The Chinese embassy in Israel on Tuesday urged Chinese workers to beef up protection against the COVID-19 pandemic after an outbreak was reported in a Chinese construction worker's residential community in the city of Petah Tikva.

Around 90 Chinese workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the community, with either asymptomatic or mild symptoms, the embassy said in a statement on its website. The infected workers have already been quarantined or sent to the hospital for treatment, while the affected neighborhood has been closed off by the local government.

The embassy urged infected Chinese workers to abide by epidemic control restrictions and seek help at the embassy if needed. It also urged workers who have recently lived in the community or had close contact with the confirmed to contact local health authorities for further testing.

Israel's Ministry of Health on Tuesday reported 1,658 new coronavirus cases, bringing total infections in the country to 96,409. The death toll stood at 708.