Coronavirus

Health Min: Vaccine much less effective against Delta variant

Study finds Pfizer vaccine drops to 39% effectiveness against infection, but remains above 90% effective at preventing serious illness.

Bennett: 'Vaccine refusers endanger us all'

Prime Ministers calls on the unvaccinated to get the COVID jab. 'Vaccine refusers are endangering other people's health and our freedom.'

Israel reimposes Green Pass restrictions

Coronavirus Cabinet reimposes 'green pass' limits, limiting entry to gyms, synagogues, restaurants, events, to the vaccinated, recovered.

Will students be able to travel to Israel easily?

Amudim CEO: Thanks to concerted efforts, a new system will allow thousands of students to travel to Israel seamlessly and swiftly

Male COVID carrier dresses in niqab to evade detection

Indonesian man disguises himself as his wife in order to board domestic flight, but makes one error...

Tourism Minister slams incoming travel restrictions

Tourism Min. Yoel Razvozov claims restrictions on incoming travel 'out of proportion,' imported cases are a 'drop in the sea.'

Fourth day in a row: Number of new coronavirus cases above 1,300

Nearly 10,000 active coronavirus cases around Israel as number of patients in critical condition rises to 19.

Israeli doctors to gov't: Include different opinions about COVID

Dozens of Israeli doctors call on gov't to integrate professionals with different opinions into the COVID decision-making echelon.

Netanyahu: Get the 3rd vaccine dose right now

Opposition leader says after talking with Pfizer CEO and other experts that the over-50 population must receive a 3rd vaccine shot.

1,400 new coronavirus cases in a single day

Number of active coronavirus cases reaches nearly 9,000, 140 patients hospitalized.

Health funds demand unvaccinated pay for coronavirus tests

CEOs of Israel's health funds demand those who choose not to vaccinate shoulder the financial burden of their own coronavirus tests.

Health Ministry to push for return of Green Passport system

'Fatal blow for tourism industry.' Businesses worried as Health Ministry poised to back full green pass system, quarantine for all travelers

New COVID restrictions on mass gatherings go into effect

New guidelines for large events go into effect, as government promises to fine violators.

Israel warns of 'dire' consequences of ignoring COVID guidelines

Bennett warned of increased risks of the new, 'more deadly' Delta variant, as well as greater fines for disregarding health guidelines.

Harry Rosenfeld, key editor in exposing Watergate, dies of COVID

Harry Rosenfeld, refugee from Nazi Germany who became the Washington Post editor who helped 2 reporters expose Watergate scandal, dead at 91

'A single law for theaters and synagogues'

Religious Affairs Ministry formulating plan for synagogues during holiday season, promises single standard for all venues.

Health Ministry: Nearly 8,000 active coronavirus cases

Number of coronavirus deaths rises to 6,451, with another 62 patients in serious condition.

Health Min. official: '1,400 new cases were diagnosed yesterday'

'Challenge at airport is to reduce infections, while at the same time we want to allow exit from Israel,' Health Min. Director General says.

Education and Health Ministries discussing return to school

Children will study without capsules, those who test positive verified will be sent for isolation.

Nearly 7,000 active coronavirus cases across Israel

Number of new cases above 800, 66 coronavirus patients in serious condition, Health Ministry data shows.

Health Minister: No plans to close the airport now

'Entry and exit from Israel will be under close supervision, but we won't close the airport,' Health Min. Horowitz says.

New plan for opening school year: Weekly coronavirus tests

Center for Local Authorities presents new plan for school year without zigzags or capsules.

PM Bennett: 'Whoever violates coronavirus laws will pay'

PM Naftali Bennett emphasizes: 'Coronavirus laws are obligatory, not recommendations. Whoever violates them will pay.'

Breslov yeshivas to fly to Uman one month early?

Breslov hasidim aim to prevent coronavirus restrictions from disrupting annual pilgrimage to Uman - by sending yeshiva students early.

Britain lifts pandemic restrictions on daily life

Nightclubs now able to reopen and other indoor venues allowed to run at full capacity.

Will the airport close? Gov't denies but will ban more countries

3 families who recently returned from abroad sparked almost 600 COVID cases.

'No justification' for Israel to restore green pass requirement

President of Jerusalem hospital warns against reimposing 'green badge' system to require vaccinations for entry into public areas.

Prof. Ash: 'This is not the time to travel abroad'

Health Ministry director-general admits vaccines declining in efficacy: "We have yet to understand why."

UK's PM Boris Johnson enters quarantine after COVID contact

News comes as UK is set to lift almost all COVID restrictions.

Spread of Delta variant is 'unstoppable' says Hebrew U professor

Prof. Gazit blames airport arrivals for new wave, says regulations & vaccines aren't helping enough.

Bennett demands indictments against COVID regulation violators

Prime Minister meets with Health, Internal Security Ministers to discuss efforts to increase enforcement of COVID restrictions.

Over 1,000 people infected with COVID-19 at Netherlands festival

'Staggering' infection rate at Utrecht festival highlights Dutch government's failings in pandemic management.

Health Minister: 'Enough playing pretend'

Health Min. Horowitz condemns criticism of Dr. Alroy-Preis as 'out of place,' says he backs Ministry professionals 'completely and totally.'

Over 1000 new coronavirus cases in a single day

In a worrying trend of increasing morbidity, Israel once again saw more than 1,000 new positive tests over the last 24 hours.

Top health official: There are no plans for a holiday lockdown

Head of Public Health Services denies that health officials are pushing for holiday lockdown: We have to live with the virus.

COVID-19 in Israel: 671 new cases, 1.4% positivity rate

Ministry of Health says 104 COVID-19 carriers are hospitalized, but there is a decrease in the number of patients in serious condition.

Soccer championships may have caused new wave

Dozens of Israelis travelled to Europe to watch the finals - and they may have brought the new wave of infections back with them.

Netanyahu: We need two million vaccines now

Opposition leader Netanyahu addresses the best plan of action to counter the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

CDC: More than 99% of COVID victims had preexisting conditions

Fear and anxiety can be deadly when it comes to COVID, new study finds, showing top risk factors for dying of the coronavirus.

Jerusalem Hospital President:

'We're panicking too much over latest COVID outbreaks'

Prof. Jonathan Halevy, president and former director of Shaare Zedek Hospital, says fears over latest COVID outbreaks are overblown.

FDA could authorize vaccines for children in midwinter

Emergency authorization for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 12 could come in early to midwinter, says FDA official.

Los Angeles County to reimpose mask mandate

Los Angeles County will require residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces following spike in cases of COVID-19.

Health Ministry Director General: Holiday lockdown a possibility

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, says a lockdown could be imposed during the high holidays.

Government rolls out 'celebration permit'

Prime Minister Bennett has created a 'celebration permit' for holding large events safely in spite of the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The new government site for requesting entry into Israel

Israeli government announces new websites for requesting entry permits, replacing email requests to local consulates.

Third day in a row, Israel sees over 700 new coronavirus cases

Health Ministry reports 765 new coronavirus cases, 54 patients in serious condition.

Data shows coronavirus vaccine reduces number of serious cases

Initial Health Ministry data shows percentage of serious cases reduced by nearly half.

Israeli official: Holiday lockdown a possibility

Official who took part in Coronavirus Cabinet meeting raised concerns about another possible lockdown.

Health Ministry chief signs order shortening quarantine

Prof. Nachman Ash signs amendment that will make it possible to shorten the isolation to seven days subject to two negative tests.

Bennett: We will try to defeat COVID without lockdowns

PM says spread of Delta variant can be defeated if the public takes responsibility and cooperates, including by getting vaccinated.

Shas MK: 'I smell a lockdown on haredi communities'

MK Malkieli notes number of coronavirus infections is rising, says lockdown will be on the table the moment the numbers rise among haredim.

U.S. suspects 'booster' shots may increase side-affects

The United States is reviewing the need for a third COVID-19 shot but health experts fear it may increase chances of severe side-affects.

Passengers stuck aboard cruise ship due to COVID infection

Nearly 3,000 passengers confined to their cabins after one of them tests positive for COVID.

'Millions of kids at risk' as Delta variant spreads

While Israel is handing out 3rd 'booster shots' of anti-Corona vaccine, half of America yet to receive their first dose.

Watch: Russians vaccinating house pets, wild animals

Russia began vaccinating domestic animals against COVID-19 about a month ago, claiming other countries are also interested in the treatment.

Man in serious condition after contracting coronavirus in Greece

Unvaccinated man, 53, hospitalized in serious condition after contracting coronavirus in Greece.

Iran facing 5th COVID-19 wave after refusing US, UK vaccines

Restrictions have been reimposed in Iran as the Delta variant has claimed thousands of lives across the sanction-riddled state.

754 new COVID cases, number of seriously ill patients rises

Coronavirus infection rate continues to rise rapidly. 5,172 active cases of the virus in Israel.

Lapid in isolation after adviser tests positive for COVID

Foreign Minister in quarantine despite testing negative for COVID after an adviser tests positive in delegation returning from Brussels.

Coronavirus Cabinet shortens quarantine to 7 days

PM Bennett: Don't say what to close but how to open, prepare moves well in advance so as not to surprise people.