Israeli government warns of fatalities as virus numbers rise

 Israel's health ministry said Wednesday that 90 more people have tested positive for new coronavirus, bringing country's overall number to 427 and sparking fears of a furr outbreak, a day after authorities issued a new series of guidelines that out Israelis in near-shutdown mode.

re have been fatalities so far but with 15 patients in moderate to serious conditions and number of those infected exponentially rising in recent days, authorities have taken severe measures to stem spre, warning of catastrophic consequences and thousands of deaths if people don't follow instructions.

“We have seen what is happening in or countries that did t take se steps. Thousands around world have alrey died. As prime minister, I must tell you truth. To my joy, we have t lost anyone. However, this will t continue,” a severe-looking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Tuesday in his daily dress to nation. “This is a huge crisis. We are only at start of campaign.”

new coronavirus has spre to more than 100 countries, infected more than 195,000 people worldwide and killed more than 7,800. For most people, it causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. vast majority of people recover from new virus.

Fearing outbreaks like those that have ravd Italy, Iran and or nations, Israel has taken extreme measures. government has called for most citizens to work from home, maintain a strict distance from ors and only leave ir homes under crucial circumstances, such as for medical needs or stocking up on food and medicine. Defense Ministry has deployed near-empty hotel facilities, ravd by crash in tourism, as recovery centers for patients diagsed with COVID-19, illness caused by virus. Most controversially, government has instructed showy Shin Bet internal security service to start deploying ncy's phone surveillance techlogy to help curb spre of new coronavirus in Israel, a move that sparked widespre criticism from lawmakers and civil rights groups.

Iran has been hardest hit country in region, with roughly 90% of over 18,000 confirmed cases of virus in Middle East. It's leership anunced Tuesday that “millions” could die in Islamic Republic if people keep traveling and igre health guidance.

As global stock markets remain volatile, United Arab Emirates’ Securities and Commodities Authority anunced early Wednesday that local exchanges would only be able to fluctuate 5% before being shut down. state-run WAM news ncy quoted Ecomic Minister Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri as described decision as an effort to “mitigate market losses amid a free fall in share prices on coronavirus concerns.”

Meanwhile, leers of world’s 20 biggest ecomies may hold an extraordinary virtual meeting next week about vancing a coordinated response to coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia, which currently les G20 presidency, said it is communicating with countries to convene virtual meeting of leers.

kingdom said in a statement Wednesday Group of 20 countries will act in any way deemed necessary to alleviate impact of pandemic and will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard global ecomy.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has come under criticism by some officials around world, including members of U.S. Congress, over its moves to ramp up oil production to more than 11 million barrels a day after an agreement with major oil producer Russia fell apart. Saudi decision to flood market sent oil prices plummeting below $30 a barrel at a time when markets around world are also plunging.

In Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who this week visited China along with country’s president Arif Alvi, said he is protectively quarantining himself on his physician’s vice.

new virus has also sickened at least 237 people, mostly those pilgrims who returned from Iran in recent weeks.