The Health Ministry released data Thursday showing that 46 new coronavirus cases have been diagnosed today. The current number of active coronavirus cases stands at 2,191.
23 coronavirus patients are currently hospitalized in serious condition. The death toll stands at 291. 15,013 Israelis have recovered from the disease so far.
87 schools and kindergartens across the country have been closed so far after students or staff were diagnosed with the coronavirus. 301 students and teaching staff have been diagnosed with the disease and another 13,696 are in isolation.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu scolded government ministers for their decision to open the economy too quickly. Channel 12 News reported that after Transport Minister Miri Regev declared that trains would resume service and Education Minister Yoav Galant said that schools should not be closed before there was a National Security Council (NSC) discussion, Netanyahu scolded ministers and told them in private talks that "ministers announce decisions independently. Everyone is hyperactive and wants to do in their field but it has wide implications."
"There is a competition to see who will reopen the fastest, but the faster you open the more you risk contagion," the prime minister warned, adding that while there is no reason to return to the full restrictions, he is considering halting the reopening of the economy, even on a daily basis.
Following the remarks made by the prime minister, a directive from the NSC was published in the ministerial Wattsapp group, where it was that "summaries regarding the general policy must obtain the consent of the NSC and, as far as is required, the agreement of the PM."