Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel was preparing for “unavoidable” cases of coronavirus, as the disease spreads across the globe.

“Our foremost goal is to postpone the arrival of the virus to Israel. I say ‘postpone’ because its arrival is unavoidable,” Netanyahu said in a statement

“We will then identify, treat, isolate and deal with those infected,” said the prime minister who met ministers and senior health officials to discuss Israel’s preparedness.

There have been no recorded cases in Israel yet.

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A metal barrier as well as a pile of rocks and earth placed by Israeli troops, block the northern entrance to Ramallah, on a road linking the occupied West Bank city to Nablus and other areas, on February 6, 2024. – The number of checkpoints and other barriers in the Palestinian territory has greatly increased since war broke out between Israel and militant group Hamas four months ago in Gaza, adding hours to already lengthy commutes and forcing residents to either wait at the checkpoints or take long detours. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

But authorities have barred all flights from China and are refusing entry to foreigners who travelled to China in the past two weeks.

Israelis who have visited the country have been told to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms.

Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said the prime minister had instructed Israel’s Biological Institute to try and produce a vaccine against the virus and set up a vaccination network in Israel.

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