Eleven Israelis who were stranded for weeks on a coronavirus-infected Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan arrived in Israel in the early hours of Friday morning, with one testing positive for the virus.
All were placed under hospital quarantine at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, in central Israel, for an additional two weeks.
Hours prior to their arrival, the Health Ministry issued a warning saying that Israelis violating a mandatory home quarantine for travelers returning from several Asian countries would be placing the public's health in danger and could face up to seven years in jail.
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The plane carrying the 11 passengers landed in Ben-Gurion International Airport at around 4:15 a.m. (local time) and was taxied to a remote area of the field. Those who come in contact with the passengers wore protective gear. The passengers' luggage was loaded onto a truck and removed from the airport and then also inspected, according to media reports.
15 Israelis had been among the 3,000 Diamond Princess passengers and crew quarantined since Feb. 4 in Japan. Four remain hospitalized there and are said to be in good condition after being diagnosed with the virus.
At Sheba, the group will be kept in a separate area earmarked for quarantined for at least another two weeks.
On Thursday, the Health Ministry's website warned that Israelis caught violating the mandatory home quarantine imposed on travelers returning from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Thailand could face prison time.
According to the Times of Israel, those who knowingly violate the quarantine could be sentenced to seven years in prison, while those who do so out of negligence could get a three-year sentence.
The provisional directive was issued as an emergency move under The People's Health Order, which regulates cases of potential threats to public health.
"The Health Ministry sees members of the public that have been requested to isolate themselves as full partners in preventing the spread of the disease in Israel," the statement said. "We're sure they will show responsibility toward their family members, friends, and toward sick and frail people in society, and reduce the risk of infections."
The ministry called on people to report anyone violating their home quarantine via a webpage on the virus.
