Coronavirus

Hospital directors reassure: We can cope with Omicron

Number of serious COVID cases is rising but only slowly. "We're prepared to deal with this," directors say. "There's no need to panic."

Herzog receives fourth vaccine dose

President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog receive fourth vaccine dose at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center.

CDC experts recommend boosters for teens

Panel of experts advising CDC votes to recommend Pfizer booster shots for 12- to 15-year-olds.

Government concerned:

'The situation is worse than the most pessimistic forecasts'

Government fears that residents who test positive for COVID-19 in home tests will not report that.

Health Ministry data:

Antigen tests miss many positive COVID cases

Ministry data indicate antigen tests miss 50% of cases found to be positive by PCR test.

'There's no leader, everyone thinks they're PM'

Teachers union head slams chaos, lack of clear guidelines for schools. 'The ship is sinking, nothing is managing to save it.'

Tech boss emails associates saying COVID is a deadly Jewish plot

David Bateman, founder of Entrata, tells associates COVID is a Jewish plot to attack 'reproductive systems'.

11,978 new cases

New COVID infections hits record high in Israel

12,000 new cases of COVID diagnosed in Israel in a single day, marking highest level of new confirmed cases ever.

Macron VS. Anti-vaxxers

French Pres. promises to 'hassle' unvaccinated

French Pres. Macron says he won't 'vaccinate by force' but 'really wants to hassle' those who refuse vaccination against COVID-19.

Coughing and limping Into 2022

COVID-19 has come with us into the New Year, bringing with it another wave of grim tidings. Opinion.

Supreme Court to State: Explain why vaccinated can't travel

Supreme Court demands government answer, within one week, questions on legitimacy of travel rules for vaccinated Israelis.

Quebec shutters houses of worship in response to Omicron variant

Synagogues, churches, and other houses of worship ordered to close in Quebec over spread of Omicron variant.

US to double order for Pfizer's COVID-19 pill

Biden announces government will double the order for Paxlovid, from 10 million to 20 million treatment courses.

PM's military secretary spotted at mass New Year's party

Bennett's military secretary spent New Year's Eve at a party attended by about 200 people, many of whom were unmasked.

Former MK Dov Lipman: No reason for red countries anymore

Yad L'Olim CEO and former MK Dov Lipman addresses Knesset committee, says spread of Omicron has made red country designation obsolete.

Bennett: 4th shot caused 5-times greater antibody response

PM visits Sheba Medical Center, says results of first uses of 4th vaccine dose are very encouraging.

'We are at the start of a sharp rise in infections'

'We're going to have a very hard month or month-and-a-half,' warns top doctor Prof. Nimrod Maimon.

Chief Rabbi of South Afrirca:

Limited lifting of ban is not enough, rescind it completely

Rabbi Warren Goldstein: "No fundamental policy shift has been made: Jews from “red” countries still cannot enter the country".

Lapid deputy who danced maskless diagnosed with COVID-19

Dep. Foreign Min. Idan Roll tests positive for coronavirus, days after dancing maskless at a New Year's party.

Top Health Ministry official receives fourth dose

Health Min. Director General receives fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine, says 'certain' that dose will 'help Israel manage the pandemic.'

Rabbi Kanievsky:

Leading haredi rabbi: It's a 'great merit' to vaccinate children

As infection rates rise, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky calls on parents to vaccinate their children, promises that those who do can 'fear no evil.'

mRNA innovator: Society suffering 'mass formation psychosis'

Dr. Robert Malone tells Joe Rogan that a large portion of society is essentially in a state of hypnosis 'and can be led anywhere.'

New daily COVID infections tops 10,000 in Israel

10,644 new cases of COVID diagnosed in a single day, the highest number since September. 117 patients listed in serious condition.

IKEA cancels January sale over COVID-19

IKEA announces 'special discounts' instead of traditional sale, announces upcoming global price hike.

Coronavirus czar: We're working on COVID-19 tests in schools

'Great number of people will be infected within a short span of time,' coronavirus czar Prof. Salman Zarka warns.

'COVID-19 can cause complications, effects lasting a long time'

'We don't want herd immunity for an illness like this, goal is to prevent infection as much as possible,' Dr. Orly Greenfeld says.

Diaspora Minister praises relaxed entry restrictions

Minister Dr. Nachman Shai responds to the lifting of restrictions on entry to travelers from many countries.

COVID Czar: Peak of wave still ahead of us

Prof. Salman Zarka warns rapid rise in cases expected in coming weeks, Israel not hoping for 'herd immunity.'

FDA approves Pfizer boosters for teens

Children between ages of 12-15 now eligible to receive 3rd doses of COVID vaccines in US.

Fifth wave: Over 6,500 new COVID-19 cases

Nearly 5% tests positive as number of hospitalized coronavirus patients passes 200.

Former Health Min. Dir:

'Government isn't making minimal efforts'

Moshe Bar Siman Tov, former Health Min. Director General, says 'unthinkable' that govt's entire policy is based on avoiding compensation.

Israel to reopen to tourists next week

Limited reopening of entry to foreign nationals to begin next week - though citizens of 'red' countries, including the US, remain barred.

Minister: 'First line of defense against coronavirus has fallen'

Labor party minister Nachman Shai praises PM Bennett: 'It's not easy to stand up and say, 'We're making a change.''

These are the changes to the COVID-19 testing rules

New changes to coronavirus testing rules mean vaccinated individuals won't need to undergo PCR tests if they test positive on antigen tests.

Is Israel on its way to herd immunity?

Former Health Ministry chief predicts that by end of Omicron wave, most Israelis will be either vaccinated or recovered from COVID.

Israeli schoolchildren left in the lurch as Green Classroom ends

Health Ministry, Education Ministry fail to reach deal on extension or replacement of 'Green Classroom' program, which expired Monday.

Lapid reprimands deputy who danced maskless at party

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tells Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll that public figures are expected to set a personal example.

US Defense Secretary tests positive for COVID-19

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he will quarantine for five days after testing positive for COVID-19.

'Omicron is here'

Israel to offer 4th dose as Bennett lays out Omicron road map

'Omicron is different than all the previous variants,' says Prime Minister Bennett. 'It requires us to adapt everything we knew about COVID'

At Least Let My People In

Visits to Israel are desperately needed for Diaspora Jews of all streams, no matter what their level of affiliation. Opinion.

Health Minister:

'Israel facing 'extreme' fifth wave, we'll have to ration tests'

'This wave will be extreme - but short', says Health Minister, as number of cases rises significantly. Ministers protest shift in policies.

New anti-COVID drug to arrive in Israel within days

FDA granted emergency-use authorization to Molnupiravir just last week. Drug acts by introducing errors into Covid-19's genetic code.

Bahrain authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 drug

Bahrain's health authorities authorize Paxlovid for emergency use in adults aged over 18.

Health officials warn: Lockdown if number of serious cases rises

Health officials warn: If Israel reaches 1,200-1,500 serious COVID-19 cases, complete lockdown will be needed.

Dep. Foreign Minister spotted at crowded party - with no mask

Idan Roll, Dep. Foreign Minister and MK from Yesh Atid, danced maskless at crowded party - despite rise in COVID-19 infections.

Bennett admits: No single way to manage COVID-19

Over a year after publishing a book on, 'How to Beat a Pandemic,' PM Bennett backtracks, admits there is no one clear-cut path.

5th Wave in Israel

Over 100 COVID-19 patients in serious condition

Number of new cases expected to reach over 20,000 this week, researchers say.

Senior health official: 'There may be a lockdown'

'Even the most liberal minister who doesn't want a lockdown will declare a lockdown if we reach a point where we need one,' top doctor says.

Nearly 5,000 new COVID-19 cases diagnosed in one day

Number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition nears 100, with unvaccinated much more likely to deteriorate than vaccinated, data shows.

4th dose approved

Health Min. okays fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in nursing homes

Health Ministry approves fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for those elderly who are in institutions, as well as institution employees.

Top Hadassah doctor: 80% of patients have Omicron

'Those who were vaccinated three times are not in serious condition,' Prof. Dror Mevorach adds.

Turkey unveils domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine

Turkey begins administering its Turkovac vaccine at hospitals across the country.

Studies:

Most Omicron carriers experience mild symptoms

Five new studies suggest illness caused by current strain is fundamentally different from earlier variants.

Fifth COVID Wave:

Israel okays 4th jab, partially restores outdoor mask mandate

Health Ministry chief Nachman Ash says decision reached to move forward with second booster shot for people with impaired immune systems.

Health Minister: We're not locking down over Omicron

Health Ministry holds press conference on spread of Omicron variant. 4th vaccine dose approved for immunosuppressed people

1st shipment of Pfizer COVID pills arrive in Israel

Israel has purchased tens of thousands of doses of pill Pfizer says reduces risk of hospitalization and death from COVID by 90%.

New mother diagnosed with COVID plus flu

Mother & baby discharged from hospital in good condition. Meanwhile, cases of both illnesses increasing.

From 3,000 to 4,000: Number of new COVID-19 cases skyrockets

Nearly 80% of seriously ill COVID-19 patients completely unvaccinated as positivity rate climbs to nearly 3%.

US authorizes Siemens' at-home COVID-19 test

The test can be used for self-testing in people as young as 14 or adult-collected samples from individuals aged 2 to 13.

Israel likely to impose mask mandate at outdoor events

Health Ministry likely to institute mask mandate for events with 100 participants or more, even in the open air.