Five people have passed away from complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, since Thursday evening, bringing Israel's total virus-related deaths to 245, the Health Ministry reported Friday afternoon.
Among the victims was an 88-year-old man who succumbed to the disease after a month-long battle with coronavirus at Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa.
2 View gallery
Health worker treating a patient at Rambam Medical Center's coronavirus ward in Haifa
(Photo: Courtesy)
The deceased's widow and son have recovered from the virus and were discharged from the hospital last week.
Six more cases of coronavirus were confirmed since the Ministry's last update Thursday evening, meaning 16,409 Israelis have contracted the deadly pathogen since the onset of the pandemic in Israel almost two months ago, of them, 5,157 are still battling the virus.
As of Friday afternoon, 233 patients were hospitalized - among them, 77 people in serious condition, 64 of them received respiratory support and 57 patients were in a moderate condition - and 4,924 patients were recovering at home or at specially designated hotels.
The number of Israelis who have recovered from the virulent strain surpassed 11,000 and currently stands at 11,007.
Over the past 24 hours, medical officials have conducted 8,876 coronavirus tests.
2 View gallery
Preschool teachers in southern Israel disinfecting the establishment before the children return from a long coronavirus hiatus
(Photo: Haim Horenstein)
Meanwhile, Israel Teachers' Union allowed preschools to operate during the Lag BaOmer holiday, but on a voluntary basis.
Although kindergartens are set to return to activity on Sunday, there are still disagreements between the Teachers' Union and the health and education ministries.
Hundreds of preschool teachers sent an open letter on Friday morning to Israel Teachers' Union Secretary-General Yaffa Ben David in protest of the decision.
"We do not understand how can you abandon us on though these days and give and order that subjects us to the ongoing frustration of the parents," read the letter. "The organization is abandoning us."