In order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday March 4 the establishment of a two-week quarantine for travelers from France and several other European countries.

"We are going to ask everyone who comes from France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Austria, and the Israelis who come from there to enter segregation," said Benjamin Netanyahu during 'a press conference at the Ministry of Health in Jerusalem.

Restrictions had already been imposed on Italy, the largest source of the epidemic in Europe. Israeli authorities have so far announced 15 cases of coronavirus in their territory.

"We are in a better situation than other countries because from the start, I have given instructions to act as much as possible and not at least. We have taken strict, very strict measures to slow the spread of the disease by Israel, "said Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Isolation policy" and "in-depth tests"

"Unlike other countries, we have also opted for a policy of isolation and thorough testing," added the Prime Minister in his first press conference since the victory of his party, Likud, in the legislative elections on Monday. .

Along with Italy and Germany, France is one of the main sources of the new coronavirus in Europe. About 150,000 French people are established in Israel, a large part of whom have dual nationality.

If these dual nationals can stay at home during their isolation, the authorities do not yet know where they would quarantine the other people arriving from the aforementioned European countries, said Moshe Bar Siman Tov, director general of the Ministry of Health. A decision should be made shortly.

These restrictive measures take place a month before the Jewish Passover, which falls this year on April 8. Each year, tens of thousands of Jews from around the world, especially from France, come to Israel for these holidays.

With AFP

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