A man in his 90s succumbed to the coronavirus on Tuesday evening, becoming the 20th fatality in Israel and the fifth in 24 hours.
The man, who had underlying health issues, passed away at Wolfson Hospital in Holon, near Tel Aviv, where he had been on a ventilator and in very serious condition.
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A guard wears a mask against coronavirus at the entrance to Wolfson Hospital in Holon
(Photo: Avigail Uzi)
A short time earlier, Assuta Hospital in the southern city of Ashdod said a man in his 70s had died of the disease. The man had existing health issues, the hospital said.
The Health Ministry said Tuesday night that Israel now has 5,358 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Of that number, 94 people are currently in serious condition, including 76 patients on ventilators. Another 105 people are in moderate condition and the rest have minor symptoms.
A total of 587 people are being treated in hospital, 615 are in specially designated hotels and 2,707 are being treated at home. The remainder are awaiting a decision on whether they will need to be hospitalized.
Three women have also succumbed to the virus since Monday night, including a 49-year-old widow who is Israel's youngest fatality so far.
A 90-year-old woman, who also had underlying health issues, died on Tuesday at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.
Earlier Tuesday, 50-year-old Pazit Babian from RIshon Lezion succumbed to the virus at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, hours after it claimed the life of 49-year-old widow Tamar Peretz-Levy from Lod, who leaves behind 4-year-old twins.
Also Tuesday, Israel introduced more stringent regulations on religious life and workplaces, with restrictions on the number of people allowed to pray together publicly and attendees at funerals and circumcisions.
Employers must also take steps to protect their workers.
First published: 19:47, 03.31.20