Netanyahu announces two-week quarantine for all arrivals

Israel will impose a two-week quarantine on all travellers entering the country, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, as the new coronavirus spreads.

"After a day of difficult discussions, we have taken a decision - all those coming to Israel from abroad will be placed in isolation for 14 days," Netanyahu said in a video broadcast on his Twitter account.

"This decision will be effective for two weeks," he added, while promising measures to support the Israeli economy.

Israel had already imposed restrictions on travellers arriving from several countries including Italy, Europe's worst-hit country in terms of deaths from the deadly new virus.

Israel has so far recorded 42 cases of the illness.

The Palestinian Authority, which on Thursday declared a 30-day state of emergency in parts of the West Bank it administers, has reported 25 cases.

Read more: Bootleg booze touted as 'corona cure' kills dozens in Iran

The latest measures come a month ahead of the Passover festival which usually sees tens of thousands of Jews head to Israel to celebrate.

Since the novel coronavirus first emerged in late December, 113,255 cases have been recorded in 101 countries and territories, killing 3,964 people, according to an AFP toll based on official sources on Monday around 1700 GMT.