COVID in Israel: Airport Now Fully Prepared for Summer Travel, Minister Says
As Israel sets up new COVID measures to deal with influx of arrivals, health minister promises to issue fines to Israelis returning from banned countries
New measures installed at Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport aim to bolster protection against the coronavirus for incoming travelers, Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Monday.
"We've doubled the number of testing sites [at the airport], eliminating the long queues," Horowitz said, speaking during a visit to Ben-Gurion Airport.
"This tent, which has been set up in conjunction with the defense ministry, is a solution to the influx of flights we're going to see in the next few months. I am pleased with the collaboration between the ministries, and it will continue."
Authorities also announced closing the loophole which allowed Israelis to fly to countries with a dangerously high coronavirus infection rate, though Israelis are technically forbidden to enter them.
"Fines will be issued to anyone who enters these countries, and inspectors will be enforcing this," Horowitz said.
"We've also improved the testing system significantly, with test results being processed and returned in less than a day."
- Israel offers booster COVID-19 shot to adults at risk, mulls vaccinating children
- Spread joy, Bennett: Declare COVID-19 to be just another disease and free us from fear
- Israeli experts debate treating COVID-19 as just another virus while delta variant spreads
Israel recorded 423 new coronavirus cases on Sunday; 47 are in serious condition. 0.8 percent of tests conducted returned positive.
As Israel's weekly infection rate continues to climb, Israeli officials are weighing scrapping coronavirus regulations, treating it as a regular illness, the health ministry said Sunday.