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Israeli Defense Minister Gantz Sees Virus Outbreak Through 2021

Israeli Defense Minister Gantz Sees Virus Outbreak Through 2021

The coronavirus outbreak will likely continue through the end of next year, and Israel will probably need to operate quarantine hotels until that time, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on Tuesday.

“The working assumption has to be that operations will continue until the end of 2021, that is, the entire year next year will also be all about the crisis,” Gantz, who also serves as alternate prime minister, said at an online meeting with the managers of hotels used to house people unable to isolate at home.

There are more than 41,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel, including close to 370 fatalities. Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, a political ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday called for an immediate lockdown of 10 to 15 days to halt a renewed outbreak of the virus after officials eased restrictions.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.