All UK passengers must quarantine for a week, Israel decides
Rising rates of coronavirus in both countries mean even vaccinated travellers must self-isolate, ministers rule
Michael Daventry is Jewish News’s foreign and broadcast editor
Travellers returning to Israel from Britain from next week will be required to quarantine for a seven-day period even if they are vaccinated and can produce a negative test result.
The decision was taken by the coronavirus cabinet, a grouping of ministers who decide the rules on containing the spread of COVID-19 in Israel.
People arriving in Israel from any other country will now be required to self-isolate for at least 24 hours.
But Britain and 10 other countries deemed to have high infection rates are being added to a seven-day quarantine list.
Cyprus, Turkey and Georgia are also on the seven-day list.
The new restrictions take effect from Friday 23 July.
Israel’s Health Ministry also announced Spain will be added to a list of countries subject to a travel ban, meaning Israelis risk a 5,000 shekel (£1,100) fine for flying there.
Travellers departing Israel are required to sign a form declaring they will not visit countries on the travel ban list, which also includes Brazil, South Africa and India.
Coronavirus cases are rising in Israel despite a successful vaccination programme. The new cases are mostly linked to the Delta variant first identified in India.
Travellers from Israel are not currently required to isolate on arrival in Britain, although officials have indicated Israel is at risk of moving to the amber list of countries.
Visitors from amber countries are required to self-isolate in Britain if they have not been vaccinated.
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