The purpose of the order signed by the Minister of Health is to expand the powers of the ministry to deal with the Corona virus • For now, there is concern for two cases of infection in the country

Following the Corona epidemic and the fear that it will spread in Israel, Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman signed a public health ordinance Monday to allow the Ministry of Health to expand the disease to deal with the disease. In hospitals across the country, trainings are provided to the medical team on how to deal with and fight the virus.

The Ministry of Health reiterated that "the order does not sign an emergency, but it is preparing for every possible scenario.
The signing of the order actually allows Moshe Bar CEO good sign, Head of Public Health Services Professor Sigal Sdecki and the district doctors of the office, to take all necessary steps to deal with the outbreak of the virus in Israel. "

Director of Barzilai Medical Center on the Chinese foreign worker who was placed in solitary confinement

Thus, at the time of the measles outbreak this past year, section 19 of the Public Health Ordinance was used to prevent entry of children who are not vaccinated to educational institutions. Section 19 allows the Ministry of Health to declare a state of infectious disease outbreak, and impose a prison sentence or a fine on those who do not vaccinate. This section has only been used twice in state history, the first time being a few decades ago.

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Responding to the signing of the order, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said: "After sitting with the professionals in the office, I signed the order that adds the Corona virus to the list of infectious diseases according to the World Health Organization recommendations, with which we are in contact daily."

The minister asked to feel the public, adding that "as of now, there is no verified patient in Corona but we are also prepared for it. The order allows us to take all the necessary steps when needed."

As mentioned earlier, yesterday, the Ministry of Health recommended to avoid unnecessary trips to China due to the spread of the corona virus. The ministry recommends not going to Hubei Province in China at all and that the restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in the various cities should be observed and monitored in real time.

Currently, there are two fears of contracting the disease in Israel: A Chinese citizen was hospitalized yesterday evening in the isolation of Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon with signs of infection in Corona. Earlier, a woman in her 60s was rushed to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv and admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine with fever and signs of respiratory illness. She was put in solitary confinement and the hospital said her condition was good.

Corona anti-coronation briefing at Assuta Ashdod Hospital, accompanied by Dr. Tal Brosh, Infectious Diseases Unit Director // Photo: Courtesy of Assuta