Rollout of electronic bracelets to start in May

The rollout of electronic bracelets to ensure that incoming airline passengers comply with quarantine requirements will likely start next month, a Health Ministry official told The Jerusalem Post.

Israelis who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from the virus are exempt from quarantine, but all others will be required to isolate either at home wearing a device or in a state-run facility.

The bracelets have been described by health authorities as a key part of the strategy to prevent new coronavirus variants from abroad spreading in the country. However, over a month after Israel eased air travel restrictions and the Knesset approved use of the devices, routine deployment has not begun.

Government sources suggested the rollout of the bracelets has been postponed due to lack of a budget.

The bracelet cannot monitor any details about the person wearing it, except whether they are respecting the quarantine’s rules, SuperCom president and CEO Ordan Trabelsi told the Post at the end of February, shortly before a pilot distribution of some 100 bracelets from early March.

According to the company, the bracelets were in high demand. More than 90% of incoming travelers opted for the program, and it was accompanied by a high satisfaction rate.

On Tuesday, an official for SuperCom said that it has 5,000 kits ready to be deployed as soon as the government wishes.

According to the outline approved by the Knesset, children under the age of 14 are not going to be required to wear a bracelet to quarantine at home, while adults might be exempt on a case-by-case basis for special humanitarian reasons.