Israel Health Ministry recorded 1,337 new coronavirus cases on Motzei Shabbos. There are currently 20,331 active cases, with 438 people in serious condition, of whom 116 are ventilated. Twelve fatalities were recorded in the previous 24 hours, raising the death toll to 906.

There were 2,068 new coronavirus cases recorded on Friday morning, the first time since the pandemic began that over 2,000 new daily cases were recorded. Furthermore, the Health Ministry recorded 89 coronavirus fatalities from last Friday through Thursday, the highest number of coronavirus fatalities in one week since the pandemic began.

The Health Ministry listed 21 “red cities” with high coronavirus infection rates on Motzei Shabbos, including Bnei Brak, Beitar, Tifrach, Emmanuel, Yad Binyamin, Elkanah, Yakir (a settlement in the Shomron), and a number of Arab cities and towns.

Coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu said over the weekend that the Arab town of Tira will also be declared a red zone this week if the infection rate doesn’t decrease over the next several days.

According to Gamzu, the infection rate is high in Tira due to the residents’ lack of adherence to Health Ministry regulations.

“Those who violate quarantine and roam the streets are like criminals walking around with a gun and shooting at passers-by,” said Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported on Motzei Shabbos that 254 IDF soldiers, staff members and civilian employees have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)