PCR or Antigen, and What About the Unvaxxed: Israel’s New COVID Testing Rules, Explained
With Israel's testing facilities overwhelmed due to omicron outbreak, the Health Ministry has decided to change the rules: Who can get a PCR test and how long will they have to go into quarantine?
Ido Efrati
Jan. 6, 2022
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Until now, unvaccinated people were required to take a PCR test if they were exposed to a confirmed COVID patient. Now they can take a supervised test to diagnose if they are infected. These tests were not free for people who are eligible to be vaccinated, and starting last week the government began subsidizing these tests for vaccinated people who were exposed to a confirmed COVID patient. Now the unvaccinated can also take the supervised tests at the government’s expense...
If the test comes out negative, the unvaccinated will have to spend seven days in isolation. If the result is positive for the virus, they will have to isolate for 10 days – after which they can end the isolation with a doctor’s approval, but without having to take an additional test...
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