Latest Update as of 12/16/2020
UPDATED QUARANTINE GUIDANCE:
Updated Quarantine Exemption Guidance for those traveling to Israel from The United States
THE REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROCESS CHANGE FREQUENTLY, THIS IS THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION WE HAVE.
Any person arriving in Israel from a red country, including the United States is obligated to adhere to a full 14-day quarantine beginning from the time they arrive in Israel.
You can not even begin the process of asking for an exemption or early release until you have arrived in Israel.
The Ministry of Health in Israel can be contacted by phone from Israel at *5400
The link for the Ministry of Health Exemption request is https://govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/[email protected]
If you are already in Israel and have an emergency need to return back to the USA or in need of an emergency exemption to attend the funeral of a 1st-degree relative or to visit a 1st-degree family member with an end of life medical condition – please reach out to us and we will try to assist. This is for true life/death emergencies ONLY
Antibody Results Do Not Help – please see the following post from our partners and friends at Chaim V’Chesed: https://chaimvchessed.com/antibody-quarantine-exemption-to-be-reinstated/
There are 2 categories of exemption, which we will list here and detail the process for in further detail below:
1) Full exemption after 2-4 days for recovered patients (2-4 day approval time)
2) Full exemption after 10 days for covid-negative travelers (approval on the 10th day from arrival)
1 – Full exemption after 2-4 days for recovered patients
In order to get an exemption or an early release from quarantine, you must be classified as a recovered patient by the Israeli Ministry of Health.
If you have fallen ill and recovered abroad, you should contact the company bikurofe.
Please note that the service will be provided for a fee of 200 NIS + TAX.
When applying with Bikurofe, the following documents must be attached:
- Positive PCR test result from abroad.
- Negative PCR test result from abroad.
- Negative PCR test results, which were done after your arrival in Israel.
How to contact the company bikurofe:
By email: [email protected]
Phone number: 03-6272366
Hours of operation: 7:00am to 11:00pm (all week, including Friday-Shabbat).
Bikurofe will process the paperwork with the Ministry of health to then give if necessary a permit to leave quarantine or to fly.
If one has a letter from any other dr., they should send the following to [email protected] as attachments:
- Positive PCR test result from abroad.
- Negative PCR test result from abroad.
- Negative PCR test result from the country.
- A letter from an Israeli doctor certifying that the traveler has recovered from Covid (אישור החלמה).
- A copy of the passport.
Once the above has been processed a permit should be given by the Ministry of Health.
It is important to note, without getting the permit from the Ministry of Health (not the dr. or bikurofe), one may not leave their quarantine location.
2 – Full exemption after 10 days for covid-negative travelers (approval on the 10th day from arrival)
On Sunday, December 13, the Ministry of Health further shortened the quarantine period to as short as 10 days, under certain circumstances.
Quarantine may be shortened to 10 days, according to the following rules:
- The individual must take a PCR test for Covid as soon as he or she begins quarantine. Persons in quarantine are only permitted to test for Corona at special Drive-in testing centers. A list of these locations can be found here.
- They must then undergo a second PCR test on the ninth day of quarantine.
- In the event that both tests are negative, notification that the person may exit quarantine after 10 days will be sent by SMS or telephone call.
- If one does not receive notification from the Health Ministry, they are required to complete the full 14-day quarantine.
This new rule took effect on December 15, at 12 AM. As above, one may only exit quarantine early if they receive notification from the Health Ministry.
This new rule applies both to passengers arriving from Red countries, and to persons who have been in contact with confirmed Covid patients.
THE REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROCESS CHANGE FREQUENTLY, THIS IS THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION WE HAVE.
If you have any additional questions, please email [email protected]. If this is urgent and you need immediate assistance, please call David Kushner, Amudim’s Director of Government Relations, at 646-517-0222 ext 999, 24 hours a day.