coronavirus restrictions

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

Travelers at Ben Gurion International Airport, on June 30, 2021, heading for COVID-19 tests. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

May 21, 2022, 6:27 am

Israel ends COVID tests for international arrivals as pandemic continues to recede

In another milestone, masking requirements on international flights will also largely end starting Monday

By TOI staff

The central city of Netanya and the Mediterranean Sea, December 2020 (Alexey Firsov via iStock by Getty Images)

May 17, 2022, 7:39 pm

Away for 2 years, foreign owners flock back to Israel homes as COVID rules are eased

Non-citizens who own second homes in Israel are once again able to reach them, though many are finding time did not treat their properties well

By Danielle Nagler

A woman wears a face mask on a flight from Ben Gurion International Airport to Rome on February 21, 2020. (Nati shohat/Flash90)

May 17, 2022, 1:44 pm

Israel to end mandatory masking aboard international flights on May 23

‘We aren’t keeping unnecessary restrictions in place,’ health minister declares, while testing requirements for flying will end Saturday

By Alexander Fulbright

Travelers arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel enter the COVID-19 testing area, July 1, 2021. (Nati Shohat/FLASH90)

May 16, 2022, 10:05 pm

Starting Saturday, air travel to Israel won’t require any COVID tests

Health Ministry says that, like Israelis, foreign arrivals won’t have to take PCR tests at Ben Gurion, nor will they have to test negative before boarding flights to Israel

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A small green sea turtle makes his way through the sand towards the sea after hatching from a nest, at Palmachim Beach on August 17, 2020. (Mila Aviv/Flash90)

May 11, 2022, 2:09 pm

Daily Briefing May 11: Israel’s biodiversity is in decline. So are COVID cases

Environment reporter Sue Surkes brings a startling comptroller report; health reporter Nathan Jeffay explains global urgency of vaccine booster and talks of ‘prejudice psychology’

By TOI staff

Medical technicians test passengers for COVID-19 at Ben Gurion International Airport, on March 8, 2021. (Flash90)

May 8, 2022, 2:34 pm

Israel to scrap mandatory airport COVID testing on May 20

Also, starting Tuesday, noncitizens will be allowed to take an antigen test instead of a PCR before boarding incoming flight, as remaining virus regulations are further scaled back

By TOI staff

People walk past a sign instructing them to wear face masks in closed places, outside the Cinema City in Jerusalem, on August 12, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

April 23, 2022, 2:40 pm

Israel’s indoor mask mandate ends after two years

Israelis have been subject to requirement for all but 10 days since April 2020; masks will still be required at hospitals, senior living facilities, planes

By Alexander Fulbright and TOI staff