Israel announced on Tuesday that travelers from abroad arriving in Israel will be required to test negative for COVID-19 to avoid quarantine even if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from the coronavirus.

Travelers will be required to present a negative virus test from within the previous 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Israel and test negative again upon arriving in Israel in order to avoid the need to quarantine, a statement from the Health Ministry, the Transportation Ministry, and the Prime Minister�s Office said.

The decision is apparently due to the fear that even those who are fully vaccinated can still contract the coronavirus and spread it to others, a fear compounded by the new virus variants.

Fear of the new virus variants has led to the almost hermetic closure of Ben-Gurion Airport since January 25. The government voted to extend the closure until at least February 20 late last week.

(YWN Israel Desk � Jerusalem)