Coronavirus

Interior Minister: 'This is a plague and in plagues, people die'

Interior Min. Ayelet Shaked says government decided 'to live alongside coronavirus,' Israelis must accept people dying of the virus.

These are the new coronavirus restrictions

At emergency meeting, top officials agree to apply Green Pass program to children ages 3 and up, charge for testing for those 12 and up.

Increase hospitals' capacity - instead of a lockdown?

Israeli hospitals can treat up to 1,200 coronavirus patients. Prime Minister Bennett wants to change that - and avoid lockdown

Florida unable to enforce 'vaccine pass' ban on cruise ships

Florida governor DeSantis dealt a major blow as judge bars him from enforcing a ban on vaccine passes for some state businesses.

Prediction: 5,000 students with coronavirus on Sept. 1

Education Minister agrees to split classes into capsules - but not in preschool through fourth grade.

Visitors from US to avoid COVID testing upon arrival in Israel?

El Al announces new program allowing passengers from NY to Israel to benefit from expedited arrival procedures.

New limitations in wake of COVID spike?

Bennett scheduled to hold a situational assessment of the rise in COVID cases, as the daily total nearly doubled Monday.

Not vaccinated? Hadassah hospital is looking for you

Hadassah needs another 100 volunteers for Phase-2 trials of Israel's own Covid-19 vaccine.

6,275 new COVID cases in one day as infection rate soars

Number of seriously ill COVID patients rises to 394, while number of daily new confirmed cases nearly doubles.

Study: 21% of Israeli kids got COVID - and never knew it

First mass serological testing of Israeli school children finds large numbers of them previously infected with COVID without knowing it.

Jewish funeral planned for COVID skeptic who died of the virus

Dick Farrel, Florida shock radio host and former Newsmax anchor died of COVID last week.

CDC panel to discuss COVID-19 booster shots

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel to meet Friday to discuss considerations for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

'We're seeing signs that the third vaccine is working'

Minister Ayelet Shaked says that every effort will be made to avoid a lockdown amid rising cases of COVID-19.

Number of patients in serious condition - highest since March

Israel records 5,140 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours. The number of patients in serious condition stands at 373.

Making Sense of the Coronavirus

We have failed to make sense of the COVID pandemic without taking God into consideration. Op-ed.

'Serious economic damage'

Liberman comes out against new lockdown

'Not clear if lockdowns actually cut number of seriously ill patients - but they do harm the economy,' says Israeli Finance Minister.

Trump: 100 million people would have died without the vaccine

Trump says his administration's 'Operation Warp Speed' to produce COVID vaccine saved tens of millions - but adds vaccines must be voluntary

Watch: Man refuses to wear a mask - and is arrested

Man who refused to don mask in an enclosed mall is handcuffed and dragged out, as his wife looks on.

Head of Public Health Services: 'Lockdown won't beat the plague'

'Lockdown isn't a decree from Heaven, Green Pass guidelines were never intended to cause people to vaccinate,' Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis says.

Study: Children's coronavirus antibodies decrease with time

New study shows vast majority of children had no detectable COVID-19 antibodies four months after their illness.

Joint Arab List's Jewish MK tests positive for coronavirus

MK Ofer Cassif tests positive for coronavirus, informs Knesset officer.

Rise in number of serious coronavirus cases

Health Ministry reports 3,372 new coronavirus cases, rise in number of serious cases.

Fauci: 'Highly likely' that people will need booster shots

Chief White House medical adviser says it is highly likely that people will need booster shots to give them protection from the coronavirus.

Health Ministry updates COVID-19 ranking of countries

Ministry of Health publishes list of countries from which returnees must enter a full, seven-day quarantine as of August 16.

Survey: Side effects of the COVID booster shot

88% said side effects were equal or milder to those following 2nd dose. 1 in 4 of those polled still experienced pain a week later.

Prof. Gamzu: We can cope with COVID without lockdowns

"After a year and a half of this epidemic, we should be able to deal with this," Ichilov director says.

No government majority in favor of lockdown

Just mentioning the work "lockdown" causes damage, ministers argue.

Israeli schools to reopen - even if lockdown imposed

Education and Health ministries reach deal to maintain normal routine in schools, minimize disruptions to learning from COVID.

Report: 14 Israelis infected with COVID despite 3rd vaccine dose

9 days after Israel kicked off campaign for third vaccine dose, Health Ministry statistics reveal 2 people hospitalized despite booster shot

PM Bennett broadcasts appeal to Arab-Israelis to get vaxxed

Bennett appeals to younger Arabs "to protect the lives of your loved ones" & to those over 60 to get a 3rd dose.

Israeli airline offering $180 discounts for vaxxed travelers

Offer from Sunday through Saturday night, or until tickets run out.

Watch: Israeli health minister undergoes new rapid Covid test

MDA began conducting rapid tests across the country to identify individuals infected with the Coronavirus this morning.

Biden insists: 350 million Americans vaccinated to date

Sky News host rips Biden for repeatedly inflating the number of Americans vaccinated for COVID-19.

Minister of Health: Another lockdown? Only as a last resort

According to Horowitz, a nationwide lockdown is the last resort and all means will be taken to avoid it.

High likelihood schools in Israel to stay closed beyond Sept 1

A source in the Education Ministry says there is no longer a question of 'whether' schools will remain closed past Sept. 1.

Natan Sharansky: 'Please strengthen your body with a third shot'

Natan Sharansky offered advice to cope with COVID-19 lockdowns. Now, he’s recovering from the virus.

Coronavirus: Number of serious cases jumps to 324

Seventy-one coronavirus patients in critical condition, nearly 50 intubated, Health Ministry says.

Health Ministry sets benchmark for declaring lockdown

If number of serious coronavirus cases reaches 600-700, there may be no choice but to enforce a lockdown, report says.

Haredi MK: 'Public has no faith in lockdown decision'

Possibility of lockdown over holiday season is 'embarrassing' & 'shameful,' MK Yakov Asher says. 'No chance public will have faith in this.'

Kansas lawmaker tests positive for COVID after being vaccinated

Rep. Sharice Davids announces she has tested positive for COVID-19 but is experiencing only mild symptoms.

A rapid coronavirus test - and results within 15 minutes

Magen David Adom will activate an array of rapid COVID-19 tests across the country.

Foreign Minister to attend Coronavirus Cabinet meetings

Following criticism at his lack of attendance at Coronavirus Cabinet meetings, FM Yair Lapid announces he will attend 'as much as possible.'

Slight drop in number of serious coronavirus cases

Health Ministry reports: 52 patients on ventilators, 3.79% of coronavirus test results are positive.

Sharp drop in public approval of govt's handling of COVID crisis

Poll: 37% think government is doing a good job, down from 49% just a few weeks ago.

Kazakhstan synagogue fined after Chabad rabbis pose for photo

Chabad rabbis took their first group photo since the pandemic — and were fined by Kazakhstan for not distancing.

Following uproar, Liberman to attend Coronavirus Cabinet

Finance Minister to attend the Coronavirus Cabinet discussions after it was revealed that both he and Lapid had chosen not to take part.

CNN dismisses three employees who were unvaccinated

CNN says it fired three employees who violated its coronavirus safety protocols by going to the office unvaccinated.

Hospital administrators warn: We don't have enough manpower

Hospital directors warned Health Ministry Director General: There are no staff, no beds and people are very tired.

Green pass regulations approved, synagogues exempted

Ministers approve green pass regulations. Some ministers object to clause exempting synagogues with less than 50 worshipers.

Government reveals rules for holiday prayers in synagogues

Plan set to be voted on next week will limit synagogue access to the vaccinated and recovered, may require signing up ahead of time.

Bennett: The holiday season depends on how many people vaccinate

'A quarter of a million adults received a 3rd dose of coronavirus vaccine, my predecessor wanted to wait for FDA approval,' PM Bennett says.

Study: Moderna vaccine effective against Delta variant

Moderna vaccine remains 93% effective six months after second dose, company says.

Smotrich: 'LGBT community has been silencing people for years'

Pride parade was partially responsible for current coronavirus wave - and there's no reason not to say that, MK Smotrich says.

'Health Minister concerned with gender changes - not pandemic'

Shas chief slams Health Minister for promising to shorten wait times for sex change operations - instead of focusing on pandemic and health.

PM Bennett: 'Those 60+ not vaccinated are especially at risk'

'Anyone over age 60 who hasn't received three doses is at six times greater risk of serious illness than those vaccinated,' PM Bennett says.

Report: Finance Min. absent from Coronavirus Cabinet meetings

Finance Min. Avigdor Liberman does not attend Coronavirus Cabinet meetings, report says.

Health Ministry Dir. Gen.:'Lockdown may be at the end of August

'We will need to make a decision in two or three weeks, maybe even in August,' Health Min. Director General says.

Health Ministry: Twenty-six dead of coronavirus since Sunday

Additional 3,421 new coronavirus cases diagnosed, 241 patients hospitalized in serious condition.

Southern city announces: Green Pass required in schools

Mayor of Kiryat Malakhi, Eliyahu Zohar, says students, staff, with no Green Pass must present negative test result to enter school grounds.

Iran's COVID-19 cases top four million

COVID-19 infections in Iran hit a new one-day record for a third straight day.