Assessment: The operation of the corona laboratory at Ben Gurion Airport will be delayed | Israel Today

Examination with parties involved in the construction of the inspection facility at the airport reveals that the Ministry of Health may not approve the laboratory's activities upon its opening

• Ben Gurion Airport last week // Photo: Yossi Zeliger

Trouble flying abroad? By mid-October, Omega is scheduled to set up a corona testing laboratory at Ben Gurion Airport.

However, a clarification of the details with the parties involved in the establishment of the laboratory shows that the Ministry of Health is not aware of the exact details of the work process, and it may not be approved how the laboratory operates immediately upon its establishment.

Sources involved in the matter make it clear that in any case, the laboratory can not work without the approval of the Ministry of Health, emphasizing that even if the laboratory stands on time and is set up by mid-October, its approval process may take at least a few weeks. .

Interview with Israir's VP of Aviation // Reporter: Shimon Yaish, Photography: Gil Kramer, Editing: Gilad Distelman

It should be noted that quite a few countries in the world allow short-term isolation for tourists until the results of the corona tests, which are performed upon entering the country after landing, are obtained.

Sources in the health system make it clear that anyone who strongly opposes shortening the isolation period for returnees from red countries, subject to Corona tests, is the director general of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Hezi Levy. On the part of Levy and reports that the issue is not currently on the table.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kish is currently promoting the approval of the Ministry of Health to "Sofia", a testing system with fast results that should allow domestic tourism with a high level of safety, in everything related to virus infection.

The expectation is that the hotels in Eilat and the Dead Sea will not open already on Sukkot, but after that the quick tests that will allow results within 15 minutes are expected to come into use.

A quick inspection of the system in question is about 85 percent accurate and its price is expected to be about NIS 250 per person.

It is possible that the tests at the entrance to Eilat and the Dead Sea will be subsidized by various bodies or will be embodied in the prices of the packages.

The Ministry of Health responded: "Opening the sky and creating an outline for the departure of Israelis and the entry of tourism are some of the issues discussed and their importance is clear to us. As for entering the State of Israel, only the entry of Israeli citizens is allowed."

The Omega-Rambam company stated: "The testing laboratory at Ben Gurion Airport is currently being established according to the professional guidelines of the Ministry of Health and its binding protocols. Within a few weeks, Israeli citizens will be able to enjoy the laboratory's services."