Corona pandemic
Omikron: Israel stops cell phone monitoring of infected people
Travelers leave the corona test area at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport.
© Amir Cohen / Reuters
The omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading. In Israel, even the cell phones of those infected with Omikron were monitored. But after just a few days this is over again.
Israel ended the controversial cell phone monitoring of corona patients infected with the Omicron variant after a few days. In view of “the updated assessment of the situation”, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz decided to do so, Bennett’s office announced on Thursday evening.
The cell phone surveillance by the domestic secret service Schin Bet expires on Friday night and will not be extended. Depending on the number of infected people, the measure will be considered again. The Ministry of Health reported seven confirmed Omikron cases in the country on Friday.
The aim of the cell phone surveillance had been to break the chain of infection with the new Omikron variant, as stated in the communication from Bennett’s office. The government voted on Sunday for the Schin Bet to use surveillance technology again. This measure was already used in an earlier phase of the pandemic, but stopped again due to criticism.
In addition, there will be penalties in the future for people who do not take the mandatory corona test to end the quarantine after a stay abroad, according to a further message from Bennett’s office. The penalty should therefore not be higher than around 700 euros. The Ministry of Health and the police would synchronize their data so that the tickets would be issued automatically.
Omikron: WHO classifies variant as “worrying”
The omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first detected in southern Africa. the World health organization (WHO) classifies them as “very worrying”. Until further notice, anyone returning to Israel from any country – including vaccinated Israelis – must be isolated for at least three days upon entry. Tourists are initially banned from entering the country until the end of next week.