Israel's embattled health minister on Sunday said he would step down following a public uproar over his handling of the coronavirus crisis and his own coronavirus infection. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would step aside as the country forms a new government. The government has generally been lauded for keeping the coronavirus crisis in check. Early this month, Litzman was diagnosed with the coronavirus, apparently after ignoring his own ministry's orders to avoid group prayer in public places. The restrictions on many small businesses helped propel unemployment in Israel to over 25 percent since early March.

Source: The Standard April 27, 2020 03:00 UTC