Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is pushing for the closure of Ben-Gurion Airport for at least two weeks in order to prevent the entry of additional mutated coronavirus variants into Israel, Channel 12 News reported.
The development follows the announcement by the UK on Friday that there is some evidence that the British virus variant may be more deadly than the original strain. Unfortunately, the facts in Israel seem to be adding to the evidence, with ten pregnant women now critically ill due to the virus (six of whom have been so far proven to be carrying the UK variant) and a surge of cases diagnosed in children, with some falling seriously ill.
The prime minister reached a preliminary agreement with senior government officials on Motzei Shabbos to halt all incoming and outgoing flights for two weeks. The restrictions will apply to everyone, even those who have already been fully vaccinated or have recovered from the virus – amid fears that Israel’s vaccination campaign could lead to the emergence of an Israeli virus variant that is resistant to vaccines.
Israel’s Cabinet is scheduled to vote on the proposal on Sunday night.
