coronavirus restrictions

Huda Zaqqout reads from a large copy of a Muslim holy book at her home, a few weeks before she is slated to travel to Mecca for the Muslim pilgrimage of hajj, in Gaza City, May 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

June 15, 2023, 12:08 pm

‘Now I can die in peace’: After long waits, new pilgrims ready for COVID-free hajj

After 3 years in which pandemic limited attendance and long waiting lists swelled further, Muslims from Gaza, Indonesia and the US prepare for once-in-a-lifetime visit to Mecca

By Agencies and ToI Staff

A man receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Maccabi vaccination center in Modi'in, on January 6, 2022, soon after fourth shots were introduced. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

February 14, 2023, 8:23 pm

Health Ministry announces cancellation of few remaining COVID restrictions

Obligatory home isolation for those with the virus to end in May, rule requiring masks in medical facilities and retirement homes discontinued this week

By Luke Tress

Chinese passangers wait in a line to have their COVID-19 vaccination documents examined as a preventive measure against coronavirus, after arriving at the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Roissy, outside Paris, on January 1, 2023. (JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

January 3, 2023, 12:09 pm

China decries ‘unacceptable’ COVID restrictions on nation’s travelers

Official warns of ‘countermeasures’ to restrictions as country faces huge wave of infections after ending strict quarantine measures

By Laurie CHEN and Hector RETAMAL

Masked travellers use their smartphones to fill in their health declaration after checking in at the international flight check in counter at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

December 30, 2022, 2:28 pm

Israel joins nations requiring travelers from China to submit negative COVID tests

Measure does not apply to Israeli citizens, who have been advised to avoid all unnecessary travel to China amid surge in virus cases as Beijing lifts zero-COVID policy

By ToI Staff and AP

File: Passengers wearing masks walk through Beijing Capital Airport terminal, in China, December 13, 2022. (AP/Ng Han Guan)

December 29, 2022, 2:36 am

US, others to require travelers from China to submit negative COVID tests

Beginning January 5, America-bound passengers must test for virus no more than two days before flying, as cases in China jump following end of zero-COVID policy

By Carla K. Johnson

Residents mourn for the victims of a recent deadly fire at a residential building in Urumqi city in Shanghai, China Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (Chinatopix Via AP)

November 27, 2022, 5:52 am

‘Open up’: Anger against COVID lockdowns erupts across China, fueled by deadly fire

Protests held in Shanghai and elsewhere after demonstrations in western Xinjiang region against draconian measures in place for months, blamed for making Urumqi blaze worse

By HUIZHONG WU and Dake Kang

Tourists walk in downtown Rome, Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

July 2, 2022, 7:55 am

After two pandemic years, world sees summer travel bounce — and chaos

Israelis and Palestinians among those hoping for a rebound from COVID woes, but the recovery is likely to take time

By Laurie Kellman

Coronavirus czar Prof. Salman Zarka seen during a press conference near Tel Aviv, on November 9, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

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

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

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

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

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts during the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations (Leon Neal / POOL / AFP)

June 6, 2022, 12:00 pm

Embattled UK PM Johnson to face confidence vote from within his own party

More than 15% of the ruling Conservative party demands a vote on Boris Johnson’s leadership in the wake of the ‘partygate’ scandal over gatherings held during COVID lockdown

By Jill Lawless

Mike Peleg outside Dekel Prison, Beersheba, on June 1, 2022 (Screen grab/Ynet)

June 2, 2022, 11:38 am

75-year-old jailed for four hours for going to the beach during COVID lockdown

Mike Peleg, from coastal city of Ashkelon, refuses to pay NIS 500 fine, is briefly locked up in Dekel Prison

By ToI Staff

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves from 10 Downing Street in central London on May 25, 2022, to attend the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (Daniel LEAL / AFP)

May 25, 2022, 3:12 pm

UK probe into ‘partygate’ blames Johnson and top officials for rule-breaking culture

Report points to ‘failures of leadership and judgment’ at 10 Downing Street, providing detailed information on lockdown gatherings; critics say scandal necessitates his resignation

By Jill Lawless