Israel Warns on Handshakes, Limits Travel as Virus Spreads

(Bloomberg) --

Israel added restrictions on travel from Europe and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even asked citizens to stop shaking hands as the impact of the coronavirus widened.

The new guidelines were issued Wednesday just hours after a teenager's infection with the disease sent more than 1,000 people into a 14-day quarantine. An estimated 80 soccer fans and 1,150 students may have been exposed to a ninth-grader who contracted the virus from a work manager who recently returned from Italy, the Ynet website said.

Like other countries, Israel is trying to keep the outbreak in check through quarantines and restrictions on incoming travelers. Under the latest guidelines, Israelis and foreigners traveling from Spain, Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany must enter quarantine -- additions to a list that already includes Italy and many Asian countries. The foreigners will be barred from entering if they can't prove they can quarantine themselves, the ministry said.

All international conferences were called off, and Israelis returning from such conclaves abroad should enter quarantine.

Fifteen cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Israel, and some 7,000 people have been quarantined in recent weeks. Officials erected special isolated voting booths so quarantined citizens could cast ballots in Monday's national election.

There is no evidence the virus has dealt a significant blow to the economy, but the impact could grow if the crisis continues and Israel widens its preventive measures, the Bank of Israel said Wednesday in a statement. Liquidity in the local markets is good, and the economy is cushioned by a low debt-to-output level, little unemployment and a current-account surplus, it added.

It promised to use the tools at its disposal if economic or financial conditions worsen significantly as a result of the virus's spread.

The current assessment is that the blend of low interest rates and foreign-exchange purchases provides “the necessary support,” the central bank said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ivan Levingston in Tel Aviv at ilevingston@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lin Noueihed at lnoueihed@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Mark Williams

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