868 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. Neighborhoods in Ashdod and Lod declared restricted areas.

The Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday evening that 868 new cases of coronavirus were registered in the past 24 hours. This is a record number of new infections for one day since the more turbulent days of the coronavirus crisis in April.

The number of confirmed cases rose to 8,483, of which 57 are in serious condition and 24 on respirators.

The death toll from the virus has also risen to 322 people.

Following the sharp rise in the number of new cases, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the Ministerial Committee on the Declaration of a Restricted Area to discuss whether to impose a lockdown on areas that are the focus of an outbreak.

The committee decided to impose restrictions on three neighborhoods in Ashdod as well as on additional neighborhoods in Lod.

Entry and exit to and from the restricted areas will be prohibited, as well as traffic and business within the restricted areas themselves.

The Coronavirus Cabinet will convene on Thursday to discuss the increasing numbers of cases and on how to deal with them and a proposal may be made to impose additional restrictions on all citizens.

The Director General of the Ministry of Health will also soon sign an order limiting the activities of educational institutions and an order that will prevent congregations in the city of Beitar Illit.

(Arutz 7).