Coronavirus

Las Vegas speech cancelled

Biden tests positive for COVID-19

White House confirms Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and forced to cancel speech at the UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas.

Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis:

COVID-19 never left

The head of public health services at the Ministry of Health commented on the 'return' of COVID-19, saying, 'The disease never left us, although morbidity levels are low due to the vaccine.'

Elderly man, woman in serious condition with COVID complications

There has been a recent uptick in the number o coronavirus cases in Israel, though statistics remain far below the height of the pandemic.

Why people with diabetes are more prone to respiratory risk

New study reveals how high blood sugar makes lung infections worse; the findings may lead to a strategy for reversing this susceptibility.

Nobel Prize winners for physics and medicine announced

Among the winners was a Jewish scientist who helped to develop the COVID-19 vaccines.

For contribution to COVID vax:

Jewish scientist awarded 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine

Drew Weissman was awarded the prestigious prize together with his partner Katalin Karikó for their discoveries regarding mRNA vaccines.

New shippment of vaccines to counter rising COVID-19 rates

The Health Ministry has ordered 200,000 vaccines to counter the rise in critical COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Vaccines available after Sukkot

Increase in cases of COVID-19 in Israel

Ministry of Health recommends the entire population receive booster vaccines against COVID-19.

CDC recommends:

Updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older

Head of CDC signs off on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding updated COVID-19 shots.

Is COVID coming back?

Health Ministry recommends masks

Ministry of Health recommends that people at high-risk use a mask in closed places to minimize the risk of infection.

FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines

Food and Drug Administration gives green light to updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech.

First lady Jill Biden tests negative for COVID-19

The first lady had been isolating in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, since testing positive earlier this week.

Moderna's booster performs well against new variant

Moderna says its updated fall COVID-19 booster performed well against BA.2.86 variant.

First Lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19

President Biden administered COVID test after his wife's diagnosis and tests negative.

Health Ministry:

No change in COVID guidelines in response to new variants

Ministry makes recommendations on masking and isolation as it monitors morbidity data.

Israel confirms first case of new COVID-19 variant

WHO and CDC are closely monitoring the new variant, BA.2.86.

WHO, CDC monitoring new COVID variant detected in Israel

The new variant, BA.2.86, has been detected so far in Israel, Denmark and the United States.

RFK Jr. on COVID:

We know who to blame and they weren’t Jewish

At event hosted by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, RFK Jr. says he's 'never said an antisemitic word in his life.'

Democrats call to disinvite RFK Jr. from testifying to Congress

Citing antisemitism and bigotry, Jewish and Asian Democrats call on Republicans to disinvite RFK Jr. from testifying to Congress.

Israeli delegation to Washington hit with COVID

The Israeli ambassador received 'borderline' results and therefore decided to abstain from the meeting with the US president.

'Vile claims':

White House denounces candidate who floated COVID conspiracy

White House press secretary blasts conspiracy theory floated by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that COVID-19 was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews.

'A vile antisemitic trope':

House Democratic Leader blasts RFK Jr.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries criticizes Democratic presidential candidate who claimed COVID-19 was “ethnically targeted” to spare Ashkenazi Jews.

Robert Francis Kennedy:

'COVID-19 deliberately spares Ashkenazi Jews'

Democratic candidate Robert Francis Kennedy claimed that Ashkenazi Jews and ethnic Chinese people were specifically spared from COVID-19.

New research highlights best time for post-COVID lung transplant

Sheba Medical Center publishes new research highlighting optimal timing of lung transplantation for severe COVID-19 ARDS patients.

1 year after COVID infection:

Arabs and Druze report greater drop in quality of life than Jews

Bar-Ilan University study reveals disparity in quality of life among COVID-19 survivors from different ethnic groups.

Coronavirus spread - and Rabbi Kanievsky said to learn Torah

Ahead of Shavuot holiday, institute publishes never-seen footage of the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, urging Torah study.

Israel's Health Ministry:

No young adults without preexisting conditions died of COVID-19

Health Min.: 0 reports of people 18-50 dying of COVID-19 without preexisting conditions; info based only on epidemiological investigations.

COVID denier who compared Israeli to Nazi Germany is acquitted

German court acquits COVID denier who compared Israel to Nazi Germany. 'The court is legitimizing pure antisemitism here.'

After over 3 years:

US ends COVID-19 public health emergency

The end of the emergency will bring significant changes in how the US responds to the virus.

After three years:

WHO says COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency

At the same time, World Health Organization (WHO) chief also warns that the threat from the virus remains.

Israel's largest hospital honors Dr. Fauci

Sheba Medical Center honors Dr. Anthony Fauci with the "Sheba Champion of Global Health Award”.

US to end COVID-19 vaccine requirements for travelers on May 11

White House announces May 11 end to COVID-19 vaccine requirements for travelers to the United States and for government employees.

New COVID vaccine guidelines:

FDA recommends just a single bivalent shot

Meanwhile, recent studies show bivalent shots no better than original.

Long COVID?

New study shows long-term symptoms unrelated to virus

Loneliness, depression, lack of physical activity are the real culprits.

Biden signs resolution to end COVID national emergency

Biden signs GOP-led resolution bringing an end to the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic.

BioNTech comes to Jerusalem:

Mayor Lion announces mRNA vaccine center

Israeli govt signs agreement with BioNTech to build R&D center for mRNA-based vaccines in Jerusalem.

Biden signs bill declassifying info on COVID-19 origins

The law follows reports that the US had “low confidence” that the COVID-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China.

Face-masks:

Meta-analysis shows lack of impact on disease

Cochrane reviewed over 600,000 participants in 78 randomized-controlled studies.

Senator Richard Durbin tests positive for COVID-19

Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, also tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2022.

COVID vaccines:

Peer-reviewed study links shots to multiple health issues

The study found people were 21% more likely to receive a new diagnosis in the three months after a shot compared to the three months prior.

FBI Director:

'We believe COVID-19 was caused by a lab leak in China'

FBI chief Christopher Wray: It seems the Chinese government has been doing its best to try to thwart work to discover origin of COVID.

White House:

'No definitive conclusion on origin of COVID-19'

White House won't confirm report that the Department of Energy has determined a lab leak was the most likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.

US assessment:

COVID-19 likely came from lab leak in China

Department of Energy assesses the COVID-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan.

Thirsty for rebirth

“Return to who you are, return to what you are, return to where you were born and reborn again”

Watch:

Secretly filmed Pfizer official admits gain-of-function research

When later confronted with the recording, employee panics and turns violent.

MSNBC host develops myocarditis 'after a literal, common cold'

Yasmin Vossoughian ran 7 miles a few times a week before her diagnosis.

COVID vaccines:

FDA adviser says vaccines could cause auto-immune disease

Dr. Paul Offit explains how spike proteins could be causing myocarditis.

Biden admin to end COVID-related national emergencies

Biden informs Congress that he will end twin national emergencies for addressing COVID-19 on May 11.

Vaccine committee recommends:

Annual vaccination against COVID-19

Committee recommends that the Ministry of Health prepare for a COVID-19 vaccination campaign every year in the fall months.

Watch: Pfizer CEO asked the one question he won't answer

Canadian journalists ask Albert Bourla if he will 'compensate' countries that were supposed to benefit from the vaccine.

COVID vaccines:

New study shows repeat boosters harm T-cell response

"Extended vaccination overturned protective immune memories by promoting adaptive immune tolerance."

EU drug regulator:

No signal of link between Pfizer COVID shot and stroke

The statement comes after the FDA and CDC said the Pfizer shot could possibly be linked to a type of brain stroke in older adults.

China reports nearly 60,000 COVID deaths in one month

China reports nearly 60,000 deaths since early December, says “emergency peak” of its latest surge appears to have passed.

CDC & FDA: Possible link between Pfizer shot and strokes

CDC and FDA emphasize that results unlikely to represent a true clinical risks, and continue to recommend the vaccine

Britain:

Lawmaker suspended after comparing COVID vaccine to Holocaust

British lawmaker suspended after tweeting that COVID-19 vaccines are "the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust".

Pentagon rescinds COVID-19 vaccination mandate

The annual defense policy bill gave the Defense Department 30 days to pull the mandate, which was first put in place in August 2021.

Airport to open COVID-19 testing station for China returnees

Minister Miri Regev agrees on establishment of voluntary testing station for COVID-19 which will begin operations on Wednesday.

Delayed reaction:

Tourism to Israel making a comeback?

Israel was re-opened to tourists in March, 2022 following more than a year of COVID restrictions.

COVID vaccines:

28% of Americans blame shots for death of someone they know

Results suggest sudden death disproportionately affects the young.

Senior Israel Doctor:

"'Kraken' COVID variant is coming to Israel"

Dr. Nadav Sorek says it is only a matter of time before the XBB.1.5 'Kraken' variant of the coronavirus comes to Israel.