Israel approaches red line with record number of coronavirus cases

Israel is fast approaching a self-imposed red line of daily coronavirus infections, as it confirmed a record 1,977 new cases on Tuesday, according to data released by the Health Ministry on Wednesday.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein previously said that 2,000 new cases in one day would be a "red flag" requiring tighter restrictions. He warned Israel could be headed towards another full lockdown.

A total of 54,663 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Israel, with 22,920 recoveries. There are 259 seriously ill patients and 430 people have died from the virus.

In mid-May, the number of new daily infections was in the low double-digits in Israel. After a rapid easing of restrictions, the numbers have skyrocketed since the end of May.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was praised for his handling of the first wave of infections, has faced growing criticism as he battles the second wave, with protests held across the country.

The number of bankruptcies has also soared. According to the Justice Ministry, 2,038 businesses filed for bankruptcy in June 2020, nearly double compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the country's Central Bureau of Statistics reported a record of 21 per cent unemployment in May, which fell to 10.7 per cent in June after the country emerged from lockdown.