Bennett, Education Minister in Quarantine After Family Members Test Positive for COVID

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s daughter received a positive diagnosis for the novel coronavirus, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Sunday. Bennett received the news when he was chairing a special cabinet session that had convened in Kibbutz Mevo Hama on the Golan Heights to approve measures aimed at bolstering Israel’s presence there.

Upon being informed of the diagnosis, Bennett left the meeting after handing over the reins to Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Bennett will remain in quarantine until he receives a negative PCR test, while his daughter will enter self-isolation until she is no longer considered a carrier of the virus.

Bennett’s office said his daughter, 14, was vaccinated. She returned from a visit overseas two weeks ago.

Just before the cabinet convened on Sunday, an employee at the Prime Minister’s Office was found to be positive through a rapid antigen test. The employee was sent into self-isolation, but this did not affect the ministers, as it was determined that none had come into close contact with her.

Also, Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton’s daughter was diagnosed as positive. As a result, Shasha-Biton did not attend the cabinet meeting, having entered self-isolation. The minister also took a PCR test, which came back negative.