Omicron: Israel to ban travel to US, Canada as variant spreads

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Cabinet has voted to ban Israelis from traveling to the United States, Canada and eight other nations as the omicron coronavirus variant spreads worldwide.

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According to The Associated Press, the move to add the countries – which also include Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Turkey and Morocco – to Israel’s “red list” is expected to take effect at midnight Wednesday once the measure receives final approval from a parliamentary committee.

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“Travel to a country on the red (highest-risk) list is banned for Israeli citizens and permanent residents, unless they have permission from the Exceptions Committee,” the Israeli government’s website says.

Israel already has banned foreign nationals from entering the country, according to the AP. In addition, Israelis who return home from traveling abroad must quarantine, the news agency reported.

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As of Sunday, Israel had reported 175 omicron cases, the AP reported. More than 69% of Israelis have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while nearly 63% of residents are fully vaccinated, according to Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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