Israel’s Health Ministry has advised against all ‘nonessential travel’ to China due to the coronavirus that has to date claimed the lives of over 130 people and more than 6,000 reported cases.
The virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries.
A 60-year-old woman is in intensive care in a Tel Aviv hospital, four days after returning from China showing respiratory symptoms. A Chinese agricultural worker near Sderot was admitted to hospital in Ashkelon with potential symptoms. He is in an isolation ward.
Anyone who has travelled to mainland China with symptoms of the virus have been advised to contact their health care provider.
“As part of the assessment of the coronavirus conducted at the Health Ministry, it was decided to recommend the public avoids all nonessential travel to China,” the ministry said in a statement. “We recommend not to travel to Hubei Province at all and that the restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in the various cities should be monitored in real time.”
The statement added, “The ministry is in constant contact with the World Health Organisation and other world’s health authorities.”
Scientists in Australia have now made a “significant breakthrough” that will be with the World Health Organization in efforts to treat the virus.
News has been welcomed globally, but many nations have restricted travel to the region.
British citizens who flew back from Wuhan last week will be in quarantine for two weeks. British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China.
Australia, Japan, the US and EU nations are repatriating citizens.
China’s National Health Commission Minister Ma Xiaowei said the incubation period for the virus is one to 14 days.
As of Tuesday morning the death toll had risen to 425, with more than 20,000 confirmed cases. One person has died in Hong Kong from the virus.
On Monday afternoon a Bnei Brak resident who had recently been in Thailand walked into a clinic and reported feeling unwell, he was immediately evacuated to the hospital.
