coronavirus testing

An antigen speed test is pictured in a nursing home in Ammerschwihr, eastern France, on November 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

July 18, 2021, 10:36 am

Israel rolls out pilot for pharmacies to sell rapid home virus tests

Quick tests will also be used at mass events; health officials reportedly pushing to limit access to indoor venues only to vaccinated, recovered

By TOI staff

Healthcare worker takes a COVID-19 test sample in Netanya, on April 13, 2021 (Chen Leopold/Flash90)

July 13, 2021, 3:41 pm

Health Ministry said set to recommend reducing quarantine period to 7 days

Proposal follows calls for isolation period to be shortened to encourage people to keep it, as well as to reduce burden on parents of unvaccinated young children

By TOI staff

A medical worker tests for the coronavirus at a basketball court turned into a coronavirus testing center in Binyamina, June 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

July 13, 2021, 11:40 am

Daily virus rate surges to 730 new cases, highest tally since March

Serious cases stay steady; hospitals warn lack of funding means there may not be enough doctors if outbreak spreads; cabinet set to discuss return of some form of Green Pass system

By TOI staff

A technician tests a passenger for COVID-19 at Ben Gurion International Airport, on June 30, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

July 12, 2021, 10:21 pm

Ministry says testing glitch underreported COVID positivity rate for weeks

Nachman Ash insists airport tests problem being taken care of, says no current plan for new restrictions to deal with renewed outbreak

By Amy Spiro

Israelis wear protective face masks as they shop in Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv, on June 29, 2021. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

July 1, 2021, 11:59 am

Israel records over 300 new daily COVID cases for first time since April

Serious cases climb to 29; over 16,000 vaccine doses administered Wednesday amid race to inoculate children and teens

By TOI staff

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

June 30, 2021, 11:30 pm

Amid eyebrow-raising gov’t decisions, an advanced airport COVID lab stands idle

Instead of using new facilities, authorities inexplicably sending passenger samples far off-site for analysis amid delays; ‘It’s the craziest thing,’ says senior doctor

By Nathan Jeffay

A woman shows her 'Green Pass' as she arrives at a theater in Jerusalem on February 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 30, 2021, 10:52 pm

Daily COVID cases expected to jump to 500 next week; threats to close airport

Health officials reportedly considering return of ‘Green Pass’ system; Interior Minister Shaked warns incoming, outgoing flights could be halted; hospitalization rates remain low

By TOI staff

Travelers seen at Ben Gurion International Airport, on June 23, 2021. (Flash90)

June 28, 2021, 10:51 pm

Some travelers landing at Ben Gurion waiting 10 days for COVID test results – TV

Health Ministry says anyone who tested positive was informed within 48 hours; report says Israel to destroy 800,000 vaccines if no country agrees to buy them

By TOI staff

Israelis shop at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on June 24, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 25, 2021, 1:46 am

Officials mulling cap on crowds if renewed COVID mask mandate fails — report

Education Minister accuses Health Ministry of exaggerating latest outbreak to cause hysteria; coronavirus czar says indoor face-covering requirement could return before Sunday

By TOI staff

Israelis throwing face masks as they celebrate the end of the mask mandate outdoors in Jerusalem, on April 18, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 24, 2021, 8:07 pm

Israel to reinstate indoor mask mandate next week as COVID-19 cases keep rising

Virus czar Ash warns latest outbreak has spread to Kfar Saba, Ramla, Herzliya and other cities, pleads with public not to travel abroad, especially with unvaccinated children

By TOI staff

Masked travelers in the departures hall at Ben Gurion Airport on June 23, 2021. (Flash90)

June 24, 2021, 12:27 pm

Israeli town turns ‘red’ due to COVID outbreak – the first in months

More than 1,000 people in Binyamina are in quarantine amid a spike in cases linked to the extra-contagious Delta variant

By Amy Spiro

A police officer writes up a fine for a woman who was not wearing a mask in Jerusalem on June 24, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 23, 2021, 2:13 am

Not a single Israeli prosecuted for violating COVID restrictions during pandemic

The one man who was set to be charged, for attending a party while knowingly sick, will have his case cancelled due to ‘selective enforcement,’ TV reports

By TOI staff

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett delivers televised remarks at Ben Gurion Airport, on June 22, 2021. (Jack Guez/AFP)

June 22, 2021, 8:29 pm

Bennett urges Israelis not to travel abroad amid rise in COVID infections

Prime minister advises wearing masks indoors as virus cases rebound, urges teenagers to get their vaccines before July 9

By Amy Spiro

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

June 20, 2021, 4:41 pm

Thousands of Israelis allowed to enter country without mandatory COVID test

Health Ministry promises to follow up and test all those who arrived Friday without undergoing a check, although it’s unclear when that will happen

By Amy Spiro

Illustrative: People wait in line to be tested for COVID-19 at Ben Gurion International Airport on March 8, 2021. (Flash90)

June 18, 2021, 9:30 pm

Travelers entering Israel allowed to skip COVID tests after airport overwhelmed

Ministry temporarily suspends rules for some as testing stations unable to keep up with influx of passengers ahead of Shabbat

By TOI staff