Major Jerusalem hospital won’t admit any more COVID-19 patients as cases soar

Shaare Zedek becomes second medical center to say its coronavirus ward is at full capacity, as almost 5,000 cases diagnosed in 24 hours

By Marcy Oster 16 September 2020, 8:07 am

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Magen David Adom workers wearing protective clothing outside the coronavirus unit at Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on September 10, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

JTA — As the daily number of diagnosed coronavirus cases in Israel continued at record levels, a major hospital in Jerusalem said it would not admit more COVID-19 patients.

Shaare Zedek Medical Center has the largest number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition, many on ventilators.

Its director-general, Ofer Marin, told the Kan public broadcaster on Monday evening that he told the Magen David Adom emergency services not to bring any more coronavirus patients to Shaare Zedek.

Earlier, the head of Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya, in northern Israel, said he would not accept any more coronavirus patients because of overcrowding in the coronavirus wards and intensive care units.

Masad Barhoum, director-general of the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya (courtesy of the Galilee Medical Center)

The daily number of diagnosed coronavirus cases rose to nearly 5,000 on Monday, with a positive test rate of 10.8 percent. Israel has seen a total of 1,147 deaths from the pandemic.

The country will go under a near-total lockdown on Friday, two hours before the Rosh Hashanah holiday, that will run for at least three weeks.

Meanwhile, coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu on Tuesday called for schools from at least fifth grade to be closed on Wednesday instead of waiting for the start of the national lockdown because of the high rate of infection in the schools.