World

Israel keeps borders closed to tourists

By AAP Newswire

Dec 16, 2021

Passengers disembark a plane at the Ben Gurion International Airport. — Israel is extending a ban on tourist entries in a bid to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading. -EPA

Israel is keepings its borders closed until the end of December, extending a ban on tourist entries in a bid to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading.

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The extension, by seven days, means tourists may not enter the country until midnight on December 29, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said on Wednesday evening.

The step also means that all residents of Israel returning from any country, including those who are vaccinated, must spend at least three days in quarantine on entering the country.

Israel also declared Denmark and Britain "red countries," meaning Israelis may not travel there as of Friday.

The two are the first inÂ Europe to join the list, which designates almost all of Africa "red countries."

The Omicron strain of Covid-19 was first detected in southern Africa last month and the World Health Organisation has classified it as a variant of concern.

Israel has also identified a small number of cases of the variant. Scientists warn the strain, thought to be far more transmissible than previous variants, will likely spread rapidly.