After many passengers have already received notices of exemption from isolation upon their return to Israel, the Ministry of Health announces relief for the vaccinated and recovering. From midnight (4.1) there will be relief in isolation for returnees from orange countries: Passengers will perform a PCR test at Ben Gurion Airport and enter isolation for 24 hours or until a negative result is obtained (whichever is earlier). Today, the decision will be anchored in the order of the Director General of the Ministry of Health and will be submitted to the Knesset Health Committee for approval.
It should be noted that vaccinated and recovering people who have already returned to Israel from an orange country and received a negative result from the PCR test they performed upon entering Israel, will finish the isolation at midnight and are not required to perform a second test.
Reducing the list of red states; The US and UK are still inside
Passengers who are not vaccinated or do not recover (as defined by the Ministry of Health) returning from orange countries will go into home isolation for seven days subject to a corona test on the seventh day of isolation (otherwise 14 days of isolation will be required). For the purpose of calculating the isolation days, the first day is defined as the day of landing (even if it occurred at night).
In addition to the decision above, the list of red states will be reduced. The list currently includes 14 countries and the new recommendation is to remove South Africa, Hungary, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal, France, France and Canada from the list of red countries. The countries that remain at this stage in the list of red countries include the most common destinations for Israelis: the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Mexico, and Switzerland.
Immunized foreigners from orange countries will also be able to enter
Another important line for those involved in the tourism industry is that the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, Home Affairs, Tourism and Transport agreed that from Sunday 9.1, vaccinated / recovering foreigners (as defined by the Ministry of Health) from countries classified as orange will be allowed. Entry conditions will include filling out an online form in advance, performing a PCR or antigen test before boarding the plane, performing a PCR test at the entrance to Israel and then entering the isolation for 24 hours or receiving a negative answer in the test (whichever is earlier).
Meanwhile, unvaccinated or non-recovering foreigners (as defined by the Ministry of Health) will not be allowed to enter Israel and foreigners from red countries will only be able to enter with the approval of the Exceptions Committee. The outline of the groups will not be renewed at this time.
The announcement of the relief was made before the hearing scheduled for tomorrow (4.1) in the High Court in the presence of three judges.