Incoming Health Minister Aryeh Deri decided on Friday that airlines will require foreign citizens to undergo a COVID-19 test on flights from China to Israel, following the recommendation of the leadership of the Ministry of Health.
The decision follows the renewed outbreak of the pandemic in China.
- Deri also directed the professional echelon to establish a voluntary sampling point in Israel for foreign and Israeli citizens returning from the country.
- “The Ministry of Health recommends that Israeli citizens avoid traveling to China unless it is essential,” the Ministry of Health said.
The United States announced this week it will require all travelers from China to show a negative COVID-19 test result before flying to the country.
Passengers flying to the US from China will need to get a test no more than two days before flying, and present proof of the negative test to their airline before boarding.
The tests can be either a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered through a telehealth service.
- The new rules take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 5.
Since the start of December, 248 million people have fallen ill with COVID-19 in China.
- China’s National Health Commission announced on Friday that it had a conversation with the World Health Organization about the current epidemiological situation.
Source: Arutz Sheva