Israel will serve up to seven years in prison for those who knowingly violate isolation orders against people returning from the Covid-19 epidemic area.

Israel's Ministry of Health yesterday announced that returnees from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Thailand were required to quarantine themselves for 14 days. Those who knowingly violate an isolation order can be sentenced to 7 years in prison, while those who unknowingly commit this act may face a sentence of 3 years in prison.

"We ask that these people quarantine themselves to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from spreading in Israel. We are sure these people will be responsible for their family, friends, and sick people in the commune. while reducing the risk of infection, "according to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Health.

The ministry also called on people to notify authorities who violated the quarantine order by providing information through a government website.

According to Israel's 2020 People's Health Ordinance, close contacts of individuals confirmed positive for nCoV will be subject to 14-day quarantine.

Israel earlier this week announced its refusal of entry to foreigners who have been to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau in the past 14 days. Tel Aviv last month introduced a similar ban on foreigners from China.

The information was released by the Israeli Ministry of Health in the context that the country sent the plane to bring 11 citizens on the isolated Diamond Princess yacht in the port of Yokohama, Japan to the country this morning.

An Israeli citizen was detained on board yesterday after being found positive for nCoV. This is the fourth Israeli to be positive for nCoV among the 15 Israeli citizens aboard the Diamond Princess. Three Israelis who were previously confirmed to be nCoV positive have been taken to Japanese medical centers for isolation and treatment.

After returning to Israel, these 11 passengers were taken to Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv, for medical checks and isolation for another two weeks. Israel has not recorded any cases of nCoV in the territory.

The Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan since December 2019 has now appeared in 28 countries and territories around the world, making 76,202 people infected, 2,247 dead. 11 people infected with nCoV have died outside mainland China, including Japan, South Korea, France, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Iran.