Israeli cabinet approves travel ban on U.S. over Omicron variant
Israeli cabinet has approved a travel ban on the United States due to concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Monday.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the travel ban, which is expected to take effect at midnight Wednesday morning, would need the approval by the Knesset Law and Constitution and Health committees.
By adding the United States to Tel Aviv’s travel red list, Israelis are barred from visiting the United States.
Haaretz newspaper reported that 10 percent of passengers on a flight from Miami, Florida, that arrived on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19.
At least 873 people in Israel tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday alone and 81 were hospitalized, including 41 who required vebtilators. Isreal has a little over 9 million people.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.
