The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in one day in Israel reached a record yesterday: out of 59,169 people tested, 6,782 were found to have the disease. The number of tests is very high for one day, and the proportion of positive results, at 11.6%, is among the highest recorded.
The coronavirus cabinet is due to convene this morning to discuss tightening of the lockdown in Israel. At the end of a nine-hour session yesterday, no agreement was reached among the ministers who are members of the cabinet on the question of whether demonstrations should continue to be permitted.
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It was, however, agreed to adopt the proposal by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi to set up an inter-ministerial committee to formulate guidelines for demonstrations and communal prayers to be presented to the coronavirus cabinet today. Coronavirus Project Coordinator Ronni Gamzu presented his recommendations, among them a further reduction in workplaces and in the public sector to 50%, a ban on gatherings of people, and closure of synagogues.
It was also reported yesterday that in August Israel recorded a mortality rate 10% above the multi-year average. The rise is mainly among people aged 65 and over, and is especially marked in those aged 75 and over. The figures were reported in a document prepared by the Ministry of Health and presented to the coronavirus cabinet yesterday, against the background of the rise in coronavirus infection rates in Israel and the fear of a surge in mortality in the coming months.
Published by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on September 23, 2020
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