Isolation

1. Create a separate isolation area

For the isolation to be effective and really keep everyone safe, the isolated persons must be separated from the other members of the household:

• Separate room – The isolation needs to be held in a separate room with a window that can be kept open and with a closed door.
  If all household members are in isolation they may, of course, stay in all areas of the home. However, if any household member is a confirmed patient (who does not require close care and attention) and the other household members have been directed to isolate due to exposure to the confirmed person, the confirmed isolated person is required to stay in a separate room from other household members.
• Separate restroom – If possible, it is recommended to allocate a separate restroom and bathroom to the isolated person, since coronavirus is known to linger on surfaces for a while.
• When leaving the room – When the isolated person leaves the room (such as for going to the restroom), he or she needs to cover their mouth and nose with a mask and to sanitize their hands.

2. Stay in the isolation area

It is very important to make sure that the isolated person will not leave the area of their isolation room or home. See below for special cases where they may leave the isolation area.

3. Prevent other people from entering the isolation area

• All non-isolated household members and all other individuals must not enter the isolation area.
• Once a household member is in isolation either at home or in a room thereof, it is forbidden to admit visitors to any area of the house.
• In case of an urgent need to enter the isolation area, it is recommended that the person entering the area will not be over the age of 60 or belong to an at-risk group. Sometimes there might be a problem that requires access to the home or to the isolation area that cannot be postponed until the end of the isolation period, such as structural issues (such as a busted pipe) or issues pertaining to the household members (be it medical or social services-related). In these cases, it is necessary to follow the protocol for the entry of an essential worker to a home where a confirmed patient or an isolated person stays. This protocol defines what are the cases in which an essential worker may enter the house and provides guidance what precautions should be taken to minimize the risk for infection as much as possible.

4. Conduct at home during the isolation period

• Maintain good hygiene – All household members must wash their hands often. Washing hands is one of the most effective ways to minimize infection.
  Proper hand hygiene (PDF)
• Ventilate – Make sure that windows remain open and that the isolation area and the whole house is properly ventilated. Ventilation minimizes the risk for airborne infection.
• Avoid sharing personal articles – Avoid sharing the isolated person's personal articles that may spread the virus such as toothbrushes, cigarettes, eating utensils, towels and beddings.
• Use disposable dishes – It is recommended that the isolated person use disposable dishes (plates, cups, utensils and trays) in the isolation area. Food served in these dishes should be placed next to the door of the isolation area and the isolated person will collect them and will leave them outside the room once they are done eating. Be sure to use gloves when picking up the dishes after meals and to dispose both the dishes and the gloves into a garbage bag.
• Keep the laundry separated – Wash the isolated person's clothes, towels and beddings separately from those of other household members.
• Disinfect the restroom and bathroom – Disinfect shared restrooms and bathrooms after use by the isolated person.
• Dispose into a separate garbage bag – Dispose gloves, tissues, masks and other waste related to the isolated person's care into a task-specific garbage bag kept inside the isolation room.

5. Exceptional leave of the isolation area

In principle, it is forbidden to leave the isolation area during the isolation period. However, there is room for an exceptional leave in certain cases, while following the guidance detailed below:

• Leaving the isolation area to take a PCR test or an authorized antigen test does not require a leave permit.
• Leaving the isolation area to take an urgent medical test requires you to contact your physician and ask for a leave permit.
• Leaving the isolation area for any other reason requires you to fill in the request form for exception leave of the isolation area.
  List of cases in which you may request an exceptional leave of the isolation area
  Fill in the request form for exceptional leave during isolation
• Leaving for the hospital due to a medical emergency requires you call an ambulance and during the dispatch call to disclose that the person being evacuated is a confirmed patient. A person is isolation may be evacuated to a hospital by a private vehicle (but not by public transportation).

When leaving the isolation area, follow the guidelines below:

• The isolated person may only leave the isolation site if they feel well and do not have any symptoms that may be consistent with coronavirus (fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, muscle fatigue) for at least 48 hours before leaving the isolation area.
  In case of symptoms, they are required to drive a private vehicle to a testing site, to take a PCR test or an authorized antigen test.
• Masking – Masking is required at all times when outside the isolation site.
• Distancing – Avoid physical contact with other and maintain a distance of at least 2 meters from any other person.
• Driving a private vehicle – The ride from the isolation site to the testing site and back shall only be in a private vehicle driven by the isolated person, without additional passengers.
  If the isolated person is unable to drive, they need to be driven by another person to the testing site. Both driver and passenger are required to wear masks at all time when outside the isolation site. During the ride, the isolated person will be seated in the back seat of the car and the windows of the vehicle will remain opened. If the isolated person requires to take multiple tests, they need to be driven by the same driver. In any case, it is strictly forbidden to travel by public transportation, including by domestic flights to Eilat. They are also required to return to the isolation site immediately after the test, in the same manner. Those who are unable to drive and have no one else to drive them may take a taxi.