Coronavirus: Death toll spikes to 11, more than 3,000 people sick

THE NEW coronavirus ward was completed in three days last week

(photo credit: RONI ALBERT)

On Friday morning, Israel had 3,035 people who had been diagnosed with the virus - 49 in serious condition.

   

Three more Israelis died of the novel coronavirus so far this weekend, days after the government increased restrictions on the public and as the diagnoses spiked to more than 3,000 people. 

On Friday afternoon, a  73-year-old man from Haifa who suffered from pre-existing conditions died at Rambam Hospital. His wife, 71, remains hospitalized at Rambam with coronavirus. The couple had traveled to the Tenerife Spanish island. They checked into Rambam with coronavius on March 9.

Overnight, a 93-year-old male who was hospitalized at Soroka Medical Center and suffered from several pre-existing conditions passed away, as did a 76-year-old woman who was being treated at Beilinson Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

On Friday morning, Israel had 3,035 people who had been diagnosed with the virus - 49 in serious condition, the Health Ministry reported.

Prof. Itamar Grotto told the Hebrew website Ynet that the situation is not as bad as it could be: "The steps we have taken are starting to pay off. The number of people dead or in critical condition is less than we expected."

Nonetheless, the prime minister held a series of separate discussions on Friday about increasing restrictions. He also reviewed the  comprehensive economic aid program to help support the economy during the coronavirus crisis. 

The Finance Ministry, together with the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Amir Yaron, and the economic adviser to the prime minister, Avi Simhon, succeeded in reaching a number of steps to be included in an economic aid package due to coronavirus.

The scope of the package will be about NIS 80 billion, with between NIS 40 and NIS 50 billion being "budgetary" and the rest will include an increase in state guarantees, a postponement of compulsory business payments and a deferral of tax payment. It was also decided to set up another NIS 5 billion fund to help large businesses.

This is in addition to the NIS 8 billion fund for small and medium businesses.

The government also approved unemployment benefits for citizens over the age of 67.

The total number of employed people aged 67 and over is estimated to be 135,000 citizens. They will receive up to NIS 4,000 if they were forced to leave work due to the outbreak.

"This is a significant and unprecedented step that shows the ongoing assistance of elderly citizens, especially those in the employment sector over retirement age," Labor Minister Ofir Akunis said.

"We are in a situation where the number of sick is doubling every three days," said Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov on Thursday. He estimated that within a week, the country will have about 200 severely ill patients.

The majority of Israelis have mild conditions: 2,838. However, 60 are moderate condition. Another 79 Israelis have recovered.

On Thursday, three people died from coronavirus in the country: a 91-year-old woman who was hospitalized at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon; an 89-year-old woman had been treated at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem; and an 83-year-old man who was passed away under the care of Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak.

Part of the reason for the uptick in sick people is that Israel has increased the number of people it is testing for the virus. In the last week Israel has gone from testing an average of 1,000 people per day to more than 5,000. Overall, around 6% of those screened for the novel virus have tested positive in Israel.