Israel to require returnees from 4 virus hotspots to quarantine

Anyone returning to Israel from the United States, Italy, France and Spain will be tested for the coronavirus immediately upon landing at Ben Gurion International Airport as these four countries have been identified as having a particularly high incidence of the disease, the Defense Ministry says.

Beginning Saturday evening, all those returning from those four countries will also be sent to a Defense Ministry-run quarantine facility for two weeks, the ministry says.

People coming to Israel from other countries on the other hand will be sent to home-quarantine, the ministry says.

Israel announced earlier this month that only Israeli citizens and residents were permitted to enter the country in light of the coronavirus. In recent days, the Foreign Ministry and other government offices have been working to bring home Israelis who are still abroad.

Those coming from the US, Italy, France and Spain will be tested for the virus immediately upon landing. They will then be taken to a quarantine facility and housed there, in rooms either by themselves or as families.

If the test is negative, they will be released to complete their 14-day quarantine at home. If it is positive, a decision will be made what to do with them depending upon the extent of their symptoms.
The Defense Ministry says this effort will cost an estimated NIS 55 million.

— Judah Ari Gross