New Covid variant Omicron found in Israel

Anyone who returned to Israel from an African country in the last week will be asked to be isolated immediately, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other senior officials decided on Friday after one case of the South African variant of concern was detected in the country.

Three other suspicious cases were being evaluated on Friday.

Bennett held an emergency meeting and then addressed the nation about the South African variant B.1.1.529, saying that it is “extremely concerning” and that Israel is “raising a red flag” and  “on the verge of a state of emergency.”

Israel labeled all areas of Africa - with the exception of northern Africa - as “red.” This means that Israelis are banned from traveling there and no foreigners can enter Israel from those countries.

In addition, any Israeli who returns to Israel from Africa will need to be isolated for seven to 14 days. This quarantine, Bennett stressed, will be strongly enforced. 

Source: The Jerusalem Post