Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has tested positive for COVID-19 after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken just days ahead of his scheduled visit to India.
Mr Bennett, 50, was scheduled to visit India from April 3 to 5 to mark the 30th anniversary of the growing diplomatic ties between the two countries. It is not yet known if the visit will be called off.
Mr Bennett, who met Mr Blinken in Jerusalem on Sunday on the sidelines of a "historic summit" of Israeli and Arab diplomats, "is feeling well and will continue his schedule as planned from his home," a statement from his office said.
“Mr Bennett will hold a situational assessment this morning on last night’s terror attack with the participation of Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Internal Security Minister Omer Barlev, Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi and other officials,” it said.
Pictures published by Israeli media after his visit to Hadera, during which he was also briefed by the police on terror attack by Islamic militants, showed him wearing a face mask. But the Prime Minister was not wearing a mask during a joint news conference with Mr Blinken on Sunday.
Israel is experiencing a modest increase in COVID-19 infections as an omicron subvariant spreads there as in many other countries. Bennett and nearly half of Israel have received three vaccinations.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will test for COVID-19 on Monday after having met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem the previous day, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
"Upon learning of Prime Minister Bennett's positive test result, we determined that only Secretary Blinken is considered a close contact. He will follow all CDC guidance, including by masking and undergoing appropriate testing," spokesperson Ned Price said.
Mr Blinken will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “including by masking and undergoing appropriate testing,” he added.
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