Health minister refuses to go to Knesset for health reasons

Knesset will have to close, says parliament guard head.

By GIL HOFFMAN
An empty Knesset Plenum (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
An empty Knesset Plenum
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Health Minister Ya'acov Litzman wrote Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein a letter on Wednesday, informing him that he does not intend to come to the Knesset any time soon, because he is afraid of contracting the coronavirus.
Litzman, 71, wrote in the letter that it was dangerous for the elderly to leave home, due to their weaker immune systems. He said his doctors told him the Knesset would be an especially bad place to visit, because MKs have come in contact with people who have the virus.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein released a list of new regulations on Wednesday night, including that no more than 10 people will be allowed in a room at any given time.
Four MKs are in quarantine after meeting with Merhavim Regional Council head Shai Hajaj, who was infected by the coronavirus: Arye Deri (Shas), Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud), Ram Ben Barak (Blue and White) and Alon Shuster (Blue and White).
Hanegbi, Ben Barak and Shuster all tested negative for the coronavirus after they came in contact with a different person who had the virus.
The Knesset is considering requiring all MKs to be tested after offering them voluntary tests when they arrived for the Knesset's swearing in on Monday.
Knesset Guard head Yosef Grif said on Tuesday in a meeting of top Knesset officials that the Knesset building will have to close sooner or later, due to the spread of the coronavirus.