Israel’s Health Ministry has confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country, suffered by an adult woman who was among passengers aboard the disease-stricken Diamond Princess cruise liner.
The victim was among ten other Israelis who were evacuated back home aboard a chartered flight from Japan early this morning. The Deputy Spokesman of Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service, Nadav Matzner, the private aircraft landed at the Ben Gurion International Airport around 4 a.m., taking care to park at a substantial distance from the terminals.
After confirming that group showed no signs of fever or other COVID-19 symptoms, the weary travelers were taken by MDA personnel in protective gear to an isolation ward prepared for their quarantine at the nearby Sheba Medical Center at the Tel HaShomer Hospital outside Tel Aviv.
Following more extensive examination, the previously-cleared passenger tested positive for the disease.