Jerusalem, Tel Aviv in solidarity with Italy as it battles virus

The Italian flag was projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City late Sunday, while a municipality building was lighted in the Italian Tricolore in solidarity with the country battling the outbreak of the new virus.

The number of cases of COVID-19 in Italy surged higher again on Sunday.

Some 3,590 more cases of the coronavirus were reported in a 24-hour period, nearly 100 more than the increase as the day before.

The additional infections reported Sunday represent the country's biggest day-to-day increase.

Italy’s Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli announced the latest number of cases, bringing the total number of people with the new coronavirus to 24,747. The number of deaths increased by 368 to 1,809.

Italy's national health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro said it is not known if Italy is reaching its peak and might start seeing the number of new cases decline.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

Israel has also imposed sweeping travel and quarantine measures more than a week ago but has seen its number of confirmed cases double in recent days, to around 200.

Restaurants, malls, cinemas, gyms and daycare centers closed on Sunday following government instructions.