Coronavirus: Netanyahu and team self-isolating after aide tests positive for Covid-19 in Israel
Netanyahu only temporarily in quarantine until test results complete, PM’s office says
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Your support makes all the difference.Benjamin Netanyahu and his staff are self-isolating until they receive results of a coronavirus test in Israel after a close aide tested positive for the disease.
Rivka Paluch, the prime minister’s advisor on ultra-Orthodox affairs, was found to be infected with Covid-19 alongside her husband.
The Israeli leader, who is 70-years-old, initially tested negative for the novel coronavirus on 15 March but is scheduled to be tested again on Tuesday.
Mr Netanyahu’s office told The Independent that as a precaution he "decided that he and his personal staff will be in isolation until the epidemiological investigation is completed".
The office said that a preliminary investigation showed there was no need for the prime minister to enter full 14-day quarantine as he had not come into contact with Ms Paluch.
“An initial examination showed that over the past two weeks the two were never in the same room at the same time,” the statement read.
“The epidemiological investigation continues,” the office added.
Over 4,300 people have been infected with the virus while 15 had died in Israel, that unfurled strict lockdown measures including barring citizens from leaving a 100-metre radius of their homes except If absolutely necessary.
Mr Netanyahu was set to convene officials on Monday to discuss a proposed lockdown of some of the country, as the health ministry warned that the dead could number in their thousands.
If he does test positive, he and his entire team will have to be quarantined as would his main elections rival Benny Gantz, the country’s ex-army chief.
Mr Gantz spent eight hours with Mr Netanyahu overnight Saturday negotiating a unity government deal.
Mr Gantz had headed up a centrist coalition of parties called “Blue and White” came neck and neck with Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party in three inconclusive elections over the last year.
The alliance, however, ruled out joining forces with the prime minister because he is standing trial in three corruption cases. Mr Netanyahu denies the charges.
Mr Gantz has, however, broken ranks with his alliance, that formally split over the weekend, forging a new party that is apparently willing to enter a power-sharing deal.
The ex-army chief was elected parliamentary speaker on Thursday with support from Likud and allied parties, angering many of his own allies.
Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly proposed a national unity government to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, promising to step down as prime minister within an agreed period, with Mr Gantz then taking over.
Mr Gantz's move opened up the possibility of such a "rotation" deal. There has been no formal announcement that such an agreement had been reached.
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