CORRECTED: Anti-LGBTQ Israeli Official Tests Positive for Coronavirus
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.
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.