By Yoav Noy, Partner |
Due to the increase in COVID cases, effective today Israel will be subject to a full lockdown, which will last for at least 2 weeks.
Since Wednesday, December 23, 2020, all foreign nationals have been banned from entering Israel. Senior government officials advised KTA earlier today that the ban, which was to have lasted for 2 weeks will continue for at least 2 more weeks.
Exempt from this rule are foreign nationals that were issued an entry permit to Israel during COVID-19. These foreign nationals will be allowed entry to Israel and will be subject to 10 days home isolation, and required to present two negative COVID-19 tests.
It was also announced by the officials that any individual that have returned from abroad and was in South Africa in the last 14 days, will be required to enter mandatory isolation in state-run facilities for at least 10 days, subject to Covid-19 testing.
In addition, new applications for re-entry of foreign experts (currently holding valid B-1 working visas), as well as their dependents, will not be processed in the next two weeks. Nevertheless, the Ministry may allow entry of an extremely small number of foreign experts that are deemed by the Ministry to be essential to the Israeli market such as those working in power plants, oil refinery operations, etc.
During the lockdown government services will be limited to urgent cases only and some Ministry offices will be closed.
Foreign Workers Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine
According to official Health Ministry data some 1,593,000 people have now been vaccinated in Israel, which includes 70% of those aged 60 or more.
According to Our World in Data* (see graph) Israel today is the world leader in a total number of vaccinations administered per 100 people.
According to the Ministry of Health, every person that is in Israel, including foreign employees, will be eligible to be vaccinated, free of charge, according to the same standards regarding age and health applied to any Israeli national.