Israel’s Coronavirus Toll at 237; 31 New Cases in Last Day

The Health Ministry announced Tuesday morning that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases stands currently at 16,268 – an increase of 31 over the past 24 hours.

Israel’s death toll from coronavirus stands at 237, up three since Monday.

The city with the highest number of coronavirus-related fatalities is Yerushalayim, with 55 confirmed deaths, followed by Bnei Brak with 33, and Bat Yam with 18.

According to the Health Ministry, 89 people infected with COVID-19 are in serious condition, and 66 of them are on ventilators. Another 56 are in moderate condition, whereas most of those who have tested positive for the virus have mild symptoms. To date, 10,223 Israelis have recovered from the virus.

The youngest coronavirus victim – a resident of Yerushalayim – was 30 years old. To date, two Israelis who died of coronavirus were under the age of 39, three were in their 40s, seven were in their 50s, 23 were in their 60s, and 55 in their 70s.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has extended for another month, until June 5, a state of emergency declared in areas under his administration in response to the coronavirus crisis, the official news agency Wafa said on Tuesday.

First announced two months ago, the state of emergency heralded a full lockdown that confined Palestinians to their homes, except for essential travel. Border crossings with Israel and Jordan were closed.

But conditions were eased last month, with some businesses allowed to open in the hope of reviving the paralyzed Palestinian economy. On Sunday, Abbas’s administration allowed tens of thousands of Palestinians laborers to resume jobs in Israel.

Mosques and educational institutions remain closed and Palestinian authorities are still banning public congregations.

The Palestinians have reported 345 coronavirus cases and two deaths in Yehudah and Shomron, where some 3 million Palestinians live.

In the Gaza Strip, under the control of Abbas’s Islamist Hamas rivals, 17 cases have been reported among a population of some 2 million. Hamas has shuttered Gaza‘s mosques and schools and restricted large gatherings, but said a full lockdown was not necessary.