The Health Ministry reported Wednesday night that 868 Israelis have tested positive for coronavirus since midnight, the highest tally of virus diagnoses in a day since the onset of the pandemic in the country.
Health authorities have conducted 17,980 tests since midnight, meaning 4.8% of all tests returned positive, an exceptionally high percentage of positive results.
There are currently 8,483 Israelis battling the virus, 57 of them are in serious condition and 24 patients are on ventilators.
Two Israeli have succumbed to complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, bringing the nation's virus fatalities to 322.
Since the beginning of the week, 2,774 new coronavirus patients have been diagnosed - twice as many during the entire month of May (1,223).
Meanwhile, the government decided Wednesday evening to impose full lockdown on three neighborhoods in the southern city of Ashdod and on three neighborhoods in the central city of Lod.
The closure will take effect starting 8am Thursday, July 2 until 8am Thursday, July 9. Movement into and out of these areas will be restricted and so will any business activity within the areas.
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Police checkpint in Beitar-Ilit after it was placed under lockdown due to extensive coronavirus outbreak
(Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)
Health Ministry Director-General Hezi Levi is set to sign an order that will restrict the education system and limit gatherings in Beitar-Ilit after contagion rates hiked in the ultra-Orthodox town.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a meeting that enforcement of social distancing should be immediately increased at event halls, even if it means placing undercover police officers at events.