Last Updated on August 31, 2020

Quick-Read: Daily Israel Coronavirus Updates for September.

More than 7 million cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed worldwide in August (one million every 4 days). September has seen over 8 million new cases (one million every 3.5 days).

In Israel, August brought 40,000 new cases any by 1st September more than 118,000 cases had been diagnosed.  On erev Rosh Hashana (18 September) a total number of 179,071 cases had been diagnosed in Israel.  Erev Yom Kippur (27 September) a total of 227,000 cases had been diagnosed.  The average number of daily cases in Israel has shot up from 5,000 and the seven day moving average is now over 7,000 cases.

Prof. Roni Gamzu’s traffic-light plan was finally approved. The new academic year commenced but has it been the catalyst for the third wave? In spite of quotas set on public gatherings, weekly demonstrations with thousand of participants continue across the country.  The government approved a second lockdown commencing Friday, September 18th (Erev Rosh Hashanah).  The lockdown was further tightened commencing September 25th with restrictions for Yom Kippur prayers and outdoor gatherings clearly defined. Hospitals are taking strain and some corona wards are already 100% full.

We anxiously await a vaccine but in the meantime, each one of us has a personal responsibility to improve the situation and do our absolute best to protect ourselves and the community from infection. In a closed area, the virus can remain active for up to two hours.  Please wear your masks, inside and outside, and adhere to social distancing and hygiene directives. It’s up to us.

Diagnosed cases of the coronavirus in Israel since the onset of the pandemic – 3 and 7-day moving averages (Image credit: Worldometer)

• Map of red zones
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30 September – 7:56am

• Only 3,661 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed yesterday as most labs were closed over Yom Kippur – expect this number to increase as the day progresses and information comes in.   The total number of diagnosed cases now stands at 236,926.  Currently 67,594 individuals are infected with the virus and 797 patients are in serious condition with 203 on ventilators.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,528 – 21 new deaths yesterday. Israel records 25,760 cases per million population – the highest in the world. – Worldometer
• Positivity rate jumps to 15.1%.  – N12
• Israel is seeing an increase in cases within the 60+ age group.
• The death toll is 1,528 – one third of the total number of deaths (528) in September alone.
• The lockdown will definitely go beyond Simchat Torah.  Netanyahu: “The lockdown will continue for at least one month”
• The corona cabinet meets today to discuss the lockdown exit strategy.
• The Knesset finally passes the law on demonstrations – no more than 20 people per demonstration within a 1km radius from home.
• Yuli Edelstein – Minister of Health: When it comes to opening the economy, we will not make the same mistakes as last time.
• Large numbers within the Haredi Ultra-Orthodox community continue to disregard lockdown directives
• According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Transportation Minister Miri Regev will serve as a member of the committee in place of MK Yaakov Litzman who resigned earlier this month. – YNet

29 September – 8:32am

• Just over 6,000 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed in Israel over Yom Kippur.  Most testing came to a standstill on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The total number of diagnosed cases now stands at 233,265.  Currently 66,567 individuals are infected with the virus and 763 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,507 – 66 new deaths over the two day Yom Kippur period.. Positivity rate – 13.7%.  Israel records 25,362 cases per million population.
• Prof. Itamar Grotto – Associate Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Health: A two-week extension of the lockdown period is under consideration. Some experts suggest that 6-8 weeks is needed.
• Netanyahu’s estimation: within 2 days we will have 1,500 patients in serious condition.
• Ichilov hospital’s corona ward is full to capacity.  Some patients will need to be released in order to make space for new ones.
• From today police will be further clamping down on those not heeding the directives.Seven thousand members of Israel’s police force and soldiers will be enforcing regulations at 40 major intersections across the country.
• Some 4,000 fines were issued over Yom Kippur – approximately 1,000 for masks and the balance for other violations.
• Thousands in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak disregard social distancing regulations while hundreds of Hasidim from the Toldot Aharon movement crowd the streets waiting for buses to return them home after the festival end.
• Demonstrations last night in front of the homes of MK’s Yuli Edelstein, Gabi Ashkenazi, Avi Nissinkorn and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz.
• Further discussions to take place today regarding crowd control at demonstrations.

27 September – 6.52am

• Over the two day weekend, 14,985 new cases were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 227,100.  Currently 68,122 individuals are infected with the virus and 728 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,441 – 63 new deaths over the weekend. Two-day weekend average positivity rate – 15%.  Israel records 24,691 cases per million population.
• In spite of stricter lockdown directives thousands gather at demonstrations in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ceasarea.  Police issue fines to those who did not observe social distancing rules. Five protestors are arrested.
• Netanyahu continues to call for a state of emergency but alternate Prime Minister, Benny Gantz (Blue & White) firmly rejects the proposal.
• Netanyahu urges the Jewish population to pray at home
• Special directives for Yom Kippur

25 September – 03.19pm

• Thursday more than 44,000 tests performed in the past 24 hours and almost 13% – 7,527 people found positive for the coronavirus in Israel (highest ever),  There were 59 coronavirus-related deaths bringing the total death toll to 1,378. It is reported that 685 people are in serious condition and 175 on ventilators.
• The tally of active patients currently ill with the disease now stands at 60,786, of whom 6,413 (more than 10%) live in Jerusalem, 3,450 in Bnei Brak, 2,470 in Ashdod and 1,894 in Tel Aviv. Jerusalem also boasts a disturbing average of 500 new coronavirus cases a day, with 3,419 new diagnoses reported in the capital over the past seven days.– YNet
• A 2 week lockdown comes into effect today at 14:00 and will continue for two weeks up until 10th October, 2020.
• Fines for contravening lockdown regulation will range between 500 NIS – 50,000 NIS
• We will only be able to see the effects of this lockdown one or two months down the line.
• At the 11th hour large hi-tech firms, delivery services and the building industry are given the green light and will continue to operate
• Thousands of police, Border Police, volunteers, IDF soldiers and inspectors will be deployed throughout the country to enforce lockdown regulations
• It is expected that bereaved families whose loved ones fell during the Yom Kippur War will be allowed to visit grave sites this weekend and on Sunday
• Netanyahu to Gamzu: “We make decisions based on the weight of our responsibility and not only on your recommendations.  During my entire career, there have been many times that I did not listen to the professionals and each time I was 100% correct. The recommendations we have taken from you until now caused a rise in infection from 2,000 cases to 7,000.”
• Ministry of Finance: The lockdown will cost the country between 30 – 50 billion shekels. Netanyahu maintains it will only cost 10 billion shekels.
• A report from the OECD estimates that Israel’s economy will only fully recover by 2022
• Some 850,000 Israelis are already out of work – 120,000 filed for unemployment in the last week

24 September – 6:55am

• After hours of discussion, a full lockdown was finally decided on  Lockdown will  commence Friday up until the end of Simchat Torah.  The proposal will be submitted for final approval in the Knesset plenum later on Thursday
• Seniors official at the Ministry of Finance: This lockdown will be a financial disaster. Everyone will be affected. Gamzu’s recommendation was to keep 50% of the private sector open
• The number of seriously ill children, requiring hospitalization, is increasing. Prof. Ronni Gamzu’s advisors suggest that specialized pediatric hospitals to treat corona cases, are needed..
• Yesterday’s final statistics: 6,948 new cases – 32 new deaths.  An 11.7% positivity rate.
• Kobi Yaacovi – Head of Security at Demonstrations, is corona positive.  It is impossible to know how many people he came into contact with.
• Unemployment shoots up to 21% – N12

Update – 23 September – 15:40pm

• The Health Ministry reported today, that 31 people have died from COVID-19 and 6,923 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Israel in the last 24 hours

23 September – 6:28am

• Tuesday  2,445 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 193,347.  Currently 51,388  individuals are infected with the virus and 668 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,285 – 12 new deaths yesterday.  Israel records 21,024 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• It should be noted that since the lockdown began, considerably less testing is happening. Just over 13,000 tests were carried out yesterday compared almost 57,500 tests (the most ever) on September 17th. Positivity rate yesterday -7.5% – N12
• Corona cabinet to meet later today to finalize tightening the lockdown.
• Experts suggest that there will be 1,000 seriously ill patients soon.  If the current rate of infection continues, hospitals will have to make a tough decision – who should be ventilated and who should not – Channel 13
• The Hevra Kadisha (burial service) has obtained refrigerated containers to used to store bodies prior to burial.
• Netanyahu speaks out: “This farce must stop. Everyone understands it, even leftists. We are in a state of emergency.  There has to be one rule for both prayer and protests and all other gatherings”.  He went on to say that “You can go to the Western Wall only if you live within 1,000 meters, but to Balfour [Street, where the PM’s official residence is located] you can come from around the country”.
• The Attorney General of the  Knesset (יועמ”ש) – Avichai Mandelblit does not oppose the idea of restrictions being put in place for demonstrations
• Arye Deri (Haredi party – Shas):  I don’t know if I can remain part of a government that decides on restrictions for prayer services but allows demonstrations.
• A Jerusalem Yeshiva – 560 students, from a total of 800, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

22 September – 8:11am

• Yesterday  3,027 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 190,929.  Currently 52,876 individuals are infected with the virus and 653 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,273 – 17 new deaths yesterday.  Israel records 20,759 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• Positivity rate yesterday – 12.8% – N12
• Corona cabinet to meet today at 11am to discuss tightening the lockdown. The Prime Minister and Minister of Health expected to support this idea. Gamzu and Minister of Finance are expected to oppose the idea.
• Hospitals collapsing under the strain – The IDF considers opening field hospitals. Two hospitals no longer able to accept new corona patients.
• Ministry of Health expects many hundreds more of people in serious condition within the next 10 days.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s social media adviser Topaz Luk was filmed on Sunday at an anti-government protest near the premier’s official residence in Jerusalem, despite Health Ministry directives requiring him to quarantine after returning from Washington last week. – Haaretz
• President of Israel’s Supreme Court – Esther Hayut enters quarantine after being diagnosed with the covide-19 coronavirus.
• Prime Minister, Ministers, members of the Knesset and other senior officials to take a 10% salary cut.

21 September – 7:26am

• Over the 3 day Rosh Hashanah weekend; Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 12,646 cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 187,902.  Currently 52,577  individuals are infected with the virus, 643 patients are in serious condition and 170 are on ventilators.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,256 – 87 new deaths this long weekend.  Israel records 20,249 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• 115,070  coronavirus tests over the 3 day weekend yielded an 9.9% positivity rate.  The number of people in serious condition is coming close to the red line. Some hospitals no longer able to accept new covid-19 patients.
• Rambam Medical Center in Haifa activating its underground emergency hospital in order to better handle the coronavirus pandemic and provide appropriate treatment for patients.  The Health Ministry has set the maximum capacity of the facility during the pandemic to 770 patients, including 170 patients on respirators and 600 patients in severe condition.  It is hoped that this move will relieve some of the pressure on other hospitals in the area that no longer have the capacity to handle new coronavirus patients who require hospitalization.
• Mostly lockdown directives were observed over the Rosh Hashanah long weekend. Some 2,000 fines were issued to members of the public who contravened the directives.
• Today; 38 roadblocks on main routes across the country remain in place
• Sunday night, thousands demonstrate in Balfour St., Jerusalem, opposite the Prime Minister’s official residence.
• Prof. Ronni Gamzu: “The lockdown can be tightened further – I am not sure that it is appropriate at this time”.
• Prof. Itamar Grotto: “The lockdown is full of loopholes – we need to think of ways to seal them”
• The corona cabinet to meet and discuss tightening the lockdown according to the level of infection.  Will non-essential services in the private sector be forced to close as well? Law firms, accounting offices etc. may also be shuttered and staff members encouraged to work from home.
• Six team members and 7 staff members of Maccabi Tel Aviv football team are tested positive for the coronavirus.

Diaspora news

17 September – 7:08am

• Yesterday  6,063 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 170,465.  Currently 46,081 individuals are infected with the virus and 549 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,165 – 18 new deaths yesterday.  Israel records 18,534 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• 43,507 coronavirus tests yielded an 8.4% positivity rate – N12
• Only 9 cities and towns in Israel remain ‘green’ according to Prof. Ronni Gamzu’s traffic light plan.  Almost all of Israel -98% – is now ‘red’ or ‘orange’. -Channel 13
• Private kindergartens are expected to defy lockdown orders and remain open during the lockdown.
• The government finalizes lockdown directives today. Lockdown commences Friday, September 18th at 2:00pm

16 September – 7:32am

• Yesterday  4,034 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 164,402.  Currently 42,528 individuals are infected with the virus and 534 patients are in serious condition and 137 are on ventilators.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,147 – 11 new deaths yesterday.  Israel records 17,874 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• 33,010 coronavirus tests yielded a 9.7% positivity rate – N12
• In the shadow of the coronavirus a treaty with the UAE and Bahrain is signed in the USA and in response 13 missiles are fired over Southern Israe. 2 missiles were fired during the signing ceremony and the balance during the night. One person is seriously injured.  Although there is no fear for his life, the patient is sedated

15 September 7:25am

• Monday, 4,764 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 160,369.  Currently 40,662 individuals are infected with the virus and 524 patients are in serious condition and 142 are on ventilators.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,136 – 17 new deaths yesterday.  .Israel records 17,436 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• Monday, 39,025 coronavirus tests yielded a 10.2% positivity rate – N12
• As hospitals are struggling to cope under the pressure and the worsening situation, tens of hospital workers attend a wedding in Nahariya – 15 contract Covid-19 and 35 are sent into isolation.
• Some hospitals face the grim reality of having to refuse new corona patients as corona wards are stretched to the limit.
• In the traffic-light system only 9 towns in Israel remain ‘green’ – the rest of the country; red, orange or yellow – Channel 13
• The capital of Jerusalem has the most active cases with 4,901,  followed by Bnei Brak and Ashdod with 2,358 and 1,446 patients respectively. Rounding up the top five are Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva with 1,038 and 1,003 active coronavirus cases respectively. – YNet
  
• Some details of the 3 week lockdown have now been clarified
• Bulgaria and Croatia, might soon be downgraded from “green” to “red,” forcing Israeli returnees to isolate for two weeks – Haaretz
• Hasidic pilgrims returning from Uman, Ukraine not to quarantine in isolation hotels, and will instead will be allowed to self-isolate at home. – Haaretz

14 September – 6:21am

• Sunday, 2,882 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 155, 604.  Currently 39,487 individuals are infected with the virus and 519 patients are in serious condition and 144 are on ventilators.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,119 – 16 new deaths yesterday.Israel records 16,918 cases per million population. – Worldometer
• Sunday, 27,279 coronavirus tests yielded a 9.2% positivity rate
• A 3 week lockdown commencing Friday, Erev Rosh Hashanah is approved by the Knesset.
• Ultra-Orthodox minister Yaakov Litzman announced his resignation from his position as Housing Minister on Sunday, in protest claiming a lockdown during the High Holidays is an affront to the religious public. – Ynet
• A plan to allow worship during the holidays is still to be announced.

13 September – 6:20am

• Over the two day weekend, over 7,000 new cases were recorded in Israel bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 152,722.  Currently 38,123 individuals are infected with the virus and 495 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,103 – 26 new deaths over the weekend. Two-day weekend average positivity rate – 9.1%.  Israel records 16,605 cases per million population.
• Ministers to meet today to finalize details of the planned lockdown scheduled to commence Friday.
• Shuttering the education system and details of prayer services are hotly debated. Ministers under pressure.
• Senior healthcare officials: We are on the verge of collapse.
• Israel is the only OECD country to impose a second curfew
• The 500m limitation of movement directive comes under fierce criticism
• Senior officials: Israel needs the curfew in order to build and increase public discipline
• Experts’ viewpoint: Lockdown is not the answer but strict restraint is required
• The corona cabinet fears that any plan that does not include a lockdown, will not succeed
• The 12th week of anti-Netanyahu demonstrations across the country – in Jerusalem, Ceasarea and major intersections and junctions.  This time small business owners join in.

11 September – 9:02am

• Yesterday Worldometer reported another 4,429 new cases  in Israel (another record breaking day) bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 146,542.  Currently 33,926 individuals are infected with the virus and 489 patients are in serious condition and 134 are being intubated.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,077 – 23 new deaths yesterday. (We would like to remind you that Worldometer’s statistics are updated constantly which would account for the different numbers being reported in local press which are some hours old)
• Some 47,000 coronavirus tests were performed yesterday and the positivity result was 8.8% – N12
• Israel gears up for lockdown which will include serious restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.  The dates and full details of the lockdown have not yet been published.  There will be 3 phases of lockdown according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Health Ministry. Phase 2 and phase 3 will depend on the outcome of the previous phase. The first phase of lockdown will commence prior to Rosh Hashanah, the second phase around October 1, and the last, phase 3, around October 15
• The Finance Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office and the head of the National Economic Council will put together an “economic safety net” for business owners and members of the public who are expected to experience economic hardship during the lockdown
• A full cabinet vote to approve these measures is expected on Sunday.
• Gamzu hopes that these measures will see a considerable drop in the number of new cases – 600-700 is what is hoped for
• Diaspora stats: cases per million

10 September – 7:37am

• Daily new cases in Israel continues to spike.  Yesterday – 3,590 new cases were recorded bringing the total number of diagnosed cases, in Israel, to 141,097.  Currently 31,689 individuals are infected with the virus and 477 patients are in serious condition and 133 are being intubated.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,054 – 14 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• Yesterday, 43,445 tests were carried out and 9% were positive.  The average positivity rate for the past 5 days is 9.38%.
• A corona cabinet meeting is scheduled for later today and one of the topics under discussion will be the possibility of a full curfew over the Rosh Hashanah holidays.  Will we be able to host our extended family and friends, or will it be the nuclear family only?
• Another topic on the agenda will be the status of the hospitals.  Are hospitals collapsing under the strain?  According to Channel 13, Shaarei Tzedek only has room for another 5 patients, Rambam can handle another 8 – 10 patients and Ziv has room for less than 5 patients. A countrywide curfew will only be imposed if healthcare resources collapse as a result of the crisis.
• Police dispersed on Wednesday an illegal wedding with 100 attendees in Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem. The wedding was held after the night curfew, which was imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.  The wedding organizer was given a fine of NIS 5,000. – YNet
• Figures released on Wednesday by the Federation of Small Business Organizations warned that the cost of a lockdown during the Jewish High Holidays, which start on September 18, would be NIS 13.6 billion ($4 billion).– Ynet

9 September – 6:24am

•  As of today 137,565  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel,  Yesterday another record day – 3,590 new cases were recorded.  Currently 29,522 individuals are infected with the virus and 454 patients are in serious condition.  The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,040 – 14 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• The night curfew in 38 red zones commenced Tuesday night. The original list included 40 red zones but at the last minute, a curfew in Beitar Illit and Tiberias was prevented.
• Many did not abide to the restrictions but no serious incidents were recorded. From Wednesday night (second night of curfew), the police will be issuing fines (from 500NIS) to those who contravene restrictions.
• Business owners in the ultra-Orthodox communities complain of the damage they will be caused by the curfew (all businesses must close at 7pm)
• Hundreds participate in a wedding in the Arab village of Mashad.  It is estimated that 350 guests joined in the celebrations.  The police broke up the event and fines were issued.  The owner of the wedding venue was ordered to close his doors for 30 days.
• Prof. Ronni Gamzu (Coronavirus Commissioner), Yuli Edelstein (Minister of Health), Yoav Kish (Deputy Minister of Health), Prof. Hezi Levy, and General Ronni Numeh all enter isolation after coming into contact with a coronavirus positive person.
• Even though the night curfew in Tiberias was prevented, schools in the suburbs of Kiryat Shmuel and Don Yosef Nassi will be closed.  Schools in other neighborhoods in Tiberias will remain open.
• International news:
  • Pharma company Astra Zeneca, part of the Oxford group, have halted clinical trials of their covid-19 vaccine due to side effects which have been reported.
  • In the UK, the current directive – 30 people at a public gathering has been cut drastically.  Commencing Monday, only gatherings of 6 people to be allowed.
  • Death toll in the last 24 hours: Mexico – 703, Brazil – 504 and over 1,000 deaths in India

8 September – 7:08am

• Daily stats: As of today 133,975  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel,  Yesterday 3,301 new cases were recorded.  Currently 27,494 individuals are infected with the virus and 470 patients are in serious condition. The number on ventilators is 137. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,026 – 7new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• The Health Ministry reports the contagion rate increases by another 2% in less than 24 hours, with 1 out of every 9 tests returning positive.  It now stands at 12% – YNet
• Commencing this evening at 7pm – nightly curfew in 40 red zones, cities, towns and communities with high infection rates.
• Police will be monitoring the situation and enforcing the directives
• A real concern about the economic damage that will result from a general curfew over the holiday.  N12  reports that the unemployment rate currently stands at 19.1%.
• Night curfew in Eilat results in a 30% cancellation of hotel reservations for the holiday period. Meir Yitzhak Halevi told Ynet he is dumbfounded as to why the city is said to have been placed on the ‘red’ list when the number of confirmed cases in Eilat is in ‘single digits’; If nighttime curfews are imposed, it would be a fatal blow for tourism.
• Greece continues offers entry to Israelis without isolation conditions – a negative coronavirus test is required 72 hours prior to entry.
• Channel 13 poll shows that the majority of the public are not satisfied with Netanyahu’s management of the coronavirus crisis.  If an election were to be held today Likud will still hold a 31 seat majority but Yemina (Naftali Bennett) moves higher up in the ranks with a 21 seat gain, Yeish Atid – 18 seats, Blue & White – 11 seats, Joint List – 13 seats, Shas – 7 seats, United Torah Judaism – 7 seats, Yisrael Beitenu drops to 6 seats and Meretz – 6 seats.  Seven hundred and seven respondents participated in the poll

7 September – 6:12am

• As of today 130,644  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel,  Yesterday 1,708 new cases were recorded.  Currently 26,695 individu�ls are infected with the virus and 453 patients are in serious condition. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 1,019 – 12 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• P.M. Netanyahu announces nightly curfew on 40 settlements, cities and communities.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday night that a nightly closure will be imposed on 40 “red” cities in Israel, after 10 more were added to the list, in addition to closing schools and limiting gatherings in those areas.   A nightly curfew instead of a full lockdown was decided, following pressure from ultra-Orthodox leaders.  Curfews will be in place from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m the following day. During the curfews, most businesses will be required to close, with the exception of businesses offering ‘essential needs; food and pharma. Schools in the towns and cities in question will be closed.
• Israel’s National Security Council is holding discussions on closing the Temple Mount to both Jewish and Muslim worshipers in light of the ongoing coronavirus – N12 reported on Sunday.

6 September – 06:24am

• Since the onset of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic the death toll, in Israel, has exceeded 1,000 cases – 1,007 deaths have been reported – 22 new deaths over the weekend. Over 44,000 tests were carried out over the weekend and 9% came back positive – over 3,500 cases. There are currently 26,448 active cases while a total of 128,936 cases have been diagnosed since the onset of the pandemic in Israel. The number of patients in serious or critical condition stands at 439.
• For the 11th week in a row, anti-Netanyahu demonstrations are held in front of the PM’s official residence in Jerusalem, in front of his private residence in Caesarea and at major intersections and junctions across the country.  Thousands participate.
• Final preparations are being made for the curfew which commences Monday – here are the details
• Know the status and restrictions of your city or community; red, orange, yellow or green
• The hottest weekend ever recorded in Israel’s history – the heatwave sees hundreds suffering from dehydration referred to hospitals and emergency rooms. The heatwave is expected to continue until the coming weekend. Temperatures are expected to average at around 38° C this week.  Adhere to MOH guidelines for preventing dehydration

4 September – 06:21am

• Another record day – 2,991 cases diagnosed in Israel on Thursday. Since the onset of the pandemic, a total of 124, 455  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel, Currently 24,408 individuals are infected with the virus and 417 patients are in serious condition. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 985 – 16 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• Israel carries out over 63,000 coronavirus tests on Wednesday and Thursday..  Approximately 8.7% returned a positive result.
• Prof. Ronni Gamzu (Corona Commissioner), said on Thursday that the country is “at war” and that the government is expected to use far-reaching measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 as the country’s infection rate continues to soar. “We are at war and I ask of everybody to back the government and the cabinet as one because we have tough decisions afoot,” said Gamzu. “We’ll have to decide and see what happens in the next few days if [the disease] continues to spread. This is a message to the entire State of Israel: no weddings, no mass events, don’t flout the rules at a restaurant or anywhere.” – YNet
• In Ashdod parents send their 2 children to school while awaiting their test results and while they should have been in isolation.  The entire family are corona positive. The matter is to come under investigation and they family.now face a 5,000 NIS fine
• Ukraine has officially announced a curfew over the town of Uman commencing a few days prior to Rosh Hashanah in order to limit the number of people visiting the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslev.
• Some good news; the unemployment rate drops to below 20% for the first time since April (27th April – 27.6%) – N12

3 September – 06.03pm

After evaluating a number of scenarios, the cabinet decided to place heavy restrictions on the country’s 30 reddest cities and neighborhoods. In these red zones, movement will be restricted to 500 meters from home, education systems will be closed – except for special education – and entry and exit will be banned for everyone except essential workers.

6:47am

• Israel’s worst day ever.  As at 10pm last night 2,386 coronavirus cases were diagnosed.  At 4.am this morning. Worldometer, a worldwide statistical database, reports   2,926 cases in Israel yesterday.
• As of today, since the onset of the pandemic, a total of 121,464  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel, Currently 23,261 individuals are infected with the virus and 423 patients are in serious condition. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 969 – 12 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• At this time, one in every 11 coronavirus tests are yielding a positive result.
• At the end of July, 497 Israelis had succumbed to COVID-19. By the 31st August,that  number almost doubled and stands at 939.  Researcher Prof. Mark Last (Ben Gurion University of the Negev) said that some 1,400 Israelis will likely die from the virus by the end of September. According to his research 9-10 times more people have been infected with the virus than the number of confirmed cases.- JPost
• The ultra-Orthodox community commenced its academic year two weeks ago.  Another 50 cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed in a yeshiva in Karmiel yesterday, bringing the total number up to 200 in that one yeshiva.  A yeshiva in Jerusalem reports 100 coronavirus cases.
• The prominent ultra-Orthodox leader Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky instructed heads of yeshivas to refrain from further testing their students as it could lead to a closure of the institutions. The rabbi’s associates confirmed the report. Reportedly, more than 800 yeshiva students studying in boarding school conditions were found to be positive for the virus in the last three days alone.  Officials estimate hundreds more could be infected at privately owned yeshivas that are not properly supervised. – YNet
• The high holidays are just around the corner.  How will prayer services in synagogues look and what will the resulting infection rate be?
• The heatwave continues – the real-feel average temperature until after the weekend is expected to reach 40-41 degrees centigrade.  Stick to MOH guidelines for preventing dehydration

2 September – 6:55am

• As of today 115,538  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel,  Yesterday 1,942 new cases were recorded.  Currently 20,953 individuals are infected with the virus and 414 patients are in serious condition. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 957 – 18 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer
• 132,000 pupils residing in red zones, where schools are officially closed, will not be attending school again today.
• Not all schools in red zones adhered to the restriction and some opened their doors anyway and the school year commenced as usual in those places.
• In green zones (those without school attendance restrictions), 90% of pupils attended school yesterday and only a small percentage of parents chose to keep their children at home because of the coronavirus.
• At a yeshiva in Karmiel,150 students are found to be infected with the coronavirus.
• The corona cabinet is to meet again on Thursday to discuss the situation within the education and school system and decide how the coming week will look..
• N12 reports an unemployment rate of 20.9%.  At the end of April, the unemployment rate was 27.6%

1 September – 7:17am

• Shalom kitah Aleph!!  Good luck to more than 2.4 million students and 205,000 educators who are making their way to  25,000 schools and kindergartens for the new academic year in the shadow of the coronavirus.  A last minute, late night decision, was made to keep schools in 23 red zones closed until Thursday.
• 1,500 new olim pupils enter Israel’s education system today.  Many of them at a school in Raanana where the principal speaks 6 languages.
• As of today 116,596  cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Israel,  Yesterday 2,576 new cases were recorded (on Sunday just over 550 cases were diagnosed).  Currently 20,648 individuals are infected with the virus and 437 patients are in serious condition. The Covid-19 death toll in Israel stands at 939 – 20 new deaths yesterday. – Worldometer