Nearly one out of every 100 residents of Bnei Brak has contracted COVID-19, the Health Ministry said Sunday. In neighboring Tel Aviv, the infection rate is reported to be one for every 1,000 residents of the city.
There are 1,831 currently confirmed cases of coronavirus in the predominately ultra-Orthodox city.
The majority of those confirmed ill have not been removed from their homes despite many of them living with large families in small apartments.
Only 243 residents have been evacuated since the city was put under tight restrictions of movement after concerns the virus was spreading rapidly among residents.
In all, 18 people from Bnei Brak have been hospitalized and 216 were moved to specifically dedicated hotels caring for COVID-19 patients in mild condition.
A total 10,878 cases of coronavirus have been detected in Israel thus far.
Jerusalem neighborhoods that are predominately ultra-Orthodox were put under travel restrictions on Sunday, similar to those imposed on Bnei Brak because of the outbreak of more cases of the virus detected among their residents.
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, himself a member of the ultra-Orthodox community, called out the health ministry for signaling out these communities claiming its members are being disparaged by the government.