Reports in Israel claimed several of his family members had contracted Covid-19 in recent weeks - including two who are in constant daily contact with Rabbi Kanievsky.
Initially sceptical about the impact of the virus when it first hit Israel earlier this year, Rabbi Kanievsky later changed his mind and issued a statement backing Heath Ministry orders to observe strict social distancing measures.
On Sunday, Rabbi Kanievsky ordered the rabbis of Bnei Brak to stop the minyans throughout the city and to pray individually to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Ahead of Succot he announced it was forbidden to host guests in succahs over the holiday, in line with the recommendation of the Health Ministry.
In 2016 Rabbi Kanievsky had declared medical cannabis kosher for Passover so long as possession of the drug was not a crime in a particular country.
One year later he ruled that the reporting of child sex abuse to the police was consistent with Jewish law.
