Jerusalem, Jul 17 (IANS): The number of active Covid-19 cases in Israel rose to 25,305 on Thursday, the highest since the outbreak of pandemic in late February, according to the state's Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 cases climbed to 46,059 after the addition of 1,871 new cases, the second highest daily rise since the outbreak, the ministry's data showed, Xinhua reported.

The death toll from the disease increased from 376 to 384, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 204 to 202, out of 542 patients currently hospitalized.

The number of recoveries reached 20,370, with 381 new recoveries.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting in Jerusalem, in light of the fast increase in morbidity.

The meeting was attended by senior ministers, the head of the National Security Council and the Health Ministry's director general, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

Netanyahu said that following the recent jump in the number of infections and severe cases, temporary steps were discussed to prevent a general lockdown.