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Israeli ministers, MKs quarantined for possible COVID-19 exposure

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, Agriculture Minister Tzachi Hanegbi and two other Knesset members are quarantined for 14 days after meeting with Merhavim Regional Council leader Shai Hajaj, who tested positive.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Shas Party chairman Aryeh Deri during a meeting with the heads of the right-wing parties on March 4, 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Shas Party chairman Aryeh Deri during a meeting with the heads of the right-wing parties on March 4, 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Israel’s Health Ministry on Tuesday night ordered Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Agriculture Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, as well as Knesset members Alon Schuster and Ram Ben-Barak, to quarantine themselves for 14 days due to possible exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The four elected officials took part in a meeting on Sunday also attended by Merhavim Regional Council leader Shai Hajaj, who has tested positive for the virus. The meeting, held in a conference room at the Interior Ministry in Jerusalem, was conducted in accordance with Health Ministry social-distancing directives.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise, with the ministry reporting on Wednesday that 427 have tested positive for the virus.

The government announced a series of new restrictions on Tuesday to check the spread of the virus and is preparing for the possibility of a full lockdown.

A version of this article first appeared in Israel Hayom.

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