Prof. Ronni Gamzu admitted in an interview with the Yediot Aharonot newspaper, to be published in full today, that he was taken aback by the latest data In coronavirus contagion, with yesterday's figures showing a rise of over 3,000 in the number of new cases."Things change, and when I see such a rate of infection in the Arab and haredi sectors, I have to take an adult and responsible position," he said. "As soon as I saw Wednesday's data, I asked where this was coming from. I was taken aback - such an increase of almost 50% from Ine day to the next really did not conform to the estimates."Gamzu added that "I was extremely concerned, especially regarding the haredi community, because in recent weeks we had been seeing a lot of success there, with a lot of hard work, a lot of cooperation. And it all came at the same time as the reopening of schools too."

Prof. Ronni Gamzu clarified this morning that the decisions reached at yesterday's coronavirus cabinet meeting involve imposing a lockdown In eight "red" cities where infection rates are especially high, as well as restrictions In movement in all "red" cities and towns.According to him, yesterday's decision granted a mandate to a team of experts headed by Gamzu to expand the number of red cities where a lockdown will be imposed, and does not limit him solely to imposing restrictions In movement. The final decision will be taken by the weekend and will be authorized by the government In Sunday.

Prof. Hezi Levy, deputy director-general of the Health Ministry, told Reshet Bet this morning that he is particularly concerned as winter approaches that the country will be facing influenza and coronavirus at the same time."As we get closer to winter and the flu season, we're likely to see massive overcrowding in the hospitals," he said. "Imposing a full lockdown is what achieves the quickest results in bringing infection rates down, but In the other hand, it has consequences for all of us."He added that, "There's no magic wand. Even when we impose pinpoint lockdowns, it has to be accompanied with giving a lot of assistance to the affected populations."

Speaking this morning In Reshet Bet, deputy Education Minister Meir Porush (UTJ) sharply criticized the decisions made yesterday by the government's coronavirus cabinet to impose lockdowns In "red" areas, pointing out that, "If they decided that we need a lockdown, why wait till Monday?"According to him, "When someone comes along from the health sector and says that there's a high rate of infection in the haredi community, he's not revealing any great secret. It should have been obvious that when Ine person in a family contracts the virus, ten more get it too, because we have large families. That's why things should have been dealt with differently."

Attorney Moshe Morgenstern who holds the health portfolio In the Bnei Brak municipality told Galei Tzahal this morning that Bnei Brak residents are angry and frustrated at the way in which they are being treated by the government."There's a lot of confusion, anger, and criticism of the Health Ministry," he said. "At the municipality there's a feeling that residents are not going to be able to tolerate the lockdown and all the economic consequences it will have."Addressing recent controversy over a misinterpretation of what a leading haredi rabbi in Bnei Brak said, Morgenstern clarified that, "The ruling issued by Rabbi Kanievsky doesn't affect most of us. It refers solely to yeshiva students who have already been tested, and have been learning in 'capsules' for around 40 days already, and haven't left the capsules since."

Extreme temperatures expected over weekend as Magen David Adom warns of potential dangers.

Two people have sustained moderate injuries in an accident that occurred In Highway 4.MDA responders and paramedics treated them at the scene and transported them to Haifa's Rambam hospital.

A 22-year-old man riding an electric bike crashed into a tree in Tel Aviv and sustained moderate injuries.He was taken to Ichilov hospital for treatment.