Coronavirus

White House press secretary tests positive for COVID-19

White House press secretary Jen Psaki reveals she tested positive for COVID-19.

Did doctors' advice to vaccine refuser hasten his death?

Health Ministry report mentions several doctors by name, suggesting their non-standard interventions contributed to a patient's demise.

IDF commander suspended for refusing to be vaccinated

The commander of the IDF's alpinist brigade has been suspended for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Netherlands: Reform leader likens COVID policies to Nazi Germany

Dutch Reform leader says COVID-19 policies remind her of Nazi Germany. 'Don't play with fire.'

Children's vaccines could arrive in Israel by November 15

Ministry of Health team on pandemic handling will meet on Thursday to discuss vaccines for children aged 5-11 following the FDA's approval.

FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11

Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine receives FDA authorization for children ages 5 to 11, days after experts panel recommended it.

Thursday: Live broadcast on vaccinating children, open to public

Public can send questions to top Health Ministry experts, and tune in to hear the answers.

Health Ministry officials against recognition of Sputnik vaccine

'Since when is a serological test a sign that a person was vaccinated?' top specialist queries.

'No need to rush to vaccinate children'

Former head of public health services backs vaccinating children but stresses: "We mustn't act as if there's a gun pointed at our head."

Ted Cruz defends using Nazi salute to protest COVID-19 rules

Texas senator defends parent who used Nazi salute to protest school board policies.

Study: New COVID variant can evade vaccines

New 'heavily mutated' variant of the coronavirus can evade vaccine-induced immunity 'with high efficiency', study finds.

UK: 12-year-olds can get COVID shots even if parents object

Government regulations allow for "competent" children between ages of 12 & 15 to overrule parental objection to be vaccinated.

Israel moving forward towards child vaccination

Government staff for managing pandemics schedules meeting to discuss vaccinating children against COVID-19.

PM and Health Minister abolish limits on gatherings

Naftali Bennett and Nitzan Horowitz end restriction on gatherings of more than 5,000 people.

CDC: Immunocompromised people may need fourth dose of vaccine

Those who may need a fourth dose should speak to their doctors, CDC says.

PM calls meeting after FDA approves COVID-19 vaccine for kids

PM Bennett working towards vaccinating children against coronavirus, health officials believe approval won't be immediate.

Israeli doctors: Vaccinate the children

'Coronavirus infections can cause more difficult complications than the vaccine,' Health Min. Director General says.

Number of new COVID cases continues to drop

Fewer coronavirus patients as infection rate and number of new COVID cases continue to decline.

FDA panel recommends COVID-19 vaccine for 5-to-11-year-olds

US Food and Drug Administration advisers endorse Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

FDA to meet tonight to decide on vaccines for children

FDA meet tonight and are expected to approve vaccinations for 5-11-year-olds. Israel to follow suit.

COVID infection rate falls to lowest level in 3.5 months

Just 0.88% of tests coming back positive, with 839 cases of COVID reported Monday.

'FDA is expected to approve COVID vaccine for young children'

Israel's public health chief says FDA is likely to clear Pfizer's COVID vaccine for use among children ages 5-11.

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine is safe for 6- to 11-year-olds

Moderna says a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds, will share results with FDA.

Most hospitalized COVID-19 carriers weren't vaccinated

Number of patients in serious condition with COVID-19 is declining in Israel, according to latest Ministry of Health data.

Israel, US now lag behind rest of world in vaccine coverage

After a fast & early start, other countries who went slow & steady are doing better, New York Times reports.

Fauci: Children could receive their vaccine in early November

Biden's chief medical adviser estimates that children ages 5 to 11 may be able to receive vaccine in the first two weeks of November.

British singer Ed Sheeran tests positive for COVID-19

Popular British singer-songwriter says he will be doing as many of his planned interviews and performances as possible from his home.

COVID-19 in Israel: Fewer than 300 carriers in serious condition

Number of COVID-19 carriers in serious condition continues to decline and stands at 284 as of Sunday night.

Tombstone claims woman was 'murdered by hospital staff'

Grave marker lists recently deceased elderly woman as 'murder victim' of COVID ward at hospital in central Israel.

Bennett: Children's vaccines to be approved soon

PM tells Cabinet Green Pass model to remain in force, government to bring more vaccines to protect Israeli citizens.

Israel may begin vaccinating children against coronavirus soon

With the FDA expected to approve coronavirus vaccine for children, Israel prepares to follow suit.

Israel could begin vaccinating children in early December

Government preparing to start vaccinating children under age of 12 against COVID-19 after FDA approves the vaccine in the US.

Pfizer: COVID-19 vaccine showed 90.7% efficacy among children

Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine showed 90.7% efficacy against the coronavirus in a clinical trial of children 5 to 11 years old.

CDC approves Moderna, Johnson & Johnson booster shots

CDC also approves mixing and matching of any of the three vaccines approved for use in the US.

Thailand reopens to tourists

El Al prepares to resume flights to Thailand as country reopens to vaccinated tourists.

Vaccinated tourists to be allowed into Israel starting Nov. 1

Tourists to be allowed except from 'red' countries and nations which are seeing an outbreak of new AY4.2 variant.

Mass events up, COVID cases down

Fears of super-spreading events seem unfounded; meanwhile, data show increase in contagion among the double-vaccinated.

5 more cases of new Covid-19 mutation found in Israel

New cases discovered in lab study of samples taken over past few months, meaning that mutation is likely already spreading.

Significant drop in percentage of positive coronavirus tests

Number of new cases drops to just over 1,000, positivity rate drops to 1.05%.

New study:

COVID mostly kills very old & already sick, vaxxed or not

Italian research shows average age of COVID victims is 85 if vaxxed (with 5 comorbidities), or 78 if not vaxxed (with 4 comorbidities).

FDA authorizes Moderna, J&J booster shots

Regulator also approves “mix and match” method, allows people to choose different shot than their original inoculation as a booster.

Large Israeli study:

Vaccine 93% effective in preventing disease with symptoms

Comprehensive study of Clalit and Harvard University examined effectiveness of Pfizer vaccine against Delta strain among 12-18-year-olds.

Bennett orders updated tourism outline amid new COVID-19 variant

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett holds consultation on the new AY4.2 variant, a few cases of which have been found in Israel.

White House unveils plan to vaccinate children ages 5-11

Biden Admin. says plan to vaccinate young children will be ready the moment the vaccines receive FDA and CDC approval.

Coronavirus positivity rate drops to lowest since July

Number of new coronavirus cases remains stable, 156 patients intubated.

Despite failure of test program, Green Class plan to be expanded

Green Class pilot was small and short, with not enough cooperation from parents. Education Min.: 'Infection rates aren't skyrocketing.'

US Homeland Security Secretary tests positive for COVID-19

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is vaccinated against COVID-19 and will work at home.

US likely to recommend booster shots to people as young as 40

US government likely will soon recommend booster shots to people as young as 40 who received either Moderna or Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

New COVID-19 variant identified in Israel

11-year-old who returned from abroad found positive for the AY4.2 variant that has been detected in several European countries.

CDC: Pfizer vaccine prevents 93% of hospitalization in teens

Centers for Disease Control study finds Pfizer vaccine highly effective among children ages 12-18.

Sputnik V COVID vaccine recipients to be allowed into Israel

Recipients of Russian-developed coronavirus vaccine to be allowed into Israel.

Number of seriously ill COVID patients drops below 500

1,483 new COVID cases, as infection rate continues to decline.

Capoeira instructor infects 93 with COVID-19

Symptomatic instructor tests positive for coronavirus - and continues teaching his classes.

'Green Classroom' outline to be expanded

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett adopts recommendation of Ministry of Health. The outline will also be extended to cities marked as "yellow".

Report: FDA to permit 'mixing and matching' of booster shots

FDA planning to allow Americans to get a different booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine than the one they initially took, sources say.

Israel's COVID-19 death toll surpasses 8,000

The number of COVID-19 carriers in serious condition continues to decline and stands at 357.

Colin Powell dies of COVID complications

Former US Secretary of State under George W. Bush passes away at 84 from COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated,

Israel, India, to recognize each others' vaccine certificates

Israel joins International Solar Alliance, agrees with India to mutually recognize coronavirus vaccine certificates.

Health Min.: AstraZeneca distribution to begin this week

Israel's Health Ministry informs HMOs: Distribution of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine begins this week.

Fewer hospitalizations as COVID infection rate continues to drop

1,199 new coronavirus cases in Israel Sunday, as infection rate and number of hospitalizations continues to drop.