Likud MK David Bitan contracts COVID for 2nd time, after brush with death last year

Likud MK David Bitan, who fell seriously ill with COVID-19 last year, tested positive again Saturday, joining a list of lawmakers infected during the fifth virus wave.

A Knesset spokesperson said Bitan was last at the Knesset on Wednesday and that two guards also tested positive.

Bitan said he conducted the test when returning from a parliamentary delegation to Germany to mark International Holocaust Day. “I feel fine and thank everyone for the many get-well wishes,” he said on Twitter.

In early 2021, Bitan was hospitalized in serious condition for two months during his first bout of COVID, and after recovering said he had been close to dying.

”The doctors said I was close to death… I urge people to take the disease seriously,” Bitan said at the time.

Likud MK Yoav Kisch also tested positive on Saturday evening.

The two are among over a dozen of lawmakers and cabinet ministers — including Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, Culture and Sport Minister Chili Tropper, Housing Minister Ze’ev Elkin, and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev — who have contracted coronavirus in recent weeks.

The recent infections came as the highly infectious Omicron variant has rampaged across the country driving daily caseloads to record highs. But Health Ministry officials believe that the surge has peaked and is now trending downwards.

However, there was still concern that the number of patients in serious condition could rise. The rate of serious cases tends to lag behind new infections due to the time it takes for patients to deteriorate.

“We expect two more difficult weeks in terms of hospitalizations. It’s not over and we could see new variants,” said Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz.