Israel to Close Its Skies to Keep Out Coronavirus Mutation

(Bloomberg) -- Israel will close its skies to help prevent a mutant strain of coronavirus from entering the country.

Foreigners, with the exception of diplomats, will not be permitted to enter Israel. Israelis who return to the country from abroad within the next 48 hours will be required to quarantine at home; those who return afterward will be sent to government-run facilities for isolation.

These rules will be in place for 10 days, and may be renewed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“I know this will be difficult, but we have no choice,” he said.

Emerging scientific evidence suggests the new variant can spread significantly more quickly than previous strains in circulation and is behind a huge surge in infections in the U.K. in recent days.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.