Israel Expands Travel Restrictions Amid Omicron Concerns
After banning all foreign travelers in response to the discovery of the Omicron variant last month, Israel will now add 10 new countries – including the United States, Canada, and Germany – to its “red list” of places Israeli citizens and residents may not travel.
The move officially goes into effect at midnight on December 22. Along with the US, Canada, and Germany, countries added to the list include Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland, and Turkey.
According to Reuters’ COVID-19 tracker, Israel has seen an increasing number of cases lately. As of December 20, the country was recording an average of 753 cases a day, and it has implemented travel restrictions to manage the spread of the Omicron variant, which is believed to be more contagious than previous variants.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports approximately 15 percent of new infections have originated from abroad, including a notable instance where a flight arriving from Miami had 17 passengers test positive for the Omicron variant.
Out of 5,787 new coronavirus cases in the past week, 877 – comprising about 15 percent of the infections – came from abroad.
Israel was commended for its efficient COVID-19 vaccine rollout. With a highly vaccinated population, Israel currently requires a Green Pass for indoor gatherings that include more than 50 participants. The Green Pass indicates that an individual has been vaccinated, recovered, or tested negative for coronavirus.
Travelers Returning from Red List Countries Must Isolate
There are currently 58 countries on Israel’s red list. As stated on its travel website, Israel places a country on the red list if the infection rate among travelers arriving from that location over the past month exceeds 2 percent or there is an outbreak with a doubling rate of infections of two or more.
Israeli citizens returning from red list countries must enter full isolation regardless of vaccination status or previous recovery from the virus.
Full isolation is generally 14 days. However, if travelers undergo two PCR tests – one upon arrival and another on day seven of their isolation – and receive negative results for both tests, the isolation period can be shortened to 7 days.
Exceptions to the Travel Policy
If you have extenuating circumstances and need to travel to or from Israel, there exists an Exceptions Committee that reviews such requests on a case-by-case basis.
To make a request, you’ll need to complete a form in Hebrew directed to the committee.
Staying Informed
For comprehensive guidance on COVID-19 and related travel issues, ensure you are updated with credible sources and health advisories regarding your travel plans.
