HAR GILO RESIDENTS
protest at the entrance to their community yesterday following a report that 200 South Korean tourists would be quarantined in a military base in the settlement. The plan was canceled and the visitors were transferred to the airport instead.
Israel canceled plans to quarantine some 200 South Korean tourists in a military base south of Jerusalem, over fears of the deadly coronavirus.
The group of 200 would instead be brought to the airport, Ynet reported.
Initially the group was to be quarantined in Ashkelon, but according to the report, the decision was made to quarantine the tourists at the Har Gilo military base, which usually houses troops taking part in training and educational days. During the quarantine of the South Koreans, no IDF troops would have been housed at the base.
The move was being coordinated with the Health Ministry and Israel’s National Security Council.
According to a report by Army Radio, another 30 military staff were ordered to enter quarantine on Sunday. Among them were two IDF soldiers who had come into contact with the Korean tourists who tested positive for the virus. Another 26 soldiers who had just returned from eastern Asian countries (the majority from Thailand) and Israel’s military attaché to China who had just returned home were also quarantined.
Interior Minister Arye Deri said separately on Sunday that he had ordered South Korea and Japan to be added to a list of Asian countries where travel to and from Israel was being barred.
Two weeks ago, the IDF held joint military drills in southern Israel with an Asian country where the deadly coronavirus has infected dozens.
According to a report by Army Radio and confirmed by The Jerusalem Post, despite the concern over the spread of the virus, the military decided to continue with the exercise in order not to harm relations with the unnamed country which is an “important” ally for Israel.
While the soldiers who were in direct contact with IDF troops were allowed to move freely in the base where the drill is taking place, the Asian troops were being checked by military doctors several times a day for symptoms of the virus.
If any of the soldiers are found to have it, preparations have been made for them to be quarantined.