Israel extends entry ban over coronavirus to South Korea and Japan

Health officials say anyone returning from the 2 Asian countries must self-quarantine for 14 days; the move comes after 9 S Koreans who visited Israel tested positive for coronavirus

Itay Blumentha|02.22.20 | 17:13

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Tourists from South Korea who are set to arrive in Israel starting 7 pm on Saturday will not be allowed to enter Israeli territory, the Health Ministry said Saturday. In addition, anyone returning from either South Korea or Japan must self-quarantine for 4 days.
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The decision comes after it was conformed at nine South Korean tourists who visited Israel last week have tested positive for coronavirus after arriving back to their home country. 
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South Korean flight crew
(Photo: Mor Idan)
In a special press conference, Director General of the Health Ministry Moshe Bar Siman Tov said there is potential for the spread of the virus in Israel as a result of the Korean delegation's visit.
"We examined the rate of the spread [of the infection] in South Korea that started to rise, and climbed very fast over the last day,” he said. ”In Japan, too, there has been an increase and we recommend reconsidering trips [to those countries],” he added.
“The directive that applies to China now also applies to South Korea and Japan, and we are considering other destinations such as Taiwan."
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Director General of the Health Ministry Moshe Bar Siman Tov 
(Photo:  Motti Kimchi)
The Population and Immigration Authority source told Ynet the ministry is currently trying to compile a list of names of all the passengers who were on the same flights as the South Korean delegation. 
In addition, 30 school children from the city of Be'er Sheva will be quarantined after coming in contact with the South Korean delegation of pilgrims last week.
The delegation was on a week-long trip organized by their Catholic Church between February 8 and 15. 
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Ben Gurion Airport
Among the sites visited by the delegation were: David Tower Hotel in Netanya; the town of Caesarea; the city of Nazareth, including St. Gabriel hotel; The David Dead Sea Resort; Masada National Park; The Leonardo Hotel in Be'er Sheva; The Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron; the city of Jerusalem, including Grand Court Hotel.

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Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Mr. Walter Ricciardi, a member of the WHO executive committee, said today that it was "a serious mistake that people arriving in Italy from China were not quarantined," a grave error that in just 3 days has led to the isolation of 50,000 persons in Lombardy and Veneto. Since yesterday evening, Saturday, February 22, in Italy, the quarantine is already mandatory for all people arriving from China. Fortunately for Israel, 10 days ago its Health Ministry adopted a series of precautions that the rest of the ministries, beginning with that of Foreign Affairs, considered exaggerated and very harmful for the international relations. Perhaps for fear of all that kind of criticism, the rest of the European nations still do nothing, probably because they are waiting for a high number of victims to apply such unpopular measures.

Zacharie Courchevel| 02.23.20

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2.

Ban ALL flights from infected areas

China's continued and horrific abuse of animals is where this virus began. Let them deal with it. The entire region should have been put on lock-down to prevent the spread.

Talula| 02.23.20

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IT IS THE MEANING, IN THIS CASE,2020.

IN THIS CASE,IT IS THE THAT THE DICTATORSHIP REGIME IN BEIJING/PEKING WILL GET THE PUNISHMENT THEY DESERVE, TO KEEP SECRET ABOUT CORONA AND THE DICTATORSHIP, TO THEIR OWN (CHINESE) PEOPLE AND TO THE REST OF HUMANKIND. THE CHINESE AND THE REST OF THE HUMANKINDPEOPLE, FROM EARTHAND BEYOND DESERVE/WILL DESERVE BETTER. SJOERD RUURD VAN DER VELDE/VAN DER VELDE,SJOERD RUURD, 2020.

SJOERD VAN DER VELDE| 02.22.20

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