Almost a quarter of Israelis who contracted the novel coronavirus in Israel did so at a synagogue, according to a new data released by a Health Ministry body and published in Hebrew-language media.
The data, based on about half of the cases that have been confirmed so far, shows 24 percent of those who came down with disease contracted it at a synagogue.
Synagogues have been allowed to remain open, though gatherings of more than 10 are generally prohibited. Many religious leaders have asked congregants to pray at home, though some, especially in the ultra-Orthodox community, have continued to congregate in quorums of at least 10 men.
Workers wearing protective gear against the coronavirus disinfect a synagogue in the central coastal city of Bat Yam on March 18, 2020. (Flash90)
Some 5% of cases were contracted at yeshivas, while 1% came from ritual baths, which Health Minister Yaakov Litzman has reportedly sought to keep open despite many people sharing the same water in succession.
Hotels were also a major contributor, with some 15% of cases coming from there, and restaurants contributed 12%.
Six percent of cases came from schools or daycares and another 3% from old age homes, while groceries and other stores contributed 14% together.
Voting booths contributed to 1% of cases, according to the study.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
