Coronavirus

Huge study finds worse side effects from COVID than from vaccine

Study followed 2 million members of Clalit health fund. Significantly worse outcomes (including myocardia) for infected vs. vaccinated.

Expert: 'Start school only after the holidays'

'Only someone colorblind can miss how bright red the green class plans are,' Moshe Bar Siman Tov, former Health Min. Director General, says.

NZ in full lockdown for 2nd week as 1 COVID case rises to 277

PM Jacinda Ardern insists COVID can be eliminated, even as experts say "COVID-19 is here to stay."

Health Min. official: Compromise on culture - not on education

Dr, Sharon Alroy-Preis, public health services chief, urges opening schools on time, restricting entertainment and culture.

Pfizer seeks US approval of booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer says it has started the application process for a third dose of its vaccine for everyone ages 16 and older.

Over 10,000 infected in a single day

Health Ministry considering restrictions on the High Holidays as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

“Let them eat cake” vs the sanctity of life

The sanctity of life was at the forefront of our value system and made Israel different from her neighbors. Till now. Op-ed.

Dean of top haredi yeshiva: 'Follow coronavirus guidelines'

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, head of prestigious Ponovezh yeshiva, tells students to carefully follow coronavirus precautions, avoid infection.

Want to visit your child's school? Show a negative COVID-19 test

Education Ministry instructs: Proof of immunity or negative test as condition for parents, visitors, to enter schools.

Ex-Corona Czar: COVID will never go away, learn to live with it

'We need to take the word lockdown out of our lexicon,' says Israel's former COVID Czar. 'Why are we still showing daily infection numbers?'

Iran goes back on promise not to accept Western vaccines

With the Delta variant making its impact felt in the Islamic Republic, Iran is eager for any help it can get.

'If parents don't want to vax their kids, they can stay home'

'The entire State of Israel is open, no reason to place a lockdown on the education system,' Ran Erez, Teachers Association chair, says.

Argentina uses Jewish cemetery tradition to mark COVID deaths

'March of the Stones' memorial for Argentina's 110,000 COVID dead mirrors Jewish cemetery tradition.

Coronavirus overload: 7 public hospitals limit activity

'No one speaks to us, we cannot pay our suppliers with the understanding and sympathy for our problems,' hospital directors say.

9,891 new COVID cases as infection rate continues to climb

Number of hospitalizations falls even as infection rate climbs, while number of seriously ill patients remains stable.

Home Front Command ends serological testing for children

IDF soldiers conducting the serological tests join marathon efforts to package and distribute antigen tests prior to start of school year.

Top rabbi: Unvaccinated teachers shouldn't come to school

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, leading haredi rabbi, urges followers to take precautions, adhere to Health Ministry guidelines, and get vaccinated.

Israel approves vaccinations for individuals aged 30 and up

Health officials in Israel approved the measure in lieu of skyrocketing infections.

Biden receives classified report on origins of COVID-19

A Washington Post report claims Biden was handed classified data regarding the origins of the deadly disease.

Israeli food rescue group adjusts approach to meet COVID needs

'People needed to eat now, not later. We had to act immediately,' Leket CEO Gidi Kroch says.

Officials: Booster shots to be available for all ages next week

Ministry of Health expected to make booster shots available to all ages as early as next week.

China records zero COVID-19 cases

Officials in China reported no new cases of the virus with the vaccination campaign taking effect across the mainland.

Watch: Trump jeered for saying he supports vaccinations

One Trump supporter said she doesn't get vaccinated because, 'God separates the sheep from the goats...'

Watch: Sri Lankans make cardboard coffins amid COVID surge

A box factory in Sri Lanka now producing $22 cardboard coffins that have become an affordable alternative to wooden ones.

US to give PA half a million COVID vaccines

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces Biden Administration to ship 500,000 vaccine doses to PA. 'We are pleased to help lives.'

'For three days of school, we'll be paying a high price'

'Starting school on time may put thousands of families in quarantine over the holidays,' MK Ofir Sofer says.

Israel missed a golden opportunity to improve its schools

Dr. Meir Preis, husband of top Health Min. official, slams Education Ministry for 'fighting yesterday's battles.'

First COVID-safe class closed due to high infection rates

High infection rate leads to near-complete shutdown of one of the Education Ministry's two schools piloting new quarantine-free plan.

Booster Program Expands:

Israel expands third vaccine dose to all adults over 30

Effective today, Health Ministry approves booster dose for Israelis 30 and up.

New 'vaccine mobiles' to help close social gaps, end pandemic

Health Min. Horowitz initiates plan to bring 'vaccine mobiles' to disadvantaged, low SES towns. 'I won't give up on this population.'

Ministers demand end to serological testing for school children

Ministers from opposite sides of the political spectrum demand government cease serological testing. 'It's completely extraneous.'

Justice Min. okays withholding salaries of unvaccinated teachers

Justice Min. gives go-ahead to withhold unvaccinated teachers' salaries - so long as they aren't required to test every day, report says.

Number of new COVID cases rises to highest level since January

Hospitalizations and number of seriously ill patients falls slightly, despite rise in the COVID infection rate.

Egypt authorizes locally produced COVID-19 vaccine

The vaccine is co-produced by the Chinese company Sinovac and the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines.

WHO calls for two-month moratorium on booster shots

Head of World Health Organization calls on countries to suspend booster shots as a means of reducing global vaccine inequality.

Pentagon to require service members to be vaccinated

Pentagon announces it will require service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after Pfizer vaccine has received full approval.

Health Ministry updates countries' COVID-19 classification

Classification of countries as it relates to COVID-19 will be updated as of August 31.

Decision on booster shots for over-30s this week

Health Min. believes all age groups will be eligible to receive 3rd vaccine dose by Rosh Hashannah.

FDA gives full approval to Pfizer COVID vaccine

First COVID vaccine receives approval from the FDA, spurring hope more unvaccinated will take the jab.

'We'll help all businesses, go get vaccinated'

Hamad Amar, Minister in the Finance Ministry, says each sector will be personally attended to, unvaccinated teachers should stay home.

Haredi MK: Coronavirus Cabinet should ask forgiveness from rabbi

'They finally adopted his approach on the issue of education, they should ask forgiveness for all of their attacks,' MK Moshe Gafni says.

Chabad Lubavitch yeshiva deans: Don't send students to New York

Deans of seven Chabad Lubavitch yeshivas in Israel call on parents not to send their sons to Crown Heights for upcoming holiday season.

Young teen in serious condition after contracting coronavirus

Her parents wanted to vaccinate her - but she contracted coronavirus first, and is now in serious condition.

6,467 new COVID cases reported, reversing decline in infections

Number of seriously ill patients falls slightly, despite rise in infection rate. 90% of recent COVID fatalities were over 70.

The young people on ECMO machines are all unvaccinated

Since the start of the fourth wave, 31 coronavirus patients have been on ECMO machines; the five who died were all unvaccinated.

Israeli researchers: Astounding results from new COVID treatment

Hebrew University team say new treatment could be key to saving COVID patients. 'All patients were discharged in under a week.'

Coronavirus czar: 'We need to do more to reduce infection'

'There will be infections and classes will be closed - there are no magic solutions,' coronavirus czar Prof. Zarka says.

Iran reports new daily record of COVID-19 deaths

Iran's health ministry reports 684 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 102,038.

Science and Technology Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Minister Orit Farkash Hacohen is feeling good, isolating and will be handling her ministry's affairs remotely.

Outline for Rosh Hashanah flights to Uman approved

Passengers to Ukraine will be required to present a COVID-19 test result performed up to 72 hours before the flight.

Cabinet decides: Schools to reopen on September 1 as scheduled

Students will be vaccinated in schools during school hours subject to parental approval.

Who are the million Israelis who have yet to be vaccinated?

What would happen if they all turned up to be vaxxed tomorrow? As events on Sunday showed, the systems would collapse.

Playgoer removed from audience due to refusal to don face mask

Actor climbed off stage to personally request woman to "let us continue." Woman was removed after persisting in refusal.

Hospital directors: Gov't reneged on funding, no new admissions

Finance Ministry signed agreement to transfer 300m shekels 6 months ago - and hasn't paid a penny.

COVID Cabinet to decide on opening of school year today

Coronavirus Cabinet to meet today to discuss various proposals for opening of school year. Many ministers want school year delayed.

Health Ministry: Coronavirus restrictions apply within malls

Businesses in sectors required to adhere to new coronavirus restrictions must keep restrictions regardless of location, Health Min. says.

New high: 645 coronavirus patients in serious condition

School year should start on time, but there may be restrictions over holiday, Health Min. Director General says.

Unvaccinated COVID-19 patient's last words: 'I made a mistake'

'We see a significant difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated,' coronavirus ward nurse says.

Minister leaves for vacation despite request not to do so

Minister Merav Michaeli leaves Israel for private vacation in US despite the fact that PM Bennett has urged the public not to travel abroad.

Booster shots could be available to all age groups soon

Health Ministry expected to approve booster shots for all Israelis over the age of 12 within one to two weeks.