11 patients were discovered on an El Al flight from New York Israel today

Severe case at Ben Gurion Airport: 11 passengers who arrived from the USA were diagnosed as positive for Corona • The passengers presented negative test results and are now examining whether these are authentic tests

• 11 positives on a flight from New York

  Photo: 

  Mark Israel Salem

The sky is closed, but Corona cases are still being recorded on flights to Israel.

The Ministry of Health confirms that 11 passengers were diagnosed as positive on an El Al flight that landed at Ben Gurion Airport earlier this week. The passengers diagnosed as positive arrived from New York on one of the rescue flights.

According to Israeli law, every passenger must present negative results for a corona test performed within 72 hours before the flight.

All the passengers on the plane showed the negative results, but there is a fear that some of the passengers falsified the test results and thus boarded the flight.

By the time the 11 passengers landed in the country, all the passengers were still committed to isolation in the motel.

The passengers were diagnosed as positive immediately after landing in Israel, when they performed another corona test at Ben Gurion Airport. It is important to emphasize that the law currently requires two tests, one within 72 hours before the flight to Israel, and another after landing in Israel.

As of last night, every passenger landing in the country is transferred to home isolation, instead of isolation in a motel.

The decision was made after the Constitution Committee decided not to allow further extension to a decision that requires isolation in a motel upon return from abroad.

Until next week, 2,000 passengers are allowed to enter Israel every day.

From next week, and due to the inability to enforce isolation, only 200 passengers will be able to enter the country each day.

One of the options for enforcing insulation that is being examined is an electronic bracelet that will cost a few shekels and can be cut and thrown away after the end of the isolation period.

Approval of the electronic bracelet as a means of enforcement requires legal approvals and legislative proceedings, such a step may take quite some time.

Another option being considered is cell phone enforcement, along with frequent surprise reviews.

This move has been proven in the past to be less effective, as many insurgents have left their phones in homes and violated insulation.