Coronavirus Israel Live: Health Minister Cautions Over ‘Dramatic’ Rise in New Cases

Israel has seen a spike in coronavirus cases as schools, businesses, restaurants, bars, tourist attractions and other establishments reopen. Schools throughout the country have closed after cases tied to students and staff members continue to climb. 

■ 18,180 people in Israel have so far tested positive for the coronavirus; 299 people have died. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, 554 people tested positive; two people have died. In the Gaza Strip, 66 people were diagnosed and one person has died. 

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■ Coronavirus tracker: Live stats of cases and deaths

LIVE UPDATES

8:40 P.M. Officials decide to boost enforcement of coronavirus regulations in urgent meeting

National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat has held an urgent meeting on tightening enforcement of coronavirus regulations with a number of officials, including the interior and health ministers and their ministries’ directors-general. The officials in the meeting decided that given an upward trend in the spread of the virus, authorities should immediately begin increasing enforcement of four regulations in particular: mask-wearing; limiting gatherings; distancing rules in businesses and shopping centers; isolation of those infected and those who were in contact with them. (Haaretz)

7:30 P.M. Israel diagnoses 148 new coronavirus cases