Photo Credit: NIAID-RML / flick
This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S. Virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like.

Israel’s Health Ministry reported Sunday evening that another three cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus were confirmed in Israel this weekend.

The total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Israel now stands at 10.

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Two of the three people who tested positive for the virus were travelers who returned from Italy this past Thursday (Feb 27) on El Al Flight LY290. Both acquired the virus while in Europe and both appear to have mild symptoms, according to the Health Ministry.

All other passengers who were on El Al Flight LY290 last Thursday, Feb 27 have been asked to remain in self-quarantine in their homes for 14 days.

The third person, a young Israeli resident of Or Yehuda, tested positive after being in contact with someone else who was a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus.

Israelis who have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus will not be able to vote in the election this time around; however, those who are quarantined solely as a precautionary measure will be provided with special voting “tents” in which they will have fully-equipped voting booths so they can vote for the party of their choice.

More than 1,000 Israelis have been tested so far for the virus.

Dishonest Israeli Tries to Hide Virus
The owner of a toy shop near Ben Gurion International Airport infected his wife and sold Purim costumes to children while he was sick with the virus, according to a report by The Marker, quoted by The Jerusalem Post.

The man, who was not identified, returned to Israel from Italy – the epicenter of coronavirus in Europe — and earlier this week became the first Israeli diagnosed with the virus.

He initially lied to the Health Ministry about his activities, claiming he was only at his store for two hours, The Marker reported, when he had spent some 30 hours selling costumes at the Red Pirate costume shop in Or Yehuda.

The man’s wife was diagnosed with the virus on Friday. The couple’s three children attended school after their father’s return as well, further compounding the spread of the virus.

Health Ministry officials have since had some catching up to do: they disinfected the man’s store in Or Yehuda, they contacted the schools of all the children in addition to contacting all the passengers aboard the flight he traveled from Italy back to Israel.

All the passengers on that flight have been asked to enter self-quarantine in their homes for a 14-day period.

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Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.