The director-general of the Israel Health Ministry, who has led the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, said he believed this one-year estimate to be correct.

“My working assumption is that this cannot happen in the coming year,” said Moshe Bar Siman-Tov.

The Israel Health Ministry says the number of confirmed cases has risen to 143, with three in serious condition and eight in moderate condition, with the remainder being milder cases. Three have recovered and been released.

The health ministry in Ramallah confirmed that 34 of the cases were found in Bethlehem, while one was in Tul Karm. Three of the patients are under 18, including a two-year-old, while three are over 60.