By Aaron Boxerman, Times of Israel—
Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Monday ordered the military to prepare to establish a field hospital for coronavirus cases as hospitals overflow across the country.
“Gantz has ordered staff to begin preparations to build an army field hospital that would contain about 200 beds,” a statement from the Defense Ministry said.
Israel hit a record high on Monday, registering 51,503 active infections. While a three-week nationwide lockdown was instituted on Friday to contain the outbreak, numerous violations were reported across the country. Many health experts have said that they do not expect that the lockdown will effectively flatten the curve of the virus.
At least two major hospitals in Israel — Assuta in Ashdod and Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek — announced that they will no longer accept coronavirus cases due to overload.
Other coronavirus wards at a number of major hospitals around the country have topped 100 percent capacity — Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem (129%) and Hadassah Mount Scopus (100%), Netanya’s Laniado hospital (120%), and Ramat Gan’s Sheba Medical Center (109%). Continue Reading….
