Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that it could take up to a year for Israel to exit completely from the current nationwide coronavirus-related lockdown. His comments came as the Health Ministry on Thursday morning announced that a record-high number of 8,919 new COVID-19 cases were registered over the previous 24 hours.

The shutdown was imposed on Sept. 18 and meant to run until Oct. 11. However, government ministers overnight agreed to extend the harsh restrictions for three additional days, at which point another vote will take place on the matter.

During a session of the so-called coronavirus cabinet, Netanyahu emphasized that this time around the reopening of Israel’s economy would be gradual.

Overall, the Jewish state has confirmed just under 250,000 infections. Of the 68,811 active cases, the number of people in serious condition stands at 810, with 206 on ventilators.

All of this, meanwhile, comes on the backdrop of reports that Israel’s coronavirus czar, Prof. Ronni Gamzu, is contemplating stepping down due to ongoing major disagreements with Netanyahu on how to best tackle the pandemic.