The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel has jumped to 193, the Health Ministry announced on Friday evening. Three of the patients are said to be in serious condition.
Nearly 40,000 Israelis are currently under home quarantine, as are 2,479 healthcare workers, including 949 doctors.
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A ministry official said the step taken to stem outbreak will be exacerbated next week, saying an official statement on the issue will be made on Saturday evening.
According to Channel 13 News, the government is likely to announce extensive civilian restrictions under which all nonessential places of business will be closed. A measure of this nature is expected to impact over half of the Israeli economy but will exclude the banking sector, food production facilities and supermarkets, and pharmacies.
At this time, however, the government does not plan to officially declare either a special situation in the home front or a national emergency situation, as each would carry various financial ramifications that need to be further explored, the report said.
Civil Service Commissioner Professor Daniel Hershkowitz said he would issue instructions for government workers to work from home insofar as the option exists. Detailed instructions will be published in due course.
On Thursday, Dr. Avi Irony – head of the emergency department at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer – along with other emergency room doctors and 11 nurses were put under quarantine, after one of the doctors contracted coronavirus while visiting France. The doctor who returned from France worked two shifts in the emergency room before the quarantine protocol was updated. Every patient he treated will be contacted.
This week Assuta Hospital's Ramat HaHayal branch in north Tel Aviv was forced to cut back on the number of scheduled operations after 28 operating room nurses were exposed to a colleague identified as having contracted the virus. That nurse was not in contact with any patients.
A total of 16 staff members at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv are hospitalized in isolation after coming into contact with a coronavirus patient who was treated in the hospital's emergency room using standard protocols.
Eight of the staff at Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva are hospitalized in isolation, as are eight staff members at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
Dr. Zeev Feldman, chairman of the Organization of the State Employed Physicians of Israel and deputy head of the Israeli Medical Association, said, "We must ensure the protection of medical staff in order to handle the coronavirus. We, the medical teams, are in the eye of the storm.
"The men and women of Israel expect us to give them the best medical treatment possible, and we expect the government of Israel to supply us with the equipment, protection, and of course the best expert guidance for how to treat patients while protecting our safety," Feldman said.
The Health Ministry has issued new protective gear protocols for doctors ordering them to wear surgical masks every time they treat any patient suffering from respiratory illness.
Meanwhile, Jewish, Christian and Muslim authorities said religious services would continue to be held but announced new precautions.
At the Western Wall, authorities will limit entrance to an enclosed area and set up tents that each accommodate up to 100 people at one time, in compliance with Health Ministry instructions.
The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said there would be no restrictions on worship in the main plaza as it constitutes a "wide, open space."
The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem called on churches to enforce the Health Ministry's guidelines, including in Sunday services.
The Islamic Waqf said Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque would be held as normal but encouraged people to pray in the outer courtyards and refrain from crowding inside the mosques. It advised the elderly and sick not to enter crowded mosques and urged everyone to "maintain personal hygiene."
On Friday, the Health Ministry shut down Israel's professional soccer leagues through the end of March. During the last week of the month, league and health officials are due to conduct a situation assessment and decide until when the ban will remain in place. Israel Professional Football Leagues Chairman Erez Kalfon said: "With a heavy heart, we are forced to announce a halt to all soccer games in Israel's professional leagues in accordance with instructions from Health Ministry experts.
"At this time, as we are in the middle of a global crisis, we must all act responsibly and follow instructions from experts to protect the health of the public," Kalfon said.
The Israeli Basketball Association, which also suspended its season, said in a press release that the "decision was made in order to protect the health of the players, the referees, the coaches, and other employees. We are calling on everyone to protect their health in these difficult times and are hoping for better times."
