coronavirus

June 22, 2022, 11:44 pm

COVID czar: Israel in midst of pandemic’s sixth wave, but no restrictions pending

Salman Zarka says current spike, being fueled by Omicron subvariant, is not as serious as previous outbreak; also urges Israelis to mask indoors

By TOI staff

Former NYC mayor Bill de Blasio, running for Congress in District 10, meets with members of the Borough Park Orthodox Jewish community, June 19, 2022. (Courtesy of Reuvain Borchardt/Hamodia. Used With Permission/ via JTA)

June 22, 2022, 4:47 pm

Bill de Blasio seeks forgiveness in bid for Orthodox votes in Borough Park

Apologizing for a 2020 tweet berating Jews for large gatherings held during the pandemic, the former NYC mayor hopes to win back the major voting bloc

By Jacob Henry

COVID-19 rapid antigen testing in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 21, 2022, 11:45 am

Israel sees over 10,000 new coronavirus cases for 2nd day in a row

Number of seriously ill patients continues to rise, reaching 180; COVID czar says he believes verified cases are only ‘tip of the iceberg’ due to low testing rates

By TOI staff

Magen David Adom medical team members at a drive-through coronavirus testing site in Tel Aviv, on March 22, 2020 (Flash90)

June 20, 2022, 11:22 am

Israel sees over 10,000 new coronavirus cases, highest daily number since April

Health Ministry reports 168 people in serious condition, a rise of 95% from last week; health officials tell hospitals to prepare for reopening of dedicated COVID-19 wards

By TOI staff

Family members visiting a family member at the coronavirus ward of Ziv Medical Center in the northern city of Safed on February 15, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

June 17, 2022, 6:19 pm

Israel sees 70% spike in number of seriously ill COVID patients within a week

‘It’s an unpredictable and unstable situation,’ says immune system expert Prof. Cyrille Cohen, urging lawmakers to ‘actively encourage herd immunity among the vulnerable’

By TOI staff

A boy receives a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a community vaccination center in Hong Kong on Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

June 15, 2022, 11:03 pm

FDA advisers approve COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5

Reviewers say Moderna and Pfizer shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old, with side effects minor and less common than in adults

By Mike Stobbe and Lindsey Tanner

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

June 15, 2022, 2:06 pm

Health official: Israel likely seeing up to 20,000 daily COVID cases amid outbreak

Virus czar Salman Zarka reiterates importance of indoor masks, says BA.5 strain quickly overshadowing Omicron

By TOI staff

Children receive their dose of COVID-19 vaccine, at a vaccination center in Jerusalem on December 30, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 14, 2022, 2:56 pm

Facing COVID spike, Health Ministry recommends third vaccine dose for kids 5-11

Health clinics told to ready to open up shots for youngsters as daily caseload passes 7,000; so far, just 20% in that age group have had even a single shot

By TOI staff

A woman wearing a face mask walks in downtown Jerusalem, March 16, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2022, 9:41 pm

Health Ministry urges, but doesn’t demand, return to masks amid spike in infections

Nearly 6,000 new COVID cases diagnosed in a day and 103 in serious condition, with reproduction number climbing to 1.51 — the highest it has been since previous wave

By TOI staff

A Magen David Adom health worker take a swab sample from at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing complex in Jerusalem, on March 22, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 13, 2022, 4:15 am

Vaccinated people who recovered from Omicron found to be best protected against BA.5

Doctor at Sheba Medical Center says a person who’d been infected with Omicron but hadn’t been inoculated against COVID ‘is not protected’ from other strains

By TOI staff

People stand in line to be tested for the COVID-19, at a testing center on HaBima square in Tel Aviv, on March 28, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

June 12, 2022, 8:00 pm

Key COVID-19 transmission figure hits 3-month high as renewed outbreak intensifies

Positive test rate for virus rises to 29.77%, highest since early April; virus czar says it’s still not a wave, but admits many cases unreported

By TOI staff

In this May 19, 2021 file photo, a licensed practical nurse draws a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a mass vaccination clinic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

June 11, 2022, 6:30 am

FDA says Moderna COVID vaccine effective in children under 5

Data showed it was less effective than in trials on adults, but authorities say it’s because tests were done during highly contagious Omicron wave

By AFP

June 8, 2022, 12:31 pm

Official warns of COVID wave; PM, health minister hold off new restrictions for now

As cases rise, indoor masking recommended for the public; virus czar says 5th vaccine dose may be needed; transmission rate continues to rise, positive test rate over 20%

By TOI staff

A woman talks to a friend from her apartment balcony, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jerusalem on March 31, 2020. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

May 31, 2022, 4:03 pm

Virus czar: Compulsory quarantine for COVID-19 patients could end next month

Salman Zarka says staying home will still be recommended for those infected; Health Ministry director says 5th round of vaccination being considered but admits public reluctant

By TOI staff

People watch a TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file image, at a train station in Seoul, South Korea, May 25, 2022. (AP/Lee Jin-man)

May 25, 2022, 1:10 pm

North Korea tests suspected ICBM and 2 other missiles, hours after Biden leaves Asia

South Korea alleges rogue state fired projectiles into sea; if confirmed it would be first launch in 2 months; reported test comes as Pyongyang claims its 1st COVID wave receding

By Hyung-Jin Kim and KIM TONG-HYUNG