Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Friday he was suffering "difficult" symptoms after contracting coronavirus, but that things were "under control".
Erekat, 65, said on Twitter that he was in isolation and receiving medical treatment at home one day after he confirmed that he had caught the virus.
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A member of Fatah, the most powerful faction within the PLO, Erekat has been one of the most high-profile faces of the Palestinian leadership for decades, especially to international audiences. There is concern over his vulnerability because he underwent a lung transplant in the United States in 2017.
In tweets on Friday, Erekat said he was experiencing "difficult symptoms resulting from my lack of immunity as a result of lung transplantation." He thanked well-wishers and said, "Things are under control, thank God."
A statement by the Palestinian Authority said, "The Secretariat of the PLO Executive Committee and the Negotiations Affairs Department announce that Dr. Saeb Erekat, Head of the Negotiations Dept, has been infected with COVID-19, and wishes him a speedy recovery. We apologize for canceling all his appointments until his complete recovery."
Jordanian King Abdullah II said on Friday that he has instructed the government to offer immediate medical assistance to Erekat following an announcement that he's tested positive for COVID-19.
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