No one will again be able to enter Israel's borders without undergoing a coronavirus test, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz vowed Wednesday, after a breach at Ben-Gurion Airport over the weekend saw thousands of Israelis pass through the country's main port of entry without undergoing a COVID check.
"We have resolved this fault, now there are no people who are coming into the country without a test, not even one," Horowitz said at an urgent Knesset debate convened following the surge in cases at various locations across Israel.
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Travelers leaving Ben-Gurion Airport following their arrival in Israel on Tuesday
(Photo: Shaul Golan)
Israel earlier Wednesday announced new stricter measures on travel, with anyone leaving the country required to sign a declaration stating that they would not enter nations designated as virus hotspots, including Russia, India, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
Israelis who have been to one of these hotspots will also be required to quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status or whether they have already recovered from the virus. Anyone breaching quarantine faces fines of up to NIS 5,000.
The Health Ministry said Wednesday that there were more than 100 new daily cases of coronavirus confirmed for the second consecutive day after 110 new infections were detected on Tuesday. After 45,175 tests conducted, the positivity rate stood at 0.3%.
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Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 23, 2021
(Photo: Screenshot)
Amid the rise in cases just days after Israel lifted its mask mandate for indoor spaces, the new government on Wednesday announced the revival of the ministerial committee on the coronavirus.
The so-called "corona cabinet" includes among others Horowitz, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton (who headed the Knesset committee on the virus before she was ousted by Likud), Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev.
Around 60 of the new cases were diagnosed in school students in Binyamina in the north and the central city of Modi'in, where outbreaks of the virus were detected in recent days. Two members of teaching staff were among the infected.
After 11,132 tests were conducted on students and staff, the ministry said a 0.7% rate was found, far exceeding the national average.
At least 14 cases were in people who had recently returned from travel abroad, although no information was available as to where they may have been infected.
According to the ministry, 26 seriously ill people were being treated in hospital, including a child and 18 patients on ventilators.
In a report published Wednesday, the IDF said the virus was spreading among communities and at least some of the cases were imported by Israelis returning from overseas.
"It is too soon to say how long the recent outbreak of morbidity will last but immediate action must be taken to stop its spread," the IDF report said.
It also recommended discussion on resuming the mask mandate indoors.
With infection rates on the rise again, the Health Ministry tightened coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday, including imposing fines on people found in violation of quarantine.
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Students at a school in Binyamina are tested for the coronavirus
(Photo: Elad Gershgorn)
Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezi Levi said that the Israeli population was not fully protected as herd immunity had not been achieved and that the increase in cases was cause for concern.
"We must prevent travel to destinations where the virus is rampant and revamp our quarantine policies," Levi said told Kan public radio Wednesday.
Travelers leaving the country will now be required to sign a declaration stating that they will not enter countries designated as virus hotspots, including Russia, India, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
The form will also list the penalties for giving a false statement, including a fine of NIS 5,000 for breach of quarantine.
First published: 11:54, 06.23.21