The new coronavirus forced more top Israeli officials into isolation on Thursday after Health Minister Yakov Litzman, who has had frequent contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tested positive for the virus.
The Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 6,211 Israelis have so far been diagnosed with corona. Thirty-three people have died from COVID-19, some 107 are in serious condition, 127 patients in moderate condition and the rest are suffering from mild symptoms. Thus far, 289 people in Israel have recovered from the disease.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Litzman, 71, and his wife were diagnosed late Wednesday night. Both are doing well, the ministry said. Those who came into contact with them have been ordered to go into self-isolation as well.
The Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu will self-isolate in his Jerusalem residence until Wednesday in accordance with Health Ministry instructions and the advice of his personal physician, Dr. Zvi Berkowitz.
Health Ministry Director Moshe Bar Siman-Tov said Thursday that he will self-isolate at a facility at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, tweeting he would continue managing the crisis via "digital means."
Sigal Sadetzki, director of public health at the Health Ministry, was also ordered to self-isolate and will do so at home, the ministry said.
Mossad Director Yossi Cohen will self-isolate at the intelligence agency's headquarters, while National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat will do the same at his home, Israeli media reported.
According to the minister, 3,201 medical personnel, including 701 doctors and 1,138 nurses are currently under quarantine. To boost ranks, the ministry has licensed 900 new nurses in an expedited process.
Israel is currently performing 7,000 coronavirus tests a day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered that testing should increase to 10,000 by next week.
Netanyahu also said that all Israelis must wear face masks while in public as a precaution against the coronavirus and that upcoming religious holidays, including the Jewish holiday of Passover, should be celebrated only with immediate family members.
The prime minister also vowed to give families substantial monetary benefits worth at least NIS 500 ($138) for each child to compensate for the economic cost of the pandemic, which has caused Israeli unemployment levels to spike due to the almost-complete paralysis of economic activity.
