Two senior aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are suspected of breaking quarantine after they both were sighted outside their homes over the past days, spurring calls to pursue penal actions against them by coronavirus czar Prof. Ronni Gamzu.
Following a peace accord signing ceremony at the White House last week between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, members of the Israeli delegation were ordered to enter preventative isolation in accordance with Health Ministry regulations.
All 120 delegation members underwent coronavirus tests over the past two days and were instructed to stay in isolation until all have been confirmed to not carry the virus.
However, protesters outside Netanyahu's Residence in Jerusalem spotted and filmed the premier's social media adviser Topaz Luk observing and taking photos of the demonstrations on Saturday night.
Likud said in a statement that Luk was on his way to get tested for coronavirus.
In addition, Netanyahu's foreign affairs adviser Reuven Azar was also spotted at a supermarket in Mevasseret Zion Friday morning.
This was not the first time Azar was caught skirting health regulations after he reportedly went for a jog in Washington on Monday, in violation of the Health Ministry's orders to the delegation.
When Azar was questioned by officials, he said he did not notice the message from the Health Ministry before leaving his home on Friday, the Prime Minister's Office said.
The message was sent out more than 24 hours before Azar's violation.
“Azar’s superiors called him to order so that such cases would not reoccur,” a Prime Minster's Office statement read.
Gamzu, commenting on the incidents, told Ynet on Monday that public health orders should be adhered and inforced, and that all those who violate them will be punished accordingly.
"It does not matter who is the person. Breaking quarantine is a serious violation, as bad as spreading the virus," he said. "This action is subject to criminal punishment. There will be no leniencies. Public officials are the same as everyone."