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Israel advises against all foreign travel to thwart coronavirus spread

Israel on Wednesday advised its citizens to reconsider all foreign travel amid the global spread of the new coronavirus, which was first reported in China.

By Associated Press

Israel’s Health Ministry ordered people to reconsider all foreign travel as the coronavirus spreads, which was first reported in China. Israeli also told citizens to avoid travel to Italy and said anyone returning from there would be required to enter home quarantine for 14 days.

That rule will take effect on Sunday.

In a statement, the ministry said people should “consider the necessity of traveling abroad in general, in addition to the requirement for people to go into isolation (quarantine) when returning from certain countries.”

It also urged people to avoid international conferences.

Israel has already cancelled all flights to and from China and mandated 14 days of home quarantine for travelers from a number of Asian countries.

Israel has reported two infections of the coronavirus, which causes a potentially fatal illness known as COVID-19. Both were passengers who were flown home and immediately placed in isolation after being on a cruise ship that was quarantined in Japan.

The outbreak has infected more than 80,000 people globally and killed more than 2,700.