Coronavirus cabinet set to vote on complete closure of Israel to tourists – reports

The coronavirus cabinet, set to meet at 8:30 pm, is to vote on a complete closure of Israel to tourists and foreign residents, several news outlets report, in a bid to minimize the dangers posed by the Omicron variant.

Additionally, all of Africa except for Morrocco will be defined as “red,” meaning that Israelis cannot travel there, Channel 12 says.

All returning Israelis from anywhere in the world are expected to face tightened quarantine rules. Those vaccinated and those who have recovered from the virus within six months will be required to quarantine for three days after traveling abroad, under the proposal being put to the cabinet. Seven days’ quarantine will be required for those who are not vaccinated.

All these measures would be for the next weeks, the reports say, while the dangers posed by Omicron are assessed.

Israel was among numerous countries to ban foreigners arriving from most African countries in recent days. The highly-mutated Omicron was first identified in South Africa.