Israel and Iran struggle in second wave

In the Middle East, Israel is struggling to contain a severe second wave of coronavirus which has unleashed more than 1,000 infections per day, overwhelmed testing capacity and led to the country’s top health official resigning from the government in protest.

Just weeks after lifting its tough lockdown measures, Israel’s infection rate has increased by more than 500pc, with some 1,600 new cases recorded on Thursday alone.

It is understood that the decision to reopen Israel’s schools, as well as lifting a ban on public gatherings such as weddings, immediately triggered a surge in coronavirus infections which went on to break the previous record of 738 cases in one day in March.

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in downtown Tel Aviv yesterday, protesting what is widely seen as Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to address economic woes brought on by the pandemic.

Israel’s more traditional enemy of Iran has also seen a steep rise in infections, and in response has banned big gatherings such as weddings and wakes — but

Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani insisted the country’s economy had to stay open.

Iran has been gradually relaxing its lockdown since mid-April, but has recently reported a sharp rise in the infection rate. Iranian authorities are concerned that a tougher lockdown could wreck an economy already reeling under US sanctions.

“The easiest option is to shut down everything,” Rouhani said. “But then people will pour into the streets because of hunger and unemployment.”