Israel coronavirus cases rise to 10 amid election

Israel says two more people were diagnosed with coronavirus after trip to Italy when on Monday Zionist regime is holding its third election in 11 months, with voters trying to find a way to break the country's seemingly intractable political deadlock.

Iran PressMiddle East: Police and medical authorities were on the alert Monday for attempts to disrupt the elections with fake coronavirus reports as Israelis went to the polls for the third vote in less than a year hoping to break the deadlock that has paralyzed Israel’s political system, Times of Israel reported.

Israel's Health Ministry reported two new coronavirus cases, bringing the total infections in the country to ten.

A ministry statement late Sunday said two people had been diagnosed with the disease after a trip to Italy.

On Thursday, Israeli authorities imposed a ban on the entry of foreigners coming from Italy, where 34 people had died from the virus.

The World Health Organization, which already declared the outbreak an international health emergency, updated the global risk level to very high.

Like the two polls held in 2019, Monday's vote pits Israel's longest-serving leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, against former military chief, Benny Gantz.

But many believe that Coronavirus outbreak could have an impact on the election. An opinion poll last week suggested more than 1 in 20 voters were mulling whether to stay at home Monday over fears of catching the virus.

Police on alert for fake coronavirus news as 3rd election in a year opens

After two inconclusive elections last year, opinion polls forecast another stalemate in a vote largely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will go on trial on corruption charges just two weeks after Monday’s vote.

But this vote is taking place in the shadow of 10 Israelis diagnosed with the coronavirus and concerns some could seek to use fear of the virus to suppress votes for their opponents.

Police said Sunday they were setting up a special task force to deal with the situation.

“Following preparations in Israel to deal with the corona virus, the Israel police will also during election day assist the Health Ministry, the election commission and other relevant bodies dealing with the issue, to prevent any attempt to undermine the elections,” police said.

Police said that a national desk had been established that would monitor the elections and “provide a response to the possibility of spreading false reports aimed at causing panic and disorder.”

“Large forces of uniformed and undercover officers will be stationed in and around the polling stations to identify illegal activities designed to corrupt the elections,” police said.

The director-general of the Health Ministry on Sunday said Israelis should not hesitate to go out and vote in Monday’s national elections, and should not be deterred by the deadly coronavirus.

“The situation is under control. Everyone who was infected with the coronavirus, we know where they were infected and this is important… it’s safe to go vote. Don’t hesitate… go vote,” Moshe Bar Siman-Tov said in a video statement.

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