Jerusalem, Jul 19 (IANS): The number of coronavirus death cases in Israel has risen to 401, as nine more patients succumbed to the dreaded virus on Saturday, the state's Ministry of Health said.

This is the highest daily number of death cases in Israel since April 18 when 13 deaths were recorded then.

The ministry also reported 1,906 new coronavirus cases, the second-highest daily rise since the pandemic outbreak in the country, bringing the total number to 49,365, Xinhua reported.

The number of patients in serious condition rose from 208 to 217, out of 589 patients currently hospitalized.

The number of recoveries rose to 21,348, with 604 new recoveries, while the number of active cases reached a record high of 27,616.

Earlier on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Facebook post that "the economic policy is decided by the government -- not the officials."

The prime minister referred to the criticism expressed by the director of budgets at the finance ministry, Shaul Meridor, against Netanyahu's plan that promises direct payment for all Israelis as announced Wednesday.

The plan has not yet been approved by the government or parliament, and it is therefore still unclear when citizens will receive the money in their bank accounts.