Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said that Israel would this week begin loosening curbs on international travel, based on a recommendation from health experts who claim that travels curbs are unnecessary since less than 5% of newly confirmed cases in Israel emanated from travel abroad.

He also announced that Israel has begun providing healthcare workers and citizens over the age of 60 with a fourth dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

 

Israel is lifting restrictions on allowing in foreigners who have been triple vaccinated or have recovered from Covid.

The Health Ministry said travelers from 199 countries Israel has designated “orange” would have to prove in advance they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 and would be subject to PCR testing before and after arrival.

The US, however, is still considered a “red” country, which means that visitors require special permission to enter Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet said that Israel would this week begin loosening curbs on international travel, based on a recommendation from health experts who claim that travels curbs are unnecessary since less than 5% of newly confirmed cases in Israel emanated from travel abroad.

At the moment, the list of red countries includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the UAE, Ethiopia, South Africa, Hungary, Tanzania, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey, but the committee tasked with classifying the country recommended to only leave the United Arab Emirates, the US, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Mexico, Switzerland and Turkey in the red group. The government will consider removing Canada, Hungary, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Portugal and France.

“Canceling isolation for the vaccinated inbound travelers from abroad and allowing vaccinated tourism back is the right and just decision in this moment, said Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Rezbozov. “I thank my colleagues in the government who understood the plight of the tourism industry and agreed with me that the harm outweighs the benefit.”

Regarding the list of red countries, the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee is set to meet on Tuesday to approve the new list.

Bennett also announced that Israel has begun providing healthcare workers and citizens over the age of 60 with a fourth dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

“The significance of the move is considerable,” he said during a televised press conference, asserting that it will provide “a new layer of protection” against COVID-19.

However, he stressed, “we cannot be complacent and therefore, I call on everyone who is eligible for a fourth dose to get vaccinated.”

Israel is currently facing more than 5,000 verified cases per day, and that figure is expected to exceed 20,000 by the weekend, said Bennett.

Stating that he “greatly understands the [public’s] feelings of frustration and confusion,” Bennett claimed that the “government, for its part, is doing everything to prepare for the storm that is engulfing the world.”

“The good news,” he said, is that those who are thrice vaccinated are greatly protected from severe illness, even when infected”.