Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky – one of the world’s leading Charedi religious leaders -  has been diagnosed with coronavirus, aged 92.

A spokesperson for the rabbi, who is the leader of the Lithuanian strictly-Orthodox community,  confirmed he had contracted the virus just a day after he had led calls for people to pray in open spaces as much as possible to prevent its spread.

"Following a change in the body temperature of the great rabbi, he was examined and found positive for coronavirus,” it was confirmed in a statement from his family.

"The rabbi feels well and is continuing with his studies, of course under close medical supervision."

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.