In a major move, Israel has removed the countries from its red list and eased travel restrictions. Here are the details. By Anushka Goel
At a time when the entire world is taking measures such as curfews, curbs and travel bans, Israel has decided to lift travel restrictions and remove the countries in its red list, a report in Times of Israel states.
Israel eases travel restrictions
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Israel Director-General Nachman Ash said on Thursday that all countries were being removed from this red list where travel had been curtailed to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, adding, “We still recommend avoiding unnecessary flights. Morbidity is high worldwide and these transitions are a risk factor for infection.” However, while on the Health Ministry’s recommendations, countries have been removed from the red list, the power to actually scrap the list lies with the Israel government, the report states.
He explained that current data shows that less than five per cent of the total active cases in the country came from abroad, the report in Times of Israel adds. The Health Ministry also recommended relaxing testing requirements for those who are vaccinated and recovering inbound travellers, reports The New Indian Express. This comes a day after the government recommended more home tests to ease the burden on testing centers, the report adds.
However, it’s important to note that COVID-19 cases have been spiking in the country, in which, according to The National News, about 4.2 million (42 lakh) people have received their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The countries that were on the red list of Israel, where two-way travel is now permitted, are the USA, the UK, Canada, Africa, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Tanzania, France, Turkey, Mexico, Hungary, Switzerland, Spain, and Nigeria.
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The recommendations for incoming travellers are also towards loosening quarantine timelines and restrictions, reports Newsweek. The report states people who are traveling to Israel and have either been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 can leave quarantine after 24 hours or when they test negative. Further, those who have not been vaccinated need to test negative twice before leaving quarantine – once upon landing in Israel and again after isolating for a week.
Related: #OmicronThreat: States In India Impose Night Curfew, Bans
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