12 Israelis diagnosed with coronavirus, among them an IDF soldier

There are now 12 Israelis who have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Israel, the Health Ministry reported. Two were diagnosed on Monday and three on Sunday.

The latest cases were reported by a resident of Ramat Gan, who returned from Italy on February 25, and a resident of Ashdod, who returned from Italy the next day.

Two of Sunday’s patients also caught the virus abroad. They returned from Italy on El Al flight LY290 on February 27. Both people are reportedly showing light symptoms of COVID-19.
All the patients and those who were on the flights with them have entered quarantine.

A third person that was diagnosed on Sunday night was a young soldier from Or Yehuda who contracted the disease after coming into contact with a confirmed carrier of the novel coronavirus. She contracted the virus working in the same store as another coronavirus patient who got it in Italy.

On Monday, the Health Ministry provided details of her whereabouts.

She worked at the Red Pirate toy store on February 24, 25 and 26, and visited a seamstress in the Or Yehuda mall.

She also took the No. 59 bus line several times before being diagnosed.

As of Sunday night, 334 soldiers have been quarantined for fears of having possibly contracted the virus, media reported. The majority of the soldiers were quarantined after returning from regions with major outbreaks.

Some were quarantined after coming in contact with the Korean delegation, while others when brushing elbows with confirmed carriers returning from Italy, according to the report.

According to Walla, the Health Ministry discovered 300 soldiers who are either currently in Italy or have returned from there after February 14.

An IDF air-defense recruitment event was canceled also for fears of coronavirus, the report said.

Health Ministry publishes new map to help track coronavirus exposures

The map displays places where exposures were recorded along with information on the source of the report, when the infected person was at the marked location and the person's travel information.

Israel's Health Ministry published a map on Sunday on their website that will display where coronavirus exposures have been recorded, as well as flights which infected passengers have traveled on.

Visitors to the site can see all exposures throughout the country or filter the map to only display those within a certain area and time period.

The map displays places where exposures were recorded along with information on the source of the report, when the infected person was at the marked location, what flight they had been on, when that flight landed and what country they had arrived in Israel from.

The current cases of exposure to the virus that are listed on the map are located in northern and central Israel.

Health Ministry officials and Israeli politicians have warned against fake news and have advised citizens to only listen to updates from the Health Ministry.

5,630 Israelis were under quarantine as of Sunday evening.

Israelis who have thus far been diagnosed with the virus have entered isolation at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.