Health Ministry says number of patients in serious condition continues to rise, with 752 currently severely ill, of whom 156 are connected to ventilators; some 88,000 students sick with virus or in quarantine two days ahead of school year's start

Critics say 10 types of impairment accepted at the games - broadly covering physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities - are arbitrary and unscientific, with allegations of athletes trying to cheat the system and be placed in easier categories

Health Ministry reports infection rate and severe cases remain high amid swelling virus outbreak; EU governments agree to remove Israel from continental bloc's safe travel list