Bar Siman Tov gets 'hundreds of requests' for isolation exemption

Outgoing Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov addressed in a Channel 13 interview the allegations against his deputy, Itamar Grotto, who is accused of granting a quarantine exemption to Cypriot-Israeli tycoon Teddy Sagi a week ago. 'First of all, I want to receive his response to the things that were said, and second of all, we may see what the answers are and may need to draw conclusions, but... Itamar has his rights and there is no intention to detract from his rights, and he also has the right to a procedure in which he gives his response fully and directly in the relevant forum,' Bar Siman Tov said. 'I do not know Teddy Sagi,' he clarified, stating that there will be a clarification procedure. 'I also receive hundreds of inquiries every day; a culture of bypassing the mechanism may have been created.' Sagi allegedly asked Bar Siman Tov for permission not to go into quarantine, as is required by the government, when he landed in Israel after a trip to Cyprus. He was refused, after which he turned to Grotto, who gave him permission. Sagi denies having spoken to Bar Simon Tov first. 'A few days ago, I sought to increase enforcement [of coronavirus restrictions],' said Health Minister Yuli Edelstein on Thursday evening. 'The enforcement is directed towards everyone, and no one is exempt: neither celebrity nor wealthy person. The virus does not distinguish between celebrity and anonymous person. Anyone who does not wear a mask or keep distance puts all of us at risk and must not be forgiven for it.'

Bar Siman Tov gets 'hundreds of requests' for isolation exemption

"A culture of bypassing the mechanism may have been created," he said. Sagi allegedly asked him for permission not to go into quarantine, then spoke with Grotto when he was refused.

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Bar Siman Tov gets 'hundreds of requests' for isolation exemption

"A culture of bypassing the mechanism may have been created," he said. Sagi allegedly asked him for permission not to go into quarantine, then spoke with Grotto when he was refused.

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