The Coronavirus– The Israeli Ministry of Health’s Restrictions Applicable to Non-Israelis
The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak started at Wuhan, Hubei province of China, on December 2019, and ever since has been spread internationally. First cases of the coronavirus were observed in Israel during February 2020, and as to this date, according to publications of the Ministry of Health (the “MOH“), there are 15 known patients with the coronavirus in Israel.
The MOH has been assuming various steps in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Israel. Amongst these steps, the MOH issued guidelines relating to measures to be taken within Israel, and limitations relating to the entrance into Israel.
The MOH published, on March 4, 2020, several restrictions in connection with mass gathering and conferences, which include, inter alia, a ban on international conferences and a ban on individuals arriving into Israel from any destination during the past 14 days, on participation in gatherings of more than 100 people.
Moreover, the MOH issued guidelines regarding home quarantine (for 14 days), for Israeli residents or citizens arriving from certain destinations, which to this date, include Mainland China, South Korea, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore, Spain, France, Switzerland and Thailand.
The Population and Immigration Authority (the “PI Authority“) issued a formal notification accompanied with the recommendation of the MOH, that non-Israeli citizens or residents who spent time in mainland China, South Korea, Italy, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon during the 14 days prior to their attempt to enter into Israel, shall not be permitted into Israel. According to MOH and PI Authority’s publications, such prohibition shall also apply to non-Israeli citizens or residents from France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, starting as of March 6, 2020 morning, unless they can prove they can be home quarantined.
For additional information please contact your GKH attorney or one of the following Adv. Hili Cohen, partner and head of life sciences department (Hili@gkh-law.com) Adv. Tami Fishman, partner (Tamif@gkh-law.com), or Adv. Ofir Goldstein (ofirg@gkh-law.com).
