Travelers who enter Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv will soon no longer need to take a mandatory COVID-19 PCR test on arrival.

In a statement seen by The Times of Israel, the Health Ministry cited the consistent drop in cases as the reason for scrapping the testing requirement. Israel’s cases have decreased from more than 6,000 to fewer than 2,000 over the past month. 

Israel’s Health Ministry said that the new arrival requirements will start on May 20, 2022.

Currently, those arriving at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport are required to take a COVID-19 PCR test, which passengers must pay for themselves. After the test, travelers are then required to quarantine for 24 hours, or until the PCR test result comes out, whichever comes first.

The Health Ministry also said that non-Israeli citizens who arrive in the country will now be permitted to take an antigen, rather than a PCR test 24 hours prior to their flight to Israel. 

Israel is seen as one of the countries with a ‘success story’ in containing the virus, particularly thanks to its rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

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