Coronavirus

PM Bennett: 'New COVID-19 variant spreads at much quicker pace'

'Overriding principle is to take quick, strong action, on entry to & exit from Israel,' PM Bennett says at meeting on new COVID-19 variant.

New South African variant identified in Israel

New variant with heavily-mutated spike identified in one person returning from east Africa. Two other cases are suspected.

Anti-vaxxer will pay professor 42,000 NIS

Woman who verbally attacked director of Sheba Medical Center's infectious diseases department to pay compensation. 'Violence has a price.'

EU clears Pfizer vaccine for use in children

European Union clears Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged five to 11.

Czech President admitted to hospital with COVID-19

Czech President Milos Zeman was discharged just hours earlier following more than a month's treatment for an unspecified illness.

Expert: Increase in coefficient of infection can't be ignored

Prof. Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute warns: Israel's immunity is weakening.

Britain sounds alarm over new COVID-19 variant

Britain temporarily bans flights from South Africa and five other countries due to new B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant.

Israel eyes travel ban to southern Africa over COVID mutation

Amid concerns over spread of new coronavirus strain, Bennett meets with health officials, weighs travel ban.

Sugary drinks, lack of sleep linked to COVID hospitalizations

CDC study finds drinking sugary drinks and sleeping less than seven hours a night significantly increase the risk of COVID hospitalization.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky: 'Vaccinate children against COVID-19'

After meeting senior doctors, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, leading Lithuanian-haredi rabbi, tells parents to vaccinate children against COVID-19.

New COVID drug passes 2nd stage of trials with flying colors

MesenCure, produced by Haifa-based company, gave 94% survival rate to patients with serious cases of coronavirus.

New COVID-19 variant discovered with 32 spike mutations

Several of the variants confirmed to increase virulence & reduce antibody recognition.

Coronavirus czar: The fifth wave has already begun

Prof. Salman Zarka: Coefficient of infection is increasing too quickly. I want the public's help.

Cabinet approves antigen test for returnees from abroad

Coronavirus Cabinet approves rapid test up to 24 hours before returning to Israel, instead of a PCR test up to 72 hours before returning.

Slovakia enters lockdown amid record COVID cases

After Austria orders lockdown, Slovakia enters its own lockdown on vaccinated and unvaccinated alike as cases rise to record levels.

Health Ministry: 'Real rise in infections - not small numbers'

'Children who are unvaccinated are critical mass' of new coronavirus infections, Health Min. official Ilana Gans says.

Health Min. loophole may have given thousands illegal Green Pass

Those who recovered from or were immunized against COVID-19 while abroad will no longer be able to receive Green Pass automatically.

Couples getting married are paying the price of the pandemic

Jewish weddings are back — and so are rising prices, staff shortages and lots of uncertainty.

Moroccan COVID victims' remains flown to Israel for reburial

Remains of seven Moroccan Jewish victims of COVID transferred from Casablanca to Israel for reburial

Worst-case scenario: Over 1,000 daily COVID cases by January

COVID Cabinet convenes, hears possible scenarios after the coefficient of infection rises.

Leading Doctor: COVID infects the brain, vaccinate your children

Dr. Meir Preis, director of the Institute of Hematology at Carmel Medical Center, calls on parents not to listen to 'charlatans and liars.'

David Bennett, 9, holds dad's hand as he gets COVID-19 vaccine

PM Naftali Bennett accompanies 9-year-old son David to receive COVID vaccine as Israeli children aged 5-11 become eligible to be vaccinated.

Israel kicks off COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children 5-11

Around 600 children have already received the coronavirus vaccine, and 20,000 more have appointments. 'Holiday for children and parents.'

Pfizer: Vaccine is 100% effective in protecting adolescents

Pfizer says results of long-term trial of COVID-19 vaccine found it is 100 percent effective in protecting 12-to-15-year-olds.

CDC lowers COVID-19 travel warning to Israel

CDC lowers COVID-19 travel warning to Israel from level 4, its highest warning level, to level 3.

Top health official: We may be on the verge of a fifth wave

Head of public health services expresses concern over increase in COVID-19 cases.

French Prime Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Office of French PM Jean Castex says he will isolate for 10 days.

Feiglin: Health officials lied through their teeth

Former MK recounts to Avi Abelow his experience at Knesset Health Committee hearing on COVID shot for children.

Austria: Tens of thousands march against lockdown, vax mandate

Nearly 40,000 demonstrators march in Vienna to protest Austrian government's new COVID lockdown, plans to impose vaccine mandate.

Hanukkah events will take place as planned

PM Bennett and Health Minister Horowitz announce outline for Hanukkah performances.

Austria announces: Tourists banned from entering until December

Parallel to lockdown on unvaccinated citizens, Austrian government says tourists won't be allowed entry until mid-December.

Israel's vax committee endorses COVID jabs for children 5-11

Health Ministry committee recommends COVID vaccine for children 5-11 and offering booster shots to kids 12-15.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments now available for children 5-11

Israel's four HMOs open their appointment books, allowing parents to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children - starting Tuesday.

Watch: Riots after Dutch government tightens Covid restrictions

Violent riots broke out in Rotterdam on Friday night as hundreds gathered to protest against Dutch government Covid restrictions

Iran says more than half of its population has been vaccinated

Iran announces that 44 million people in the country have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fauci: Babies could be eligible for vaccine by early 2022

Dr. Anthony Fauci estimates babies and toddlers aged 6 months to 5 years could be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination by spring.

Health Min. official: We won't enact restrictions over Hanukkah

'Rise in infections is disturbing - but we won't enact restrictions on Hanukkah,' says Health Min. Director General Prof. Nachman Ash.

Top health official: Nearly 90% of COVID cases are unvaccinated

'Rise in coronavirus infections is due to public's actions, most new cases are in unvaccinated people,' head of Public Health Services says.

PM Bennett's plan for the 'children's wave' of coronavirus

As infection rates rise, PM Bennett issues instructions for managing 'children's wave' of COVID-19 infections.

First shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for children lands in Israel

Approximately one million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech children's coronavirus vaccine arrive in Israel ahead of Tuesday rollout.

Bennett: Vaccination of children to begin on Tuesday

Prime Minister announces that 5-to-11-year-olds will be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine as of next week.

Austria returns to total nationwide lockdown, vaccine mandate

Days after imposing lockdown on the unvaccinated, Austria to lockdown entire population, including fully vaccinated.

Canada to approve Pfizer vaccine for children

Canada’s federal government to announce on Friday that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children aged five to 11.

US to buy 10 million of Pfizer's COVID-19 pills

Biden announces US is buying 10 million courses of Pfizer's COVID-19 treatment pill in a $5.3 billion deal.

Moderna asks FDA to authorize booster for all adults

Moderna applies with Food and Drug Administration for authorization of its COVID-19 booster vaccine for all adults aged 18 and older.

Vaccines Committee to discuss booster for teens

Vaccines Committee to meet Sunday, discuss booster vaccines for teenagers aged 12 to 15.

Will progressive rabbis apologize for anti-Semitic scapegoating?

'Political red zones were aimed at classic scapegoats - a rabbi ought to know better than to declare a pig to be kosher,' CJV says.

Education Ministry to allow distance learning in yeshivas

Following complaint of discrimination against yeshivas which keep COVID-19 rules, Education Ministry sets new policy for distance learning.

Pfizer Tests: All-cause mortality higher among the vaccinated

FDA report shows Pfizer's clinical trials found 24% higher all-cause mortality rate among the vaccinated compared to placebo group.

The start of the next COVID wave?

Percentage of positive coronavirus tests continues to rise, as number of patients in serious condition stabilizes.

Health Min. official: Closing airport not off the table

'Next challenge is to identify a dangerous variant - that's not simple at an early age,' says Prof. Ash, Health Min. Director General.

Prof. Ash: 'We'll start giving children COVID vaccine next week'

COVID-19 infection coefficient nearing 1 as Israel gears up to vaccinate children 5-11.

PA approves COVID-19 vaccines for teens

PA approves recommendations of health officials to administer COVID-19 vaccine to those aged 12 to 15.

FDA could authorize boosters for all adults as early as Thursday

FDA aiming to authorize Pfizer booster doses for all adults as early as Thursday, sources say.

Conference of European Rabbis convention postponed due to COVID

The conference that was supposed to take place soon in Germany will be postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Pfizer asks FDA for emergency authorization of COVID pill

Pfizer says pill reduces risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 by 90%.

New measures to ease travel to Israel

Health Minister approves new regulation allowing people traveling to Israel to take rapid antigen test instead of PCR test before flying.

Public health chief:

'No plans to force parents to vaccinate their children'

Israel's public health chief calls for maximum transparency on risk of COVID for kids. '206 kids were in critical condition, 11 died.'

Health Min.: Over one-third of Israelis unvaccinated

Just 9.63% have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine but not the third, data shows.

Yeshivas are being disqualified - for keeping COVID-19 rules

Yeshiva students who do not have a Green Pass cannot attend yeshiva - and their yeshivas are being disqualified because of it, report says.