Coronavirus cases in Israel rise to 76

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel's Health Ministry reported eight new coronavirus cases in the country on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 76.

The ministry has banned events of more than 2,000 people amid rising fears of widespread local transmission, according a report by The Jerusalem Post.

Israeli police also announced extra measures to curb the spread of the virus, including special teams to ensure that people in quarantine are following all guidelines.

The police would now have access to data on civilians traveling in both directions, the report added.

On Tuesday, Israel announced the closure of the Allenby crossing, or King Hussein Bridge, because of the coronavirus outbreak. The bridge links the occupied West Bank and Jordan.

A day earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a mandatory quarantine period of 14-days for people coming to Israel.

The coronavirus was first detected last December in Wuhan, China, but has since spread to more than 105 countries.

The global death toll from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is almost 4,300, with more than 118,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat