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CORRECTED: Anti-LGBTQ Israeli Official Tests Positive for Coronavirus

The minister has a long history of opposing LGBTQ equality.

Yaakov Litzman, a health minister for Israel who has opposed LGBTQ equality, has contracted COVID-19.

The 71-year-old has been falsely credited with claiming the pandemic is "a divine punishment against homosexuality."

On Wednesday NewNowNext erroneously attributed those comments to Litzman based on reporting by MSN. That story has since been updated.

GALI TIBBON / Contributor

Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman gestures during a joint press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, regarding preparations and new regulations for the coronavirus, at the Health Ministry in Jerusalem on March 4, 2020. (Photo by GALI TIBBON / AFP) (Photo by GALI TIBBON/AFP via Getty Images)

Litzman and his wife, Chava, tested positive for COVID-19 last week, making him the highest-ranking official in Israel to contract the virus to date, The Times of Israel reports. He seems to have mild symptoms.

However, his positive test has forced a number of high-ranking Israeli officials into isolation, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Litzman reportedly contracted the virus after violating his own lockdown rules.

The minister has a long history of opposing LGBTQ equality. In 2016 he voted against a number of LGBTQ rights bills and compared gay people to sinners, according to the Jerusalem Post.

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