From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
UAE coronavirus infection spike may dampen travel plans
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleHebrew-language news outlets report that Israel is considering removing the United Arab Emirates from the list of countries Israelis can visit without needing to isolate upon their return.
The news comes hours after the first-ever Israeli commercial flight flew from Tel Aviv to Dubai, which has begun to welcome an influx of Israelis. A visa-free travel agreement is set to go into effect later this month.
The UAE has recorded at least 1,000 cases each day over the last 43 days, according to Dubai-based The National. On Monday, it saw 1,289 new cases, just 45 more than Israel, albeit on nearly 130,000 tests, more than double the number here.
The Health Ministry tells Channel 12 news that the country can remain okay for travelers so long as its positivity rate stays less than 1%, but according to reports, officials fear that may change as cases there pile up.
Meanwhile, Israeli media has picked up on a video showing what appears to be the Gulf kingdom’s first ultra-Orthodox wedding, with masks and social distancing in short supply.
HISTORIC: The first official Jewish wedding in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. #AbrahamAccords
Winds of change in the Middle East! ???? pic.twitter.com/8J5aRa9aLb
— Inbar Cohen (@InbarCohen13) November 30, 2020
The Times of Israel Community.