Israel has announced that it will reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries.
The information is coming after the country shut its borders for 5 weeks to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and a group of ministers agreed in a statement on Monday that “entry of vaccinated/recoverning tourists from ‘orange’ countries will be permitted” from Sunday.
Israel had closed its borders to all foreign tourists on the 28th of November. Bennet said that the temporary blanket prohibition on foreign arrivals had achieved its goal, even as domestic Covid infections have soared.
“This greatly delayed the entry of Omicron to the country,” he said.
“We bought time and we utilised it well,” the Prime Minister added, saying that Israel had acquired significant stocks of the Pfizer antiviral drug Paxlovid.
“Visitors will have to take a PCR or antigen test prior to boarding their flights and another PCR test when they arrive. They then have to quarantine for 24 hours or until receiving the result,” the ministry said.
Israel prohibits its citizens to visit what it considers Covid high-risk countries, and tourists from the locations will not be allowed into the country.
As of Monday, Israel’s list of ‘red’ countries according to the health ministry included: Britain, Ethiopia, Morocco, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, the UAE, and the United States.
Naftali Bennett born 25 March 1972) is an Israeli politician serving as the 13th and current prime minister of Israel since 13 June 2021
Read also:
Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Dies of Coronavirus Disease
Israel Shuts Schools Again as Teachers Pupils Covid19 Cases Spike
Israel to Reopen to Vaccinated Visitors from Low-Risk Countries