Blue and White leader Benny Gantz delivers a statement in the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan, on March 7, 2020. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI/Handout via Xinhua)
Benny Gantz, Israeli defense minister and alternate prime minister, enters self-quarantine after possible contact with a COVID-19 patient. He will remain quarantined until further instructions and arrival of coronavirus test result.
JERUSALEM, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister and alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz entered self-quarantine on Wednesday after possibly coming into contact with a person infected with COVID-19.
A statement released by his office on Gantz's behalf said that the suspected encounter took place on Sunday.
According to the statement, Gantz entered isolation after consultations with doctors and in order to "avoid the risk of infection."
He feels well and will remain quarantined until further instructions and the arrival of the results of a coronavirus test.
Gantz, leader of the centrist party of Blue and White, is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new partner in a power-sharing coalition government.
Israel has been struggling to halt a renewed wave of coronavirus cases.
On Tuesday night, Israeli Health Ministry reported 1,473 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day surge, raising the total number of infections in the country to 32,222. ■
