Israeli Chief of Staff Goes into Quarantine

World

July 9th, 3:39pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

Israeli election monitors wearing masks and gloves count votes cast by Israelis in home-quarantine over coronavirus concerns following Israel's national election, in Shoham, Israel March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The Israeli military said Thursday its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, has gone into quarantine after possible exposure to the coronavirus. In a statement, the army said Kochavi was in the presence of an officer last week who later tested positive for the virus. Israel has been grappling in recent weeks with a surge in coronavirus cases. The announcement means that both Israel’s military chief and its defense minister, Benny Gantz, are in isolation. Gantz, who is also Israel’s alternate prime minister, announced Wednesday that he was going into quarantine after possible exposure to the virus. The army said Kochavi feels healthy but will be tested. He plans to maintain his regular schedule “whenever possible” while in isolation. Kochavi previously went into protective quarantine in March after attending a meeting with someone who was infected. Alarmed by a new spike in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week ordered a slew of businesses to shut back down and disbanded some children's summer camps.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2380331/israeli-chief-staff-goes-quarantine