Michigan:

School district closed for 1 week after antisemitic death threat

Note containing threat to staff member of Richmond, Michigan school leads to week-long closure as police search for culprit.

Watch: How did piece of paper become symbol of Chinese protests?

What does a blank piece of A4 paper represent and how did it become the 'face' of anti-lockdown protests in the country?

Chinese COVID lockdowns lead to iPhone shortages

Workers in Zhengzhou factory locked into compound following virus cases.

Sweden halts COVID vaccination for healthy children

Swedish schools remained open throughout pandemic, but severe illness in children was rare.

Watch: Fauci drops bombshell about 'draconian' lockdowns

Fauci admits that school lockdowns were a disaster for US schoolchildren.

New research:

New cases of type 2 diabetes in kids doubled during lockdown

"Being confined at home" led to serious health consequences, say John Hopkins researchers.

Experts conclude: Lockdown responsible for child hepatitis

"When restrictions were lifted, children with lack of prior immunity were exposed to a whole battery of new infections."

Lockdown effects:

25% of students have reading comprehension difficulties

Study finds 1 in 4 4th graders struggle with reading comprehension 2 years after COVID lockdowns began

Watch

Shanghai residents protest draconian COVID policies

Thousands quarantined following positive COVID test in substandard conditions while city of millions remains under harsh lockdown.

Boris Johnson to be fined after admitting to lockdown parties

Britain's Prime Minister is to be fined for throwing parties at his formal residence during strict lockdowns in the country.

British PM Boris Johnson to be fined for breaching lockdown

Also to be fined: Finance Minister and at least 30 others.

Watch: China imposes draconian 'Zero Covid' measures in Shanghai

For over two weeks China’s capital city, Shanghai, has been locked down, with about 26 million people trapped in their apartments.

Shanghai on lockdown: ‘Like living in a cage’

China's latest COVID-19 lockdown has some residents angry with the government's response.

'Zero COVID' China reports sharp rise in virus cases

Hundreds of neighborhoods locked down as authorities admit failures & "insufficient understanding of virus."

Victor Davis Hanson: COVID lockdowns killed small businesses

Commentator Victor Davis Hanson explains how COVID lockdowns further enriched large corporations at the expense of small businesses.

Israel Freedom Convoy heads for Jerusalem

Protesters demand cancellation of govt emergency powers, end to discrimination based on vaccination status.

New meta-analysis of lockdown studies shows 0.2% impact

John Hopkins researchers note "devastating effects" of failed policies, add that studies of 1918 Spanish flu drew similar conclusions.

Boris Johnson admits he broke COVID rules, faces calls to resign

Johnson admits attending garden party with around 40 staff at time when rules only permitted meeting with one other person outdoors.

Health officials warn: Lockdown if number of serious cases rises

Health officials warn: If Israel reaches 1,200-1,500 serious COVID-19 cases, complete lockdown will be needed.

Health Minister: 'I don't think there will be a lockdown'

'For unvaccinated people, illness from Omicron variant may be severe - people need to go get vaccinated,' Health Min. Horowitz says.

Bennett: Lockdown may be unavoidable

PM Bennett reportedly said in closed conversations that a lockdown may be inevitable due to uptick in COVID-19 cases.

What's going on in China?

13 million people locked down with just a few hours' notice, after 127 COVID cases diagnosed.

Economy Min.: 'If we reach a lockdown, we didn't act correctly'

'No one is planning a lockdown,' Economy Min. Orna Barbivay promises.

Bennett warns of lockdown if vaccination rates don't rise

Internal Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev suggests imposing green pass on people leaving their homes as Omicron strain spreads.

Businesses fear lockdown with the spread of Omicron variant

Business owners and the tourist industry worry government won't provide compensation if country goes into lockdown.

Slovakia enters lockdown amid record COVID cases

After Austria orders lockdown, Slovakia enters its own lockdown on vaccinated and unvaccinated alike as cases rise to record levels.

Austria: Tens of thousands march against lockdown, vax mandate

Nearly 40,000 demonstrators march in Vienna to protest Austrian government's new COVID lockdown, plans to impose vaccine mandate.

Interior Minister promises: 'No lockdown over Rosh Hashanah'

Interior Min. Ayelet Shaked promises there won't be a lockdown for Rosh Hashanah. 'We will all celebrate with our families.'

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."

'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.

PM Bennett: If we get vaccinated now, we can avoid a lockdown

'It's in arm's reach, but we're not there yet, we're at the peak of the battle at this very moment,' PM Bennett says.

'If there is a lockdown, I'll go to synagogue'

Education Ministry failed to adequately prepare for the start of the haredi school year, MK Meir Porush says.

Israel passes 'threshold' for lockdown

With no lockdown in sight, Israel passes 600-severe-cases lockdown threshold.

Bennett: We can beat Delta strain, get vaccinated

PM Bennett says lockdown is weapon of last resort against spread of COVID, calls on citizens to get the vaccine to prevent a lockdown.

New Zealand on lockdown after 1 case of COVID-19

The island nation's Prime Minister said she wanted to ensure her country took measures before things got out of hand.

New Zealand locks down over 1 COVID case

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern orders entire country into full 3-day lockdown after first COVID case in 6 months detected.

Rambam hospital director: Gov't demanded that we drop standards

Dr. Halbertal describes gov't determination to avoid lockdown at all costs, hospitals ordered to absorb thousands of serious cases.

Australia rabbis condemn violations of coronavirus lockdown

An illicit engagement party roils Australian Jews as new COVID-19 outbreak extends lockdown.

Decision on lockdown - one week before holidays

Health Min. official: Israel has approximately two weeks before it must decide whether to impose a lockdown.

Health Ministry Director:

'We will have a lockdown if serious cases continue to rise'

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash says third vaccine doses must reduce case numbers this week or there will be a lockdown.

Shaked: Lockdown - the 'last resort'

Shaked said everything must be done to avoid another lockdown - including vaccinating individuals aged 40 and above.

How many Israelis would obey a lockdown?

PM Bennett is pushing vaccinations, epidemiological investigations, in an effort to avoid lockdown, report says.

Poll:

Israelis sharply divided over holiday lockdown

Most Israelis say fourth lockdown would represent failure by government to handle COVID crisis - but plurality back lockdown.

Secret agreement: Silence in exchange for additional staff

The government promised to provide hospitals with additional staff - in exchange for complete silence, no matter what.

Experts warn: Lockdown or forced inoculation

With the Delta variant on the rise, health officials are at odds over measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Minister: Tough COVID restrictions on haredim - but not Arabs

'Get third vaccine to prevent fourth lockdown.' Housing Minister Ze'ev Elkin warns gov't will impose lockdown if it has no choice.

Netanyahu: Bennett wasted valuable time

Netanyahu blasted Bennett for failing to implement a more effective policy for dealing with COVID after he'd 'rid the country of the virus.'

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.

'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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

Return to lockdown imminent as infections spike continues?

As Israel enforces new restrictions following an increase in COVID cases, the country may be headed for yet another lockdown.

Liberman: We'll get Joint List support for budget if need be

The Finance Minister was asked if there would be a lockdown over the High Holidays. He said he'd act according to "experts' advice."

Holiday Lockdown?

Senior Israeli health official warns of possible fourth lockdown

'Everyone knows that if we don't get things under control, we're heading for a lockdown,' says senior health official.

White House rules out lockdown as Delta picks up steam

According to new findings, the Delta strain of COVID-19 is more infectious than the common cold.

Coronavirus in Israel: 201 serious cases, 31 intubated

PM Bennett announces new policy: Lockdown only when hospitals are on the cusp of being overwhelmed.