Israeli health authorities said Friday that 1,025 people have been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in tests conducted since midnight, while five more people have succumbed to the virus, bringing the death toll to 392.
At present, 26,322 people are battling the disease in Israel, with 208 in serious condition, including 56 people on ventilators.
Updated figures released by the Health Ministry on Friday showed the total number of new infections for the preceding day was higher than the initially reported 1,814 cases. Instead, Thursday saw 1,929 new infections, the highest daily number of new cases in Israel since the pandemic began.
Jerusalem remains the city hardest-hit by the virus, with 3,795 active cases - a weekly increase of 1,541 in a week, followed by Bnei Brak with 1,918 - an increase of 848 confirmed cases in the past seven days, and Tel Aviv with 1,905 - an increase of 506 in one week.
Despite a late-night cabinet vote Thursday to impose more restrictions on restaurants from Friday, including a ban on in-house dining, the government at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to postpone the order. Those businesses are allowed to continue operating until Tuesday, a move that came after some restaurant owners said they would be ignoring the cabinet's directive.
A delegation of restaurateurs met with Netanyahu on Friday afternoon to express their frustration at what they say would be a death blow to many of their establishments after many had invested in stock and supplies.
"We have invested in stock and will not be subjected to irresponsible and inexplicable steps taken by the government," said Asaf Lees, the owner of popular Tel Aviv eatery Kitchen Market.
First published: 19:17, 07.17.20