Coronavirus

Biden orders workers to get vaccinated or submit to testing

Biden also calls on state and local governments to offer $100 payments to individuals in order to incentivize coronavirus vaccinations.

New report shows vaccine effectiveness dropping over half a year

A new report indicates that the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer will drop by more than ten percent inside half a year.

Germany: Anti-vaxxers charged with making light of Holocaust

German man publishes Facebook post comparing Auschwitz to vaccines - and will stand trial for incitement and racism.

Supervisors to enforce mask-wearing on public transportation

Transportation Ministry procures budget to hire 400 supervisors to enforce mask-wearing on public transportation around the country.

Health Min. official: 'Change policies at the airport'

'Exponential increase in number of imported coronavirus infections,' Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, Head of Public Health Services, says.

In Israel, three dead of coronavirus in one day

Israel's Delta wave sees seven deaths in one week, just four weeks after number of infections began to spike.

Bennett: 'Recommendations carry weight, we'll decide today'

PM Naftali Bennett says 'plan of action' almost ready, says Israelis have 'three layers of protection' against coronavirus.

Education Minister: 'Vaccination in schools? That's a crime'

Education Min. Shasha-Biton refuses to hear of vaccination in schools, says children are under 'emotional stress' from being at home.

Experts recommend third dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Ministry of Health experts recommend third dose for the elderly. The move could be implemented as early as next week.

'The principals aren't ready - that's insane'

Yaffa Ben David, head of the Teachers Union, blasts Education Min. Shasha-Biton: 'Clarify policies, we heard it only from the media.'

Health expert supports plan for opening schools

Former Health Min. Director General supports plan for 48-hour quarantine for schoolchildren with infected classmate. 'It could work.'

Natan Sharansky hospitalized with COVID

Former Soviet Refusenik tests positive after returning from Washington, released from the hospital last night.

Watch: Dr. Fauci outlines the dangers of new COVID variant

Dr. Anthony Fauci explains the dangers inherent in the Delta variant as well as the CDC’s guidelines for dealing with the new wave.

Coronavirus: Number of cases skyrockets to over 14,000

Over 2,200 new coronavirus cases diagnosed in one day, 153 are in serious condition.

Health Ministry to begin offering third vaccine dose - next week

Health Ministry preparing to vaccinate elderly population with booster shot of coronavirus vaccine, report says.

Israel: Over 12,000 active cases for 1st time in months

Chair of Health Department at Ben-Gurion U. says Israel was late reinstating health measures, tries to alloy fears of renewed virus wave.

Data from Israel confirms: Booster dose safe for use

According to reports, data from around 2,000 Israelis suggests that a 3rd dose of COVID-19 vaccine is safe.

Biden to require federal employees to be vaccinated

Biden expected to announce a requirement that all federal employees and contractors be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be regularly tested.

Health Ministry chief: 'Green pass' won't make a difference

Director general of Ministry of Health to hospital directors: Additional measures to prevent COVID-19 spread will be taken.

Biden: Vaccinations and mask wearing will prevent lockdowns

Biden urges Americans to follow CDC directives calling on fully vaccinated people to wear masks in areas that have high infection rates.

CDC: Vaccinated people should mask up indoors

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues new guidelines on masking in response to spread of Delta variant.

Israel reinstates COVID guidelines, leaving businesses open

The Coronavirus Cabinet approved measures aimed at preventing the Delta variant of Corona from getting out of hand.

White House warns: 'Don't go to Vegas'

Officials in Hawaii warned residents against traveling to Las Vegas due to a recent spike in Delta variant infections.

Health Min. approves vaccination of at-risk children

Starting next month, doctors will be able to vaccinate children over the age of 5 with preexisting conditions against COVID.

Seven new COVID-19 infections at Japan Olympics

Tokyo Olympics organizers reported 7 new COVID-19 cases at the Games, including two athletes, bringing the total number since July 1 to 155.

PM Bennett: 'We're very close to a third vaccine dose'

As infection rates soar, PM Bennett says Israel 'very close' to offering 3rd dose of coronavirus vaccine for the vulnerable. 'We're on it.'

Over 2,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day

Thirty-four coronavirus patients are in critical condition, and 26 are on ventilators.

Health Min.: 'No way to avoid capsules in school'

Education Min. plan for new school year is 'too little, and it will be too late,' Health Min. officials say.

Delta variant forcing synagogues to re-evaluate holiday plans

Synagogues made COVID-safe High Holiday plans. Then came the Delta variant.

CDC raises travel health notice for Israel to Level 3

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls on Americans not to travel to Israel unless fully vaccinated.

Increase in morbidity in haredi educational institutions

Number of serious COVID cases in Israel continues to rise, now stands at 121.

The Health Ministry glitch that caused COVID infections

Glitch causing notices telling people they no longer had to quarantine leads to carriers spreading COVID.

Snow Leopard contracts COVID at San Diego Zoo

Rare and endangered big cat diagnosed with COVID-19 after care specialists noticed it had a cough and a runny nose.

Health Min. Director: Rise in COVID cases troubling

Prof. Nachman Ash hopes green passport restrictions will reduce outbreak as number of serious COVID cases surpasses 100.

Holiday Lockdown:

Israel may impose lockdown during holidays, health chief warns

Director-General of Israeli Health Ministry says government is considering imposing a new lockdown during holiday season.

Over 100 coronavirus patients in serious condition

Nearly 200 hospitalized, over 100 coronavirus patients in serious condition.

Israel's largest airport steps up COVID restrictions

Ben Gurion airport announces restrictions on who can enter terminals.

Coronavirus: Postpartum woman, 38, fighting for her life

Unvaccinated pregnant woman in critical condition after contracting coronavirus.

Education Minister: Don't turn schools into vaccination centers

Officials claim Education Minister called vaccines 'controversial' as she works to block plans to encourage children to get the jab.

Flight attendants helpless in face of mask-refusing passengers

Israeli passengers have a list of excuses for why they aren't wearing masks - and flight attendants can't do anything about it.

Fauci: We’re going in the wrong direction

Top US infectious diseases expert says the country is in an “unnecessary predicament” of COVID-19 cases fueled.

Dr. Fauci defends funding coronavirus research in Wuhan

The United States gave around $600,000 toward research into whether coronaviruses could be transmitted from bats to humans...

Health Ministry chief: Don't travel abroad unless it's vital

Policies regarding travel & quarantine likely to change, warns Health Ministry director-general.

Preschoolers get COVID after sick worker ordered to show up

Preschool short on workers tells teenage employee to show up for work, despite having COVID symptoms.

New study shows vaccine efficacy in preventing serious illness

Study shows vaccine gives between 2 and 8 times more protection from serious case of Covid-19.

Could the Olympics become a 'super-spreader' event?

With the pandemic hitting a new wave, athletes competing at the 2021 Olympics in Japan are facing a whole new reality.

US: Growing number of vaccinated individuals infected by COVID

The Delta variant of COVID-19 has proven a lot more infectious, but experts say symptoms usually don't go beyond those of a regular cold.

Internal rebellion brewing as China denies origins of COVID-19?

With China blocking a W.H.O.-mandated COVID origins probe, local scientists are beginning to question the government's approach.

Far fewer haredi COVID patients in current wave

High vaccination rates, number of people who have already recovered, and adherence to guidelines keep infections down, health ministry says.

80% of vaccinated coronavirus carriers didn't infect anyone

New Health Ministry data shows vaccinated coronavirus carriers did not cause mass outbreaks.

Coronavirus: Nearly 90 in serious condition

MDA announces new vaccination stations for teens as number of vaccinated youth remains static, while number of new coronavirus cases rises.

US to purchase 200 million more Pfizer doses

The doses are expected to be delivered from October 2021 through April 2022.

Health Ministry chief: I'm against attacking refusers

Professor Nachman Ash: The vaccine is important, but I don't believe in attacking those who refuse to get it.

European agency recommends Moderna vaccine for teens

European Medicines Agency recommends authorizing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 17.

Do arrivals from abroad actually keep quarantine?

Health Ministry admits: Supervisors visited just 42% of those who were supposed to quarantine following arrival in Israel.

Over 10,000 active coronavirus cases

Number of serious coronavirus cases jumps by 19 in a single day, Health Min. data shows.

Survey: Most Israelis support airport closure

Majority of Israelis support airport closure, do not agree with Coronavirus Cabinet decisions, new survey reveals.

China rejects WHO plan for a study of COVID-19 origin

China rejects World Health Organization's plan for a second phase of investigation into the origin of the coronavirus.

Meet the guys who find COVID in sewage

The Health Ministry’s national lab for environmental virology tests sewage across Israel to pinpoint high risk coronavirus infection areas.

Malfunction at airport: Passengers falsely diagnosed as positive

Infection in testing machine cause incorrect results in COVID-19 tests.