JERUSALEM – The new coronavirus is forcing more top Israeli officials into isolation after the country's health minister, who has had frequent contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tested positive, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
The Middle East has over 78,000 confirmed cases of the virus, most of those in Iran, and over 3,500 deaths. Israel's health minister Yaakov Litzman and his wife, who also has contracted the virus, are in isolation, feel well and are being treated, the statement said.
Requests to enter isolation will be sent to those who came in contact with the minister in the past two weeks, the announcement said.