Health Minister Litzman ordered the establishment of a separate unit at the hospital to treat citizens who are expected to return from Japan, probably ahead of the weekend • Ministry of Health CEO: "This is a complex logistical and medical event"

The Ministry of Health ordered the management of the medical center to prepare for the absorption of Israeli citizens staying on the Corona ship upon their return from Japan. Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman and Director-General of the Ministry of Health Moshe Bar Good sign instructed the hospital to staff a separate unit by a special team assigned for the task.

While patients remain in the unit, Sheba will continue their regular activities while maintaining complete separation - physically and infrastructure - from the isolation complex.

"We are working in coordination with the Japanese authorities, the Foreign Ministry and all the state's emergency agencies to bring the passengers back to Israel safely," said Health Minister Jacob Litzman. "We will do this with great care for the health of the State of Israel and for the health of the passengers."

Director General of the Ministry of Health Moshe Bar Seaman: "All handling of bringing the passengers off the ship is a complex logistical and medical event and all the bodies that take part in it must be thanked. The insurance companies include Migdal, Harel, Clal and PassportCard, which leased the aircraft and assisted in bringing passengers. Also, MDA will be held at the airport to transport them. Other emergency agencies also work in full coordination with us and have helped to lead moves that have so far prevented the entry of the virus into Israel.

"Our expertise is in leading and handling national emergency missions," stated the director of the Sheba Emergency Medical Center, Prof. Elhanan Bar-On, "and this is the case in this case - professionally and responsibly."

Meanwhile, in light of the Ministry of Health's insulation for returning passengers from Thailand, Agriculture Minister Tzahi Hanegbi is asking the Ministry of Health, the Interior and Foreign Affairs to extend the stay of foreign workers from Thailand who work in the agricultural farms in Israel - and not bring new ones in their place.

In a few hours, a flight from Thailand is scheduled to leave Israel with dozens of foreign workers. Hundreds of more workers from Thailand are expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks.

"Farmers cannot comply with the Ministry of Health's guidelines and ensure that the new employees are constantly monitored and isolated from the environment, undergo regular medical examinations and remain in isolation in the event of an illness," explained Hanegbi. "There are enough foreign workers from Thailand who have been in Israel all year, and are supposed to leave the country. As long as there is the danger of corona disease, their visa to stay in Israel should be extended instead of endangering the public through the arrival of new workers."