FM Yair Lapid tests positive for COVID-19

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was exposed in the Knesset but had tested negative with an antigen test.

 Foreign Minister and Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid at his faction's meeting, December 13, 2021. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Foreign Minister and Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid at his faction's meeting, December 13, 2021.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had been exposed on Sunday at the Knesset but had tested negative on an antigen test, Ynet reported.

"Indeed, I have tested positive for COVID-19," Lapid tweeted. "I feel great because I am vaccinated. Go get vaccinated, put on your masks, we'll get through this together." 

"Wishing a full recovery for Foreign Minister Yair Lapid," opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted. "Health comes before all."

Bennett was documented Sunday as sitting next to Lapid in the Knesset while the latter was coughing. When the prime minister saw this, he smiled and immediately put his mask on, Israeli media reported.

Bennett had taken an antigen test, which came back negative.

The foreign minister had also attended a coalition leader meeting that Sunday and was spotted whispering to Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar, according to Ynet.

Lapid is among the many lawmakers who have recently contracted COVID-19 as cases continue to surge nationwide following the arrival of the Omicron variant. 

On Sunday, Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev tested positive for COVID-19.

On Saturday, Likud MKs Haim Katz and Etti Atiya and Shas MK Yoav Bentzur all tested positive for the virus. Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll has also tested positive for COVID-19.


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In total, around 30 MKs and ministers were currently sick with COVID-19 as of Saturday.

Also testing positive is Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz, meaning that the top three officials in the Foreign Ministry have all contracted the virus.

Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.