Israeli Defense Minister Tests Positive for COVID-19

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced on Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

"I feel good," Gantz tweeted about his diagnosis. "In the coming days I will conduct defense matters from my home."

https://twitter.com/gantzbe/status/1484437574345236480

In recent weeks, Israel has been facing a spike in coronavirus cases, with more than 65,000 new cases reported on Thursday, according to the health ministry.

The ministry pointed out that about 600 Israelis are critically ill and being treated in hospitals.

Several Israeli lawmakers have been testing positive for the coronavirus in the past month, including the foreign and finance ministers.

Since the beginning of the pandemic almost two years ago, 8,370 Israelis have died of COVID-19, while over 2 million have contracted the virus, according to the reports.