coronavirus

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visits students at the Ramon School in Modi'in, on October 12, 2021.(Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Bennett expands Green Classroom plan as COVID numbers continue to drop

Program that reduces quarantine times for children exposed to virus carriers extended to more cities as well as to daycare centers

Coronavirus czar Prof. Salman Zarka attends a press conference about the coronavirus in Jerusalem on August 29, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Virus czar warns against easing COVID restrictions too quickly, fearing 5th wave

By TOI staff

October 19, 2021, 6:29 am

Bennett expands Green Classroom plan as COVID numbers continue to drop

Program that reduces quarantine times for children exposed to virus carriers extended to more cities as well as to daycare centers

By TOI staff

Medical workers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem treat patients in the hospital's coronavirus ward on October 14, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/ Flash90)

October 18, 2021, 11:22 pm

Israel’s COVID-19 death toll surpasses 8,000

Serious cases dip further to 357, amid continued decline in morbidity; another 1,000 infections confirmed since midnight

By TOI staff

Empty vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine are seen on the counter at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination center at a pharmacy in the suburb of Cabramatta in Sydney on August 17, 2021. (Saeed KHAN / AFP)

October 18, 2021, 1:13 pm

Israel to offer AstraZeneca vaccines starting Thursday

Doses will be available to those 18 and over who are unable to get mRNA-based vaccines like the ones made by Pfizer and Moderna

By TOI staff

An ultra-Orthodox man has his son tested for COVID-19 in in Lod, on October 17, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

October 18, 2021, 12:28 pm

1 in 3 Haredim caught coronavirus, double the national average – study

31% of community have been confirmed positive compared to 13.7% of other Israelis; think tank says behavior in Haredi society to blame, others question conclusion

By Nathan Jeffay

Empty beds in the intensive care unit at the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on October 14, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

October 17, 2021, 11:09 pm

COVID death toll stands at 7,999 as transmission, serious cases continue decline

Bennett declares victory over fourth wave, but coronavirus czar cautions: ‘We’re still far from normal’

By Amy Spiro

October 17, 2021, 10:46 am

Virus czar warns against easing COVID restrictions too quickly, fearing 5th wave

Salman Zarka says he is still optimistic, as 734 new cases are recorded Saturday; reports say ministers to approve removal of some remaining virus rules anyway

By TOI staff

Illustration of the new Green Pass, in Jerusalem, on October 4, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

October 16, 2021, 11:23 pm

Enforcement of scanning Green Pass’ QR codes starts Sunday, after tech issues

Serious COVID-19 cases fall to 382, and daily positive rate hovers at 1.6%; ministers set to meet Monday to discuss easing some remaining restrictions

By TOI staff

Dr. Jonathan Weinkle of Pittsburgh's New Community Chevra Kadisha pours water as part of an October 3 ritual completion of tahara ruchanit, or spiritual cleansing. (Adam Reinherz/ Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle via JTA)

October 16, 2021, 3:59 am

After tweaking rituals during pandemic, a US Jewish burial society makes amends

A chevra kadisha in Pittsburgh returns to the graves of over 100 people who died in 2020-21 to pray and ‘apologize’ for being unable to perform preparation for burial in entirety

By Adam Reinherz

Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash at press conference about the coronavirus, in Jerusalem on August 29, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

October 15, 2021, 2:32 pm

Health Ministry chief says COVID curbs to be eased, but mask mandate to continue

Nachman Ash estimates booster vaccine will offer longer protection than first 2 doses, as outbreak continues to wane; positive test rate lowest in almost 3 months

By TOI staff

Supported by UJA-Federation of New York, volunteers with Met Council package food for the elderly, including hundreds of Holocaust survivors, in May 2020. (Met Council)

October 15, 2021, 11:10 am

Study: Jewish New Yorkers suffered financial, mental health strain during COVID

22% of adults in Jewish households faced reduced hours or income over the last year, according to a poll conducted by the UJA-Federation of New York

By julia GERGELY

Shaare Zedek hospital team members wearing safety gear as they work in the Coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem, on October 14, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

October 14, 2021, 11:39 pm

PM said pushing wide rollback of COVID curbs as case numbers plummet

Measures include expanding Green Classroom pilot program to daycares, reduction of criteria requiring Green Pass for children under 12, removing gyms from Green Pass requirement

By TOI staff

People walk with face masks in Jerusalem city center on October 7, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

October 14, 2021, 12:34 pm

Number of seriously ill COVID cases drops to lowest level in 2 months

Health Ministry figures show positive test rate below 2% for fifth day in a row, but director-general warns there will be no let-up on some infection precautions for months

By Stuart Winer

Illustrative: A child stands on a scale (Dmitriy Protsenko; iStock by Getty Images)

October 13, 2021, 8:07 pm

To fight childhood obesity, Israeli docs prescribe app that gamifies weight loss

The pandemic has accentuated the problem; with kids struggling to follow health advice between doctor appointments, prize-driven software could help keep them committed

By Nathan Jeffay

Travelers are seen at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 20, 2021. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

October 13, 2021, 4:16 pm

Israel may allow vaccinated tourists in from November 1 — though US in question

A number of countries may be initially excluded from potential framework for non-group travelers, due to absence of deals to recognize vaccination certificates

By TOI staff

Clowns wearing protective equipment entertain a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care ward for coronavirus patients at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Nov. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

October 13, 2021, 1:47 pm

Daily Briefing Oct. 13 – Can Israel celebrate the end of the Delta wave?

Health and science editor Nathan Jeffay discusses the drop in coronavirus cases; senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur looks at a push for Likud power from politician Yuli Edelstein

By TOI staff