Coronavirus

Liberman:

'There will be no lockdown, air travel must be reopened'

Israeli Finance Minister sets deadline for complete reopening of air travel to and from Israel, says new lockdown not on the table.

Second day in a row: Nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases diagnosed

Over one-quarter of new coronavirus cases diagnosed in children under 10, data shows.

Minister: Travel bans are crushing Israel-Diaspora relations

Diaspora Minister warns the Israel's ties with Jews abroad is reaching 'breaking point' over travel bans barring non-citizens from visiting.

'Parents, take your children to get vaccinated'

'Policy hasn't changed, Education Min. always said to do everything to preserve school routines,' new Education Min. Director General says.

Ministers approve updated list of 'red' countries

Mexico added to list of "red" countries. Italy, Germany and Sweden will become "orange" countries.

Minister promoting: No quarantine for returnees from abroad

Minister Horowitz promoting decision that would shorten or eliminate quarantine for those who return from orange countries.

NY hospitalizations rise 12% in 1 day from Omicron surge

40,000 people test positive for COVID in New York State in 1 day, 28,000 of which are in New York City.

First suspected death from Omicron variant in Israel

84-year-old fully vaccinated woman may be the first person to die from the Omicron variant in Israel.

Bennett: The skies will open soon

PM says goal is to fight Omicron variant without locking down the country.

Hospitals told to prepare for 340 serious cases of child COVID

Faced with skyrocketing COVID-19 infection rates, hospitals plan opening extra pediatric wards with dedicated staff.

Number of new COVID-19 cases skyrockets: Nearly 3,000 in one day

Reinfection rates rising as Israel hits 2.35% positivity rate.

Health Ministry to ease quarantine rules for the vaccinated

Ministers vote to back plan allowing vaccinated people who come into contact with COVID carriers to end isolation early, with PCR test.

First Israeli to receive fourth dose: 'There was no question'

Prof. Yaakov (Jay) Lavi, 1st Israeli to receive experimental fourth dose, says he feels 'excellent,' explains why he volunteered to take it.

Haredi MK: 'Humility isn't this government's strong point'

MK Maklev asks PM Bennett: 'Does your government fit criteria of leadership? The public has no faith.'

New research: Booster dose highly effective for cancer patients

Tel Aviv hospital examines immunogenicity and safety of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster in actively treated cancer patients.

Bennett:

'Israel is on the verge of an unprecedented infection storm'

Prime Minister vows that Samaria yeshiva, near site of recent terror attack, will remain intact; rips right-wing parties for past demolition

Brazilian President: I won't vaccinate my daughter

Jair Bolsonaro says he will not vaccinate his 11-year-old daughter against COVID-19.

Drama at COVID-19 hotel:

Two unvaccinated people threaten to commit suicide

Two Israelis who were admitted to coronavirus hotel in Jerusalem permitted to go home after threatening to commit suicide.

CDC cuts isolation restrictions for COVID carriers

Isolation restrictions for COVID-19 carriers cut from 10 to five days.

Israel to lift ban on travel to most red countries, but not US

Number of 'red' countries to which travel is forbidden to drop from nearly 70 to under 20, but US and several other countries to remain red.

COVID booster shots to be given after 3 months instead of 6

Health Ministry halves time between 2nd and 3rd doses of COVID vaccine.

Bennett comes to Knesset despite being in isolation

PM leaves isolation for Knesset debate after Likud refuses to offset his absence after his daughter contracts COVID.

Hadassah Hospital Covid ward has reopened

7 patients currently occupy the ward, one in critical condition and 3 others in severe condition. Patients' ages range from 40 to 88.

High probability PM Bennett's daughter has Omicron variant

PM to remain in isolation, work from Ra'anana home as daughter tests positive for COVID, awaits results on which variant she has.

Australia looks to reopen despite first Omicron-related death

Elderly man with preexisting conditions dies after testing positive for Omicron variant, as authorities hold off on new lockdowns.

Israel may see 100,000 new cases daily in less than a month

Nearly 1,800 new coronavirus cases diagnosed, 95% of young seriously ill COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

Expert: Initial numbers show Omicron favors young children

'There's going to be a storm in the number of confirmed cases,' expert pediatrician Dr, Meir Ezra Elia predicts.

'2 years of COVID and we haven't gotten any more hospital beds'

'The flu can also be life-threatening.' Senior doctor warns virtually nothing done to expand capacity to deal with COVID.

Health Minister: 'I don't think there will be a lockdown'

'For unvaccinated people, illness from Omicron variant may be severe - people need to go get vaccinated,' Health Min. Horowitz says.

Minister: Mandatory vaccines? Israel isn't a fascist country

'The government can't force people to get vaccinated,' says Minister Ze'ev Elkin, while defending Green Pass limits on unvaccinated.

These are the cities where schools will hold classes remotely

Around 30,000 students in 'red' and 'orange' localities will remain at home.

Expanded Green Pass limits, school restrictions go into effect

New restrictions at shopping centers and schools go into effect.

Fauci: I was stunned Trump was booed over booster shot

Top infectious disease expert was "dismayed" when Trump was booed by his supporters after revealing he had a booster shot.

First case of Omicron recorded in Gaza

PA “health ministry” says it identified first case of Omicron coronavirus variant in the Gaza Strip.

Health Ministry mulling quarantine changes for vaccinated

Ministry of Health discussing changing the quarantine plan for vaccinated people who have been exposed to Omicron carriers.

Health Ministry approves Pfizer COVID-19 pill

Health Ministry and Pfizer have signed an agreement for Israel to purchase the drug, Paxlovid.

El Al flight attendant trapped in China after contracting COVID

Female flight attendant suspected of having Omicron variant, held in isolation in Guangzhou.

Sheba hospital to begin trial of 4th COVID vaccine shot

6,000 people enrolled in new trial, the first of its kind in the world.

Bennett tests negative for COVID - but will remain in isolation

After Prime Minister's daughter found to be infected with COVID, Bennett tests negative for the virus, but will still remain in isolation.

Likud MK slams 'human rights violating' COVID restrictions

After being ejected from Knesset committee, MK Gadi Yevarkan rejects accusations he compared government policy to the Holocaust.

Germany to give Holocaust survivors $200M emergency COVID fund

Germany to pay some $1,400 per person to dispense emergency COVID funding for 150,000 Jews persecuted during the Holocaust.

Iran to close borders to prevent Omicron spread

Iran to close its land borders for 15 days.

FDA approves Swiss company's rapid COVID test

FDA grants emergency use authorization for Swiss company Roche's at-home COVID-19 test.

Nearly 1,000 US flights cancelled due to COVID

Surge in cases of COVID-19 cause pilots and crew to be quarantined and lead airlines to cancel flights.

Report: Israel to purchase Pfizer's COVID-19 pill

TV report: Israel signs agreement to purchase tens of thousands of doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 treatment pill.

Health Min.: Anyone exposed to Omicron must quarantine

Health Ministry: Anyone exposed to Omicron carrier or suspected Omicron carrier - including vaccinated or recovered - must quarantine.

Rapid tests at nursing home entrances - even for vaccinated

PM Bennett holds telephone conference on Omicron, orders increased protection for Israel's elderly population.

25 test positive for coronavirus at nursing home

The twenty residents and five employees are suspected of being infected with Omicron.

Nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases diagnosed

Percentage of positive tests continues to skyrocket, climbing from 0.56% to 1.82% in less than two weeks.

US to lift travel restrictions on African countries

The restrictions were imposed last month following the discovery of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Green Pass to return to malls and commercial facilities

Members of Israel's "Corona Cabinet" approve plan to implement Green Pass in malls and commercial facilities, subject to Knesset approval.

Is Health Ministry misleading government on Omicron deaths?

Amid talks for 2nd booster, plans for new COVID restrictions, did Health Ministry mislead ministers regarding dangers of Omicron variant?

White House praises Trump for getting booster

White House press secretary says White House is “grateful” former President received a booster shot.

Bennett: Lockdown may be unavoidable

PM Bennett reportedly said in closed conversations that a lockdown may be inevitable due to uptick in COVID-19 cases.

Approved: Outside or online learning in orange and red cities

Members of Coronavirus Cabinet approve adaption of activity in the education system in orange and red localities.

Multiple studies show Omicron far milder than Delta

Risk of hospitalization around 20% less for vaccinated cohort, around 50% less for those with prior coronavirus infection.

Health Ministry: Highest number of new COVID cases since October

Nearly 10,000 active coronavirus cases as infection coefficient rises to 1.34.

What's going on in China?

13 million people locked down with just a few hours' notice, after 127 COVID cases diagnosed.

Economy Min.: 'If we reach a lockdown, we didn't act correctly'

'No one is planning a lockdown,' Economy Min. Orna Barbivay promises.

WHO: Too soon to say if Omicron is more severe than Delta

WHO official says there is not yet enough data on the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus.