The Health Ministry reported Israel’s first death from coronavirus Friday night.
The victim, 88-year-old Aryeh Even, was hospitalized and placed in the quarantine unit for coronavirus patients at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem about a week ago. He arrived in severe condition, and was reported to have had been suffering from a number of underlying conditions.
At the hospital, Even received several treatments from medical staff in an attempt to combat his symptoms. However, during the week, the elderly patient suffered from cardiac arrest. He was later resuscitated but his condition stayed stagnant.
Even’s condition worsened in the hours leading up to death, and he eventually passed away at around 9 p.m. Israel time.
Aryeh was a Holocaust survivor from Hungary who was able to rebuild his life in Israel, his grandson, Maor, told told Maariv, The Jerusalem Post‘s sister publication. He is survived by four children, 18 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Last week, a social worker at the facility, which was established in 1984, was diagnosed with coronavirus. The situation has deteriorated since then.
The Health Ministry has reported 705 cases of coronavirus in Israel, with 10 of the afflicted in critical condition, 18 in moderate condition and 662 reportedly with mild symptoms.
Celia Jean, Zachary Keyser and Hagay Hacohen contributed to this report.
