Daily Briefing Jan. 3 – Omicron encroaches, and Israeli food tech expands

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Tech Israel editor Ricky Ben-David and health and science correspondent Nathan Jeffay join host Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay offers an update about Omicron and the possible public policy of herd immunity, as well as the likelihood of many Israelis getting the virus within the next several weeks. He explores the difficulties of taking data from other countries regarding Omicron and Israel’s experience so far.

He also discusses the juxtaposition of flu and COVID, as well as the growing number of birds found with avian flu, and the concerns about it.

Ben-David speaks about Israel’s need for a national food tech plan in order to stay ahead of other countries, looking at the three areas of food technology currently being worked on by various startups and laboratories.

Discussed articles include:

What a herd immunity policy would look like, and why it may be premature for Israel

Up to a third of Israelis predicted to get COVID in next 3 weeks; tests running out

First patients in Israel receive Pfizer’s coronavirus-fighting pill

Avian flu killing birds in Israel could jump to humans, warns epidemiologist

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