Coronavirus in Israel's cities: Where is the virus spreading the most?
Which cities are the sickest – and which cities have had the highest percentage increase in cases in the last three days?
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMANEsti Toledo and Guillaume Le Saux at Dr. Mark Schvartzman's laboratory at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.(photo credit: DANI MACHLIS/BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV)
Israel is experiencing a second coronavirus peak or wave that is different from the first one, according to health experts. One of the key factors is that the virus has spread across the country rather than being concentrated in “red zones,” as Health Ministry data reveals.
Which cities are the sickest?
The cities with the most cases discovered in the last three days are Jerusalem (29), Bnei Brak (27), Bat Yam (23), Tel Aviv (23), Petah Tikva (17), Ashdod (15), Haifa (14), Elad (13), and Rahat, Tiberius and Beersheba with eight each.
Which cities have had the highest percentage increase in cases in the last three days?
Kafr Qara (20% - four new cases), Arara (20% - three), Jatt (17% - six), Meitar (16% - three), Har Adar (15% - two), Shefa-'Amr (15% - two), Pardes Hannah (15% - two), Ma'ale Iron (11% - two), Kadima-Tzoren (11% - two) and Nazareth (9% - two).
It explained that the social structure of the Bedouin sector is “fertile ground for the spread of the virus." In addition, “family-commercial connections between parts of the Bedouin sector in the Negev and the Palestinian population in southern Hebron, where there has been a renewed outbreak in recent days,” could also contribute to the recent spike in infections in the area.
The authors of the report recommend stepping up enforcement of Health Ministry guidelines in the area, in addition to increasing testing there and offering support in relocating sick patients into isolation quickly.
However, the report noted that the spread in southern Israel is not solely among Bedouin but in the entire region. As such, it recommends that the Negev become a focus of the Health Ministry, including increasing testing in the area and doing a more effective job of communicating about the virus throughout the area.
