Number of new Covid-19 cases in Israel passes critical mark

Israel recorded more than 100 new cases of the novel coronavirus during the last 24 hours, overtaking a key government limit, the Health Ministry reported on Friday.

With 101 new cases, the number is higher than the level set by the government earlier this month as a precondition for the easing of lockdown measures in place to contain the virus.

The decision was made that there should be no more than 100 new infections per day if restrictions are to be lifted.

"We had a phase of euphoria," said Moshe Bar Siman Tov, director of the Health Ministry, at a press conference. "Now, we have a wake-up call."

The latest slew of cases has arisen at schools, he said. Ministry representatives have been addressing the situation in discussions in recent days, after the number of cases began to grow.

Israel has recently eased some of its virus restrictions. Restaurants, bars and pubs reopened on Wednesday. Schools started opening again in mid-May.

It's not clear what measures will be taken in light of the uptick.

The Jerusalem Post reported Friday evening that parliament's coronavirus committee would hold an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss the next steps.