Israel to quarantine returnees over coronavirus fears

By Mustafa Deveci

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel stepped up efforts Monday to protect the country from the deadly novel coronavirus.

All Israeli citizens returning from abroad have been ordered to self-quarantine at home for two weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message posted on his Twitter account.

Foreigners coming to Israel will also be required to provide the address where they will be staying in quarantine for 14 days or they will not be allowed to enter the country.

The order will come into force Thursday for foreigners.

- Number of cases increases

Three more Israelis were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, bringing the country’s total to 42, the Ministry of Health said Monday

Two of them came from Switzerland and another returned from Spain.

Last week, Netanyahu called on Israelis returning from France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Austria to remain in quarantine for 14 days and the entry of foreigners from these countries was banned.

The global death toll from COVID-19 is around 3,800 with more than 110,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As part of efforts to contain the outbreak, governments have closed borders and suspended land and air travel with the worst-hit countries, including China, Iran and Italy.

After declaring the outbreak an international health emergency in January, the WHO last month updated the global risk level to “very high.”

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin