Knesset Panel Meetings Postponed As Joint List Lawmaker Contracts Coronavirus

By Staff, Agencies

The panel meetings at the Knesset were suspended Thursday, and some 700 non-essential staff members were told to stay at home after a lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus.

Sami Abu Shahada, a lawmaker with the predominantly Arab Joint List alliance, earlier went into self-isolation after his driver was found to have contracted COVID-19.

According to Ynet, the Balad faction that Shahada is part of is now also in quarantine.

The debates in the Knesset have been suspended until further notice, according to a statement from Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, as discussions are held with the the entity's so-called Health Ministry on the best course to proceed.

Earlier, it was reported that “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be facing quarantine after a staffer who was in the room with him during a press conference tested positive for COVID-19. Over the past few days, the number of new infections in the “Israeli” has been rising as the country moved to roll back the restrictions initially imposed to curb the spread of the disease.

At least 30 schools have now been shuttered, with thousands of students and teachers self-isolating at home after a number of cases were traced to educational facilities.