Israel’s Health Minister tests positive

Jerusalem: Israel’s Health Minister Yaakov Litzman has been put into isolation after being tested positive for COVID-19, pushing all the top officials, including Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat, at the forefront of fight against the deadly virus into self-quarantine.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier gone into self isolation after a close aide was found to have contracted the Virus, but he has so far tested negative.
Litzman and his wife, who also has contracted the virus, are in isolation, feeling well and are being treated, the health ministry said in a statement, adding that it will request all those who came in contact with the minister in the past two weeks to also do the same.
“The team of advisers, assistants and secretarial staff in the minister’s office will continue to work from home and will maintain constant telephone communication as needed with the minister, who is continuing to fully manage this event from his home,” the ministry said. He has “light coronavirus symptoms after contracting the disease from an as yet unidentified source”, a Health Ministry official told Channel 12 news. (PTI)