Netanyahu: ‘Rate of Infection Higher than We Figured’, Number of Coronavirus Patients in Israel Climbs to 25

Jerusalem, 8 March, 2020 (TPS) -- Several more cases of Coronavirus were discovered in Israel over the weekend, bringing the number of patients to 25.

Patient number 25 had recently returned from Spain, patient number 24 had recently returned from Greece, and patient number 23 had recently returned from Italy.

The Ministry of Health published the locations that the patients visited since returning to the country and asked the public who was on the flight with them or who may have encountered them in public to enter a self-imposed quarantine for 14 days.

All the Israeli patients are in light condition, except a 38-year-old man who is in serious condition. He is a bus driver who drove Greek pilgrims who were infected with the virus.

Some 60,000 Israelis have been sent into quarantine, mostly at home, out of fear that they may have contracted the virus.

Public events around the country have been canceled, including events celebrating the Purim holiday.

“In the past 48 hours, we have seen a rise in the rate of infection. The rate of infection cannot be estimated precisely but it is, apparently, higher than we figured,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Saturday night.

He has spoken with world leaders and initiated a conference call to be held this week to see how countries can collaborate in fighting the virus.

“It is doubtful whether there has been a similar pandemic in the last 100 years,” he stated. “It seems that the rate of infection is greater than we figured and for the moment there is no vaccine. The assumption that the virus will disappear or evaporate in hot weather is unproven. At the moment, this has no basis that we can build on.

“The virus is currently spreading to Africa. There is no vaccine and anti-viral drugs are ineffective. Economies are starting to be hurt. Governments are ordering their gates closed. Nobody knows how the pandemic will end,” he added.

“With God’s help, we will overcome the crisis together,” he concluded.

The IDF has prohibited its soldiers from traveling to countries designated by the Ministry of Health as dangerous and health system workers have been grounded in Israel.

Israeli researchers at MIGAL Institute last month that they have made a breakthrough on the way to developing an effective vaccine against Coronavirus and expect it to be ready in the coming weeks.

The novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 103 countries around the world.

At least 106,200 cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, including at least 3,600 deaths. Some 60,200 have recovered.