All returnees from abroad must observe 14 days of strict quarantine. There are many rumors, and much misinformation regarding exemptions from quarantine.
The only way to exit quarantine early is by receiving an official exemption from the Ministry of Health.
There have been family doctors who have written letters recommending that specific patients should be allowed to end their quarantine. However, we have discussed this with the top exemption doctor in the Health Ministry and he has clarified that such letters have no legal standing.
The only official route to receive an exemption is for people who have previously tested positive for Corona, with a PCR test – not antibodies. They must follow the process described here. Please note that exemptions are not always granted, and are at the discretion of Health Ministry officials.
How Are 14 Days Counted?
Returnees must quarantine for fourteen days. Many have asked how are these days counted. Must there be 14 complete (24 hour) days from time of landing? Or perhaps, the day of landing counts as Day One? For example, someone lands in Israel on June 1 at 11 PM. Must he remain in quarantine until June 15 at 11 PM? Or is June 1 his first day, and his quarantine concludes at 12 AM on June 15?
Like many matters during these challenging times, the answer is far from certain. The language of the law is ambiguous, and only relates to 14 days – without definition. Some officials in the Health Ministry insist that the fourteen days are counted from the hour of landing, others allow counting the partial, first day as a day.
