quarantine

Police officers enforce COVID-19 emergency regulations in Jerusalem, August 11, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

September 15, 2021, 4:26 am

Lawmakers expand quarantine surveillance program to cover all in isolation

System was initially meant to aid enforcement of isolation for those returning from abroad; Knesset panel head says need to avoid more drastic measures trumps privacy concerns

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A teenager looks at her mobile phone while quarantining (Maria Casinos; iStock by Getty Images)

September 3, 2021, 5:46 pm

Knesset advances bill to allow quarantine monitoring via app

Authorities will be able to track location, hold video calls with people required to isolate; any who opt out will be subject to other measures, including quarantine hotels

By TOI staff

File: Jews pray on a street near the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine, Sept. 20, 2006. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

August 13, 2021, 11:29 pm

Ukraine okays Uman pilgrimage for vaccinated arrivals

Health authorities have launched a concentrated vaccination effort in the city, focusing on service providers and health professionals, in preparation for the pilgrimage

By JTA

Illustrative -- Police officers enforce COVID-19 regulations at Ben Gurion International Airport, on July 19, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

August 12, 2021, 3:20 pm

23 people caught trying to fly from Israel to New York with forged COVID tests

United Airlines passengers removed from flight and detained, then released on bail and fined, with possibility of further punishment under consideration; US authorities informed

By TOI staff

A woman is caught driving with two of her children in the trunk in Jerusalem on August 10, 2021. (Israel Police/Screen capture)

August 12, 2021, 4:31 am

Woman caught with kids in trunk claims ‘they’re in quarantine’

Border cops hand family $4,643 fine, since all 3 were required to stay in isolation for a week following their return from Turkey, and cars don’t count as quarantine location

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Taglit Birthright participants visit at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on August 18, 2014 (Flash90)

August 10, 2021, 8:18 am

Birthright cancels dozens of trips to Israel due to new quarantine rules

Organization that brings young Jews to Israel for free shelves 42 of its 10-day visits planned for the summer after government orders all arrivals from US to isolate for a week

By JTA and TOI staff

Travelers at Ben Gurion International Airport on August 5, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)

August 9, 2021, 3:03 am

As of August 16, Israelis can return from just 10 countries without quarantine

However, most of those destinations don’t allow Israeli travelers to visit; Austria, Czech Republic, Moldova only places it’s possible to go without needing to isolate upon return

By TOI staff

Travelers stand in line to get coronavirus checks upon arriving at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, on July 1, 2021. (Nati Shohat/ Flash90)

August 3, 2021, 4:54 pm

Arrivals from 18 more countries, including US, Greece, to require quarantine

Italy, France and Egypt also added to list of countries from which travelers must self-isolate from next Wednesday even if vaccinated

By Amy Spiro

Illustrative: Israeli travelers enter a COVID testing center at the Menahem Begin Terminal or Taba passage, between Israel and Egypt, on August 1, 2021. (Noam Revkin Fenton/FLASH90)

August 1, 2021, 8:59 pm

Police reprimanded rape victim for violating quarantine to go to hospital

An unvaccinated woman who was raped on vacation in Sinai returned to Israel and went to the hospital; she says policemen who came there treated her aggressively, fined her friend

By TOI staff

Shaare Zedek Medical Center staff wearing protective clothes move patients to the new coronavirus ward of the hospital in Jerusalem, on January 7, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 3:08 am

Seriously ill COVID patients recovering faster than in earlier waves — report

Patients listed in serious condition spent an average of 8 days in the hospital in first week of July, compared to 10-12 days during first half of year

By TOI staff

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks during a press briefing on July 21, 2021. (Screen capture: Facebook)

July 21, 2021, 5:17 pm

Health minister warns ‘long months’ ahead in battling Delta variant

Nitzan Horowitz predicts rise in serious cases, but aims to reopen schools in fall; ministers to meet Thursday, but reportedly won’t mandate isolation for all returning travelers

By TOI staff

Travelers seen in the departure hall at the Ben Gurion International Airport, on July 19, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 19, 2021, 9:34 pm

Israel expected to require all travelers entering the country to self-isolate

Ministers likely to okay move Tuesday; Health Ministry warns against travel abroad — but says no plans to shutter airport — as 37,000 pass through Ben Gurion on Monday

By TOI staff

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing on coronavirus in Downing Street, London, on July 5, 2021. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool Photo via AP)

July 18, 2021, 3:57 pm

In U-turn, British PM Boris Johnson to quarantine after COVID-19 contact

Reversal after 3 hours comes after PM was criticized for announcing he’d skip isolation in new pilot program; development comes as Britain set for major removal of restrictions

By Jill Lawless

Healthcare worker takes a COVID-19 test sample in Netanya, on April 13, 2021 (Chen Leopold/Flash90)

July 13, 2021, 3:41 pm

Health Ministry said set to recommend reducing quarantine period to 7 days

Proposal follows calls for isolation period to be shortened to encourage people to keep it, as well as to reduce burden on parents of unvaccinated young children

By TOI staff

Israelis attend a movie at the Cinema City theatre in Jerusalem on May 27, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 1, 2021, 5:52 am

Back to normal: Israel lifts nearly all COVID restraints as virus fades away

Tuesday marks end of Green Pass and Purple Badge requirements, meaning all venues can open to all people, with no limit on crowds, as nation looks to put pandemic in rear-view

By TOI staff