coronavirus cabinet

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman speaks during a faction meeting of his Yisrael Beytenu party at the Knesset, on July 26, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 5, 2021, 11:23 am

Like Lapid, Liberman also not attending coronavirus cabinet meetings

Finance minister says he has been busy preparing state budget; opposition MKs slam both ministers for ‘negligent’ attitude

By TOI staff

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a Yesh Atid faction meeting at the Knesset on August 2, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 4, 2021, 11:09 pm

Lapid has not attended a single coronavirus cabinet meeting

Rejecting criticism, the foreign minister and alternate PM says his presence at the decision-making forum is unnecessary and his representatives there update him

By TOI staff

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks during his visit to the Beilinson Medical Center on July 27, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

August 4, 2021, 8:52 pm

Health minister: Lockdown over holidays is a last resort

Nitzan Horowitz says keeping ‘quarantine, masks and restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport’ are the only things that can prevent a new lockdown

By Amy Spiro

Travelers stand in line to get coronavirus checks upon arriving at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on July 1, 2021. (Nati Shohat/ Flash90)

August 3, 2021, 4:54 pm

Arrivals from 18 more countries, including US, Greece, to require quarantine

Italy, France and Egypt also added to list of countries from which travelers must self-isolate from next Wednesday even if vaccinated

By Amy Spiro

A young Israeli receives a COVID-19 vaccine in Petah Tikva, on July 19, 2021. (Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 5:56 pm

Israel to start vaccinating kids aged 5-11 who have severe background illnesses

Health Ministry says it will limit approval only to children with highest risk of serious complications if they catch COVID-19

By TOI staff

Medical staff conduct tests for coronavirus in Jerusalem on July 22, 2021 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 11:33 am

Over 2,000 daily virus infections for 1st time since March; serious cases rise

17 more patients in serious condition since Monday evening; health minister cautions against ‘indifference’ to rapidly rising case numbers

By TOI staff

People walk on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, July 25, 2021 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 27, 2021, 5:43 am

Daily COVID cases reached new high of 1,700 on Monday

Such numbers not seen since mid-March; some 2,000 travelers infected with coronavirus are said to have entered Israel this month

By TOI staff

People, some wearing face masks, walk on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, July 25, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 26, 2021, 12:17 pm

Daily rate of positive COVID tests goes above 2% for first time since March

Serious cases rise to 108, with top expert urging steps to curb outbreak; 12 recent Delta Plus cases identified; travelers to no longer be seen off or greeted inside airport

By TOI staff

A technician collects swab samples for COVID-19 at a testing center run by the Tel Aviv Municipality at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on July 20, 2021. (Miriam Alster/ Flash90)

July 25, 2021, 8:30 pm

Serious COVID cases in Israel top 100, for first time in 3 months

Number of Israelis in serious condition with the coronavirus has doubled over the past 10 days, but remains a fraction of the figure seen in January

By Amy Spiro

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, on July 21, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 10:58 pm

Bennett: Vaccine refusers are endangering the entire country

PM warns another lockdown is possible if one million holdouts aren’t immunized, says aim is ‘to have an open and safe country’

By TOI staff

Illustrative image: A woman shows her green pass as she arrives to watch a play at the Khan theater in Jerusalem, on February 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 7:57 pm

Ministers okay return of Green Pass; plan to ban travel to UK, Cyprus, Turkey

As of next Thursday, Israelis will once again need to present proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID, or a negative test, to attend certain events

By TOI staff

Then-coronavirus czar Nachman Ash attends a press conference in Jerusalem on June 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 12:17 pm

Health Ministry head says no thanks after Netanyahu contacts Pfizer, Moderna

Nachman Ash says ministry has direct relationship with pharma companies, and booster decision should be left to experts; serious cases rise as cabinet set to meet on restrictions

By TOI staff

Shaare Zedek Medical Center staff wearing protective clothes move patients to the new coronavirus ward of the hospital in Jerusalem, on January 7, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

July 22, 2021, 3:08 am

Seriously ill COVID patients recovering faster than in earlier waves — report

Patients listed in serious condition spent an average of 8 days in the hospital in first week of July, compared to 10-12 days during first half of year

By TOI staff

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks during a press briefing on July 21, 2021. (Screen capture: Facebook)

July 21, 2021, 5:17 pm

Health minister warns ‘long months’ ahead in battling Delta variant

Nitzan Horowitz predicts rise in serious cases, but aims to reopen schools in fall; ministers to meet Thursday, but reportedly won’t mandate isolation for all returning travelers

By TOI staff

Gal Sade Knigsfild and Nofar Almakias pose for a picture with face mask before their wedding in Moshav Yashresh on April 6, 2020. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

July 15, 2021, 8:45 pm

Ministers announce new ‘Revelry Pass’ for weddings, large events

If approved, guests at large indoor events will be required to present vaccination certificate or negative test; Health Ministry chief warns High Holidays lockdown possible

By TOI staff