"Corona Ship" in Japan: Israelis will be returned to Israel in two days

The Foreign Ministry announced that it had summarized with the embassy the details for gathering Israeli civilians, held in the last two weeks on the Diamond Princess ship. They will be imported by direct flight to Israel. The Consulate of Israel visited the three infected passengers, who are hospitalized in isolation conditions. Ministry of Health representative: "Good condition"

"Corona Ship" in Japan: Israelis will be returned to Israel in two days

Corona Panic - Latest Updates:

• Foreign Ministry: Israelis aboard Japan's Corona Ship will be returned to Israel on Thursday
• The Israeli consul and the representative of the Ministry of Health visited the Israelis hospitalized in isolation
• The condition of travelers infected with the virus - good: "are well treated by the Japanese"
• Japan's Ministry of Health: 88 more passengers on the ship were infected with the virus

Israeli civilians held in quarantine on Diamond Princess ship off the coast of Japan for fear of contracting the Corona virus will be returned to Israel this Thursday - the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday. The latest details for landing the plane in Japan, gathering Israeli civilians from the ship and bringing them to the aircraft ramp for direct take-off to Israel, were agreed with the Israeli embassy in Japan with insurance companies in Israel "Passport Card", "Tower", "Clal" and "Harel".

The Foreign Ministry also said that the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo handles all the aircraft landing arrangements in Japan and the logistics involved. The Israeli Consul in Japan, Revital Ben Pleasant, along with Prof. Ren Nirpez, went to the hospital to take a closer look at the situation of the three Israeli civilians hospitalized under isolation conditions. Prof. Nirpez, an infectious disease specialist from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital sent to Japan, met with the consul to meet the medical staff to hear about the treatment and the two updated that their condition was good. "We are witnessing good treatment by the Japanese and will of course continue to look closely at the situation," said Professor Nirpez. "We received an update on the situation of the Israelis and it is evident that their situation is easy. The two of them talked to the inpatients by phone and updated them on their condition and treatment."

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Hundreds of the 3,700 passengers were infected. Diamond Princess ship in Japan (Photo: Reuters)

Diamond Princess' pleasure spit in Tokyo, Japan February 16, 2020 (Photo: Reuters, Reuters)

The three infected were taken off the ship, which is anchored at the port of Yokuama, after being recently diagnosed as the first Israeli in the world to be infected with the Corona virus. In addition, about 12 Israelis have been detained in the past two weeks in a quarry on the cruise ship, carrying 3,700 passengers and crew. Hundreds of passengers were infected with the virus, and today the Japanese Ministry of Health announced the infection of another 88, which increased the number of patients to 542. Earlier, the United States evacuated U.S. citizens held on board a ship, some 380 of whom were infected with the virus, and last night Canada also sent a plane to evacuate its citizens.

Israeli travelers will be reinstated after an assessment by the Ministry of Health with the Foreign Ministry, which has formulated an initiative under which they undergo medical examinations to make sure the virus is not in their body. Anyone who is healthy will receive a special certificate from the Japanese government, get off the ship and board the flight to Israel.

Room walks, Netflix and longing: minute by minute with the Israelis on the Corona ship

Israeli consul in Japan and expert Hadassah visit Israeli patients in isolation (Photo: Hadassah spokesmen)

Israeli Consul in JapanRuitel Ben-Naim and Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah visit Israelis hospitalized in isolation after being infected in Corona, February 18, 2020 (Photo: Foreign Ministry)

The virus, which has so far killed 1,868 people worldwide, has spread to about 30 countries. To date, around 74,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide, including 1,886 in the past day, but there has been a slowdown in the number of people infected and the number of people who died from the virus. However, the World Health Organization has announced that the situation is still sensitive and that this does not indicate a stable positive trend.

Tonight, a director of a central hospital in Wuhan, the focus of the outbreak of the virus, died as a result of the disease, thus becoming the second senior doctor to have the virus taken his life. The state television announced the death of physician Liu Ximing, who ran Wuchang Hospital. Earlier this month, millions mourned in China for the death of Lee Wenliang, the doctor who exposed the virus - and was silenced by authorities as he tried to warn against the plague spread.

Shalva Dahan and her husband, two Israeli passengers aboard the Corona Ship (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)

Shalom Dahan, the Israeli cruise ship found on Diamond Princess Cruise Ship to Japan and her husband (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)

At the same time, Israel has taken a series of steps to try to prevent the virus from arriving in Israel, with the imposition of restrictions on returnees from Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau. According to the Ministry of Health's guidelines, Israelis who return from these countries must stay in isolation for two weeks at home - even if they do not suffer from any symptoms, and do not go out into the public space for any reason, not even to the hospital for which prior coordination is required.

Israeli flag in one of the ship's windows, a week ago (Photo: Reuters)

The Israeli flag is flying through the cabin of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan and some of its passengers were infected in Corona, February 10, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

To enforce home insulation for those returning from the East, the Ministry of Health announced that it would employ designated inspectors. The Ministry made it clear that "it is clear that all returnees from these countries cannot be covered and there is currently no desire to involve police enforcement agencies. Implementation of home isolation guidelines is based on a sense of social responsibility and solidarity among citizens who care about their health and health around them. We believe in the public and in partnership with it."

Hospital in which Israeli passengers are being held (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Israeli Consul in Japan and Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah to visit Israelis hospitalized in isolation after being infected in Corona, February 18, 2020 (Photo: Foreign Ministry)

The new directive calls into question the travelers who will be arriving in the country from the East, where thousands of Israelis are located, as elections for the 23rd Knesset will take place in two weeks - March 2. Yesterday, a discussion was held with the CEO of the Central Election Commission, Orly Ades, on a joint working interface between the Central Election Commission and the Ministry of Health, with the aim of ensuring that the elections are organized.

Yesterday, Interior Minister Arie Deri ordered a ban on foreign nationals staying in these countries for the past two weeks. In doing so, Deri expanded the gate-closing order imposed so far only on China. Their entry will be avoided through the land, air and maritime border crossings.

(First update: 9:42)