hospitalized in the ICU, and his condition is good. As a result of his admission, all 10 Ichilov employees who treated him - nurses, doctors and auxiliary staff – were required to enter home isolation.
An Ichilov official said the patient was an employee of the Airports Authority.
"I do not understand how employees who come in contact with people arriving from abroad are not included on the list of those who must undergo coronavirus testing," he said.
The Health Ministry announced Wednesday morning that the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 76.
Of that number, 63 are now hospitalized and another three have recovered and been sent home. The others are being treated at home, where they are in quarantine.
A renowned rabbi, a nine-year-old boy and a worker at Ben-Gurion Airport were among the latest Israelis confirmed as infected with coronavirus on Wednesday as the number of people in the country with the virus continued to climb.
By Wednesday noon, 76 people were confirmed to have been infected with the pathogen and tens of thousands more were in self-quarantine.
Israel has taken some of the most stringent steps by any nation to counter virus, now requiring that any person entering the country must spend 14 days in isolation.
Travelers who cannot prove they have somewhere to spend the two-week quarantine period are denied entry to the country.
The dean of Makor Chaim yeshiva in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, Rabbi Dov Singer, tested positive for the virus after his return from the U.S. last week.
The rabbi, who is well-known in religious-Zionist circles, lives on the settlement of Tekoa, where he is in quarantine and in good condition.
He returned from New York on March 1 on El Al Flight LY002, which took off at 5.30pm and landed in Tel Aviv at 10am on March 2.
On Tuesday, the rabbi attended the funeral for one of his students at the settlement of Elon Moreh. All those who were present at the funeral are also being told to go into self-quarantine as are the members of the yeshiva who met with the rabbi following his return.
At the moment, the students at the yeshiva are not being instructed to go into quarantine.
A nine-year-old from Azur near Tel Aviv who recently returned from Spain has also tested positive for the virus, sending 465 of his schoolmates and 26 teaching staff into self-quarantine.
The boy's mother said: "He feels fine. He came back from Spain on March 2 and on Saturday night began to show symptoms [of the disease]. We called the Magen David Adom emergency service, and they sent us a test kit on Monday. He was in solitary confinement on Wednesday, from the moment we were instructed to do so.
"Magen David Adom took two days to arrive, due to their own considerations. The boy is currently at home because it is the first case in a child of his age. The Health Ministry calls us every hour and they just do not know how to deal with it," she said.
"His temperature was 38.3 degrees, and he only had a fever once. I feel fine, but we too at the moment don't know how to handle this."
The worker at Ben-Gurion Airport, known as Patient 71, arrived at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on Sunday with suspected pneumonia. He was admitted to a ward and released after a few hours when his condition improved.
But on Tuesday he returned to Ichilov, saying that he was still feeling unwell. He was not tested for coronavirus as he did not meet the Health Ministry criteria for such a check to be conducted.
Only after a specialist insisted that he be given the test was he found to suffering from the virus. He is now hospitalized in the ICU, and his condition is good. As a result of his admission, all 10 Ichilov employees who treated him - nurses, doctors and auxiliary staff – were required to enter home isolation.
An Ichilov official said the patient was an employee of the Airports Authority.
"I do not understand how employees who come in contact with people arriving from abroad are not included on the list of those who must undergo coronavirus testing," he said.
The Health Ministry announced Wednesday morning that the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 76.
Of that number, 63 are now hospitalized and another three have recovered and been sent home. The others are being treated at home, where they are in quarantine.
