Netanyahu: No Need to Postpone Election Over Coronavirus

Amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the government to open a national situation room. The forum will convene daily and will be headed by National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.

The Health Ministry has called on all Israelis returning from Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and Japan to remain in isolation at home and to report to the ministry.

A second case of coronavirus was diagnosed in Israel when an additional passenger who returned from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined off the coast of Japan, tested positive for the virus

Hundreds of Israelis have been placed in quarantine after coming in contact with Korean tourist group that included people diagnosed with coronavirus.

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– Haaretz Weekly Ep. 64

Bernie, Bibi and the brutal occupation: Listen to Gideon LevyHaaretz Weekly Ep. 64

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12:51 P.M. Iraq announces first coronavirus case

Local health officials in the Iraqi holy Shi'ite city of Najaf have detected the first case of coronavirus in the country, an Iranian theology student, the health ministry said on Monday.

The patient had entered Iraq before the government shut border crossings and banned the entry of any non-Iraqis coming from Iran, the ministry said in a statement. (Reuters)

11:01 A.M. Coronavirus death toll rises to 50 in Iranian city of Qom, report says

Iran's semiofficial ILNA news agency is reporting that the death toll from the new coronavirus in the city of Qom is 50.

The report on Monday says the 50 deaths took place since Feb 13.