Some Israelis, Palestinians asked to self-quarantine

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli and Palestinian health authorities Saturday asked people who have been in close contact with a group of South Korean tourists recently to quarantine themselves.

The request came after South Korea informed Israel that nine members of the group who toured Israel and the West Bank for a week this month tested positive for the new virus. The tourists were diagnosed upon returning home.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that a South Korean airliner that landed at the country’s Ben Gurion airport Saturday evening will be sent back to Seoul after 12 Israelis on board are evacuated and quarantined. The airplane was taxied away from the allotted terminal.

Israel’s Health Ministry said it’s investigating whether the Korean tourists had transmitted the virus while in Israel country.

The ministry published a list of places the tourists visited, including churches in Jerusalem and other cities, and instructed people who came into close contact with the group to notify the ministry and quarantine themselves for 14 days. A similar warning was issued by the Palestinian health ministry.

On Friday, Israel said a passenger who was quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan was diagnosed with the virus after he was flown home with a group of 11 Israelis, making it the first case to be reported inside Israel. The others are in quarantine.

Three other Israelis are being treated in Japan after contracting the virus on the cruise ship.

There have been no cases recorded in the Palestinian territories.

source: yahoo.com