Coronavirus

HM requests teaching staff vaccinate as early as this week

In addition, COVID-19 vaccine campaign will be extended this week to people aged 60 and under suffering from chronic diseases.

'Trump vaccine' - 2020's biggest media screw-ups

'The Five' review the media's biggest 'meltdowns' from the year that was.

Commentator: 'Decision to pay extra for vaccine deserves prize'

Israel pays about $30 per vaccine. Commentator Amit Segal: 'Germany, where some of vaccines were developed, gets after us; US is crawling.'

Awakening in the time of Corona

Truth acts as a smelling salt sent to wake the sleeping soul and widen our pipeline to Hashem. Opinion

'COVID-19 will remain for another 10 years'

Vaccine inventor: 'Virus will stay with us for at least next 10 years. We'll have to get used to more outbreaks.'

Bank of Israel:

Third lockdown will cost Israel 5 billion shekels

Bank of Israel estimates that upcoming nationwide lockdown will cost Israel roughly 2.5 billion shekels per week.

Nearly 4,000 new COVID cases diagnosed in 24 hours

Coronavirus infection rate declines, but number of new cases remains close to 4,000 per day, with 506 patients in serious condition.

Israelis souring on lockdowns, poll shows, as 3rd lockdown nears

Opposition to coronavirus lockdowns mounting, with Israelis now roughly evenly divided on the issue, new poll shows.

Iran: US approved funds transfer for COVID-19 vaccines

Head of Iran's Central Bank says US caved to global pressure and allowed Iran to purchase vaccines for coronavirus.

French President free of COVID-19 symptoms

French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus last week and had been self-isolating near Paris.

Vaccines on Shabbat? This is the position of the Chief Rabbi

Chief Rabbi says permission to vaccinate in Shabbat will be considered when vaccinations are given in all hours of the day during the week.

Netanyahu: Israel will be first nation to defeat COVID-19

PM Netanyahu revealed his strategy for what he expects to be the final months of the virus.

Genesis Prize announces winners of COVID-fighting competition

Winners announced in competition started by Natan Sharansky among Israeli companies to find innovative solutions to COVID pandemic.

Health Ministry: Lockdown may be longer than 2 weeks

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Hezy Levy says ministry may seek to extend length of lockdown due to rising number of patients.

Bennett: Internal struggles kept gov't from solving crisis

Head of Yamina & PM candidate Bennett says a 'failing government isn't capable of carrying out epidemiological testing.'

Lockdown eased for Christians; prayer up to 100 people together

Coronavirus Cabinet approves special reliefs for Christian houses of worship. Synagogues on Yom Kippur had much stricter restrictions.

Study: Face masks can increase danger of COVID infection

Research showed that masks alter manner of inhalation and promote respiration of Covid-19-carrying aerosols.

'Lubavitcher Rebbe's opinion was that vaccines should be taken'

Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Yaroslavsky calls on Chabad adherents in Israel to get Covid vaccination. 'A matter of saving lives.'

'Reckless and harmful'

Emergency council of senior physicians appeals lockdown to MKs

Public Emergency Council for the Coronavirus Crisis: 'We state unequivocally that the closure is more harmful than beneficial.'

Coronavirus Commissar calls lockdown 'too short'

Prof. Nachman Ash estimates that for lockdown to yield hoped-for results, inevitable to extend it beyond two weeks decided on last night.

Former Rabbi of Jerusalem hospital writes against COVID vaccine

Fmr. Rabbi of Bikur Cholim: 'It's my obligation to publicize issue, prevent hardship'. Hospital: Letter does not represent our hospital.

Do I or don’t I take the COVID-19 vaccine?

Rabbis and rabbinical organizations are giving their advice. Some adamant everyone must, others just as adamant that no one should. Opinion

Leading rabbi at Jerusalem yeshiva hospitalized with COVID-19

Rabbi Sholom Povarsky from Kol Torah Yeshiva in Jerusalem taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after contracting coronavirus.

Ministers approve: Two-week lockdown starting Sunday

Cabinet ministers approve two-week lockdown that will include restrictions on movement in an attempt to bring down number of COVID-19 cases.

Could fibrates turn Covid into little more than common cold?

Initial clinical data from Hebrew U supports early evidence of fenofibrate ability to prevent lung damage in Covid patients.

California doctor fired after questioning coronavirus lockdowns

Dr. Michael Debloisblanc discusses why he spoke out against the restrictions on Fox News.

UK: Another Covid mutation discovered

UK Health Secretary says 2 cases of yet another new strain, this one linked to South Africa, discovered.

Health Ministry: Contagious British strain of Covid is in Israel

Ministry says 4 cases of Covid mutation first discovered in Britain have been found in Israel.

Epidemiology head resigns: 'Thousands quarantined unnecessarily'

"Army officers suddenly became undisputed experts in epidemiological research despite lacking any training," top health official explained.

616 British Jews have died in coronavirus pandemic

British Jews more than two times as likely to die of the coronavirus as British non-Jews.

Coronavirus Czar:

'We need a new lockdown immediately, I hope it will be the last'

Prof. Nachman Ash warns of 'alarming spike' in infection rates, says government must quickly impose 3rd lockdown.

Trump: Majority of relief money headed towards foreign interests

In a special message, Pres. Trump lambasts Democrats' provisions to COVID relief bill, says not enough being done to help American citizens.

Government to deliberate today on plan for total lockdown

Health Ministry pushing for full lockdown including closure of school system and non-essential businesses.

Fox News: Pelosi planning to pull Trump out of WH 'by his hair'

Fox News says it's increasingly difficult to take Pelosi seriously, establishment politicians trying to imitate Trump don't come off well.

Trump criticizes Congress over COVID relief bill

US President calls on both chambers to send a new bill with an increase in stimulus money for Americans.

Former PM Barak granted exemption from hotel isolation

Ehud Barak returns from London but is not required to isolate at a hotel and receives permission to isolate in the privacy of his own home.

Watch: Israelis wait for rescue flights from Dubai

Activist Ezri Tubi recorded Israelis waiting for flights from Dubai, hoping to arrive in Israel before isolation obligation takes effect.

Netanyahu:

'Israel could be among 1st countries to emerge from crisis'

Prime Minister says start of vaccination campaign could herald end of coronavirus crisis, but morbidity numbers are still rising.

Third lockdown is now inevitable, says Israeli Health Minister

'We wasted precious time, now the infection rate leaves us no choice but to impose a lockdown,' says Health Minister Yuli Edelstein.

Extremists in Bnei Brak burn down coronavirus testing station

United Hatzalah testing station in Bnei Brak destroyed by arsonists opposed to coronavirus testing.

Healthcare worker receives 5 doses of COVID vaccine by mistake

"I feel fine, although of course it is worrying."

Orthodox leaders back calls for mass vaccination

Despite small but vocal group of anti-vaccine rabbis, Orthodox leadership expresses support for new vaccine, urging public to get vaccinated

'$4 in my bank account': Pandemic has left millions poor

More than 50 million people in the U.S. will experience food insecurity by the end of 2020. What can we do for them?

Watch: Biden receives coronavirus vaccine

President-elect receives first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on live TV: This is great hope.

UK mutation:

British NGO directs query to Health Minister as lockdown looms

As early as May, scientists had identified at least 12,706 mutations of COVID-19. Time For Recovery UK asks questions about new strain.

Council of senior physicians: Third lockdown 'national disaster'

'What characterizes situation today is confused public, misinformation, a lot of intimidation, and of course, apocalyptic predictions.'

EU approves Pfizer vaccine

European Medicines Agency issues first approval for a coronavirus vaccine, says new virus strain should not effect vaccine's effectiveness.

Leading European Rabbis call on Jews to get vaccinated

Conference of European Rabbis calls on Jews of Europe to listen to their doctors about receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

Netanyahu plans full closure of air travel into Israel

Following reports of fast-spreading coronavirus mutation in Europe and South Africa, Israeli PM pushes for closure of air travel to Israel.

10,000 Israelis vaccinated on 1st day, 200,000 made reservations

Health Ministry reports massive demand for new coronavirus vaccines among senior citizens and other at-risk groups.

Blue and White MK Hila Shai-Vazan diagnosed with COVID

'Unfortunately, I have tested positive for the coronavirus,' says MK. 'I'm experiencing light symptoms and hope to recover quickly.'

Saudi Arabia suspends flights following new coronavirus mutation

Saudi Arabia suspends all international commercial flights and entry to the kingdom through land and sea ports for a period of one week.

Coronavirus continues to rapidly spread in Gaza

Rate of coronavirus infections in the Gaza Strip ranges from 30 to 45 percent, says PA health official.

Congress reaches deal on COVID-19 relief package

Republicans and Democrats strike deal on a nearly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.

Magen David Adom to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff

MDA launches mass-vaccination program targeting Israeli nursing home residents and employees.

3rd Lockdown?

After reports of COVID mutation, Netanyahu plans new lockdown

'This new mutation is a Second Coronavirus, we need a full lockdown,' says PM, calling to convene gov't meeting to rule on national closure.

US care home residents need only give verbal consent to vaccine

US government allows pharmacies to secure consent "however they want" including for dementia patients.

Watch: Hospital staff break out dance moves after vaccination

Israeli hospital staff began a 'Happy Dance' following vaccinations. Older population & at-risk residents next in line for treatment.

COVID vaccine is kosher, manufacturers promise

No pork used in coronavirus vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca.

Londoners fleeing locked-down capital risk arrest

Trains fully booked ahead of midnight deadline as government says lockdown could last for months.