With the government-approved airport-reopening plan set in movement, Israelis will now be able to — seemingly arbitrarily — travel to the cities of New York, Paris, Frankfurt, and Kyiv, enjoying, for the first time in a long time, some respite from the pandemic.
These 4 cities are also currently the only ones where rescue flights can leave, bringing Israelis home. There are currently a few nations — including Greece, Romania, Georgia, Serbia, and the Seychelles Islands — that have announced that they will allow vaccinated Israelis to cross into their borders as soon as the skies open up.
Those who haven’t been vaccinated will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test, according to the report. Some nations, like the US and Morocco, currently have an airport policy consistent with what Ben-Gurion Airport used to be, which is to allow tourists in as long as they — including vaccinated individuals — can show a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding.
Other nations who follow that policy as well include Dubai, Rwanda, Bulgaria, Turkey, South Africa, and Ukraine, among others.
Tplan, approved by the coronavirus cabinet on Tuesday, outlines a partial reopening of the skies, allowing for authorized flights to carry Israeli citizens in and out of Ben-Gurion Airport. According to the plan, starting on Sunday, 3,000 Israelis will be able to enter the nation without special permission from the governmental exemptions committee — if they are vaccinated, and will be required to get tested for the coronavirus once before the flight and again when they land.
Those who are not vaccinated will need to apply for permission. Ben-Gurion Airport is expected to reopen completely on March 14. The final number of approved flights, as well as within the travelers on them, will be ultimately decided by the Transportation Ministry.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev (Likud) initially wished for the numbers of Israelis let into the nation to be 7,000, but the coronavirus cabinet cut that down to three 3,000. On Tuesday evening, Regev actually cut that quantity down, even more, saying that only 1,000 Israelis will be let in, and no more than 1,200 will be let out every day, according to Ynet.
Upon landing, residents will be required to quarantine, both in their homes or in hotels. Some 660 additional police officers will be assigned to ensure that quarantine requirements are being met and will be aided by other technological means, such as electronic bracelets.
