COVID-19 Removes Israeli Health Minister from his Post
World
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel’s Health Minister Yaakov Litzman expressed his desire to resign and told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would announce his decision on Sunday after coming under sharp criticism on his handling of the coronavirus crisis. A source close to the Israeli PM said Litzman told Netanyahu that he wanted to take over the Housing portfolio in the next government. In its early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, Litzman excluded the ultra-Orthodox community from social distancing regulations, allowing public bathhouses and synagogues to remain open. Litzman himself contracted the virus, along with his wife. On Friday, the number of coronavirus cases in Israel exceeded 15,000 after 290 more people tested positive, the Health Ministry said. According to the ministry, the number of deaths rose from 192 to 194, while the number of patients in serious condition dropped from 139 to 137 out of 409 hospitalized patients. The Israeli government Friday approved new steps to ease its lockdown measures for retail and service businesses. Starting Saturday midnight, more local businesses will be allowed to open, including hair salons and barbershops, carwash services, money changers and car dealerships as long as they are not located inside shopping malls. Business owners will also be required to maintain a two-meter distance between people. Also Friday, the government voted to provide support worth eight billion shekels (over $2.2 billion) to the self-employed and to small businesses. Meanwhile, a poll published Friday in Maariv newspaper found 60 percent of Israelis surveyed had a favorable view of Netanyahu's actions to prevent the spread of the virus. But the same percentage thought his handling of the economy was poor.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2251696/covid-19-removes-israeli-health-minister-his-post
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