Incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers will voluntarily enter quarantine after the PM’s adviser tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday. Meanwhile, the total infections in the Zionist entity surpass 4,300.
Israeli media quoted Netanyahu’s office as saying that the measure is a “precaution until Health Ministry officials finish their epidemiological investigation into whether he was exposed to the coronavirus.”
“Even before the epidemiological investigation is over and to remove all doubt, the prime minister has decided that he and his close staff will remain in isolation until the epidemiological investigation is completed,” Netanyahu office said, according to the Times of Israel.
Earlier, Israeli media reported that Rivka Paluch, who aides the Israeli prime minister on issues concerning ultra-Orthodox affairs, tested positive after her husband was admitted to the hospital with the virus.
Ynet reported, meanwhile, that Paluch denied that she had any close contact with Netanyahu during their meeting at the Knesset and doubts she transmitted the disease to anyone.
Coronavirus Cases in ‘Israel’
On the other hand, Israeli Health Ministry said Monday morning that the number of Israelis infected with the coronavirus was 4,347, a rise of 100 cases since Sunday night, according to the Ties of Israel.
The cases included 80 in serious condition, of whom 63 were on ventilators, the ministry said. Another 81 were in moderate condition, 134 had recovered, and the rest had mild symptoms.
The tally soared beyond the 4,000 mark on Sunday, with an increase of 628 cases in 24 hours. The daily increase was the single largest since the first coronavirus case was recorded in the Zionist entity, and put it in 17th place in terms of infection numbers worldwide.
Furthermore, the toll of deaths caused by the contagious disease stands now at 16, Israeli media reported.
Israeli Health Ministry officials also warn of a shortage in ventilators following their estimates that up to 5,000 people will be in need of respiratory assistance as a result of the disease.
There has been a 46% increase in severe cases needing ventilators in the past 24 hours, Ynet reported.
Source: Israeli media
