COVID-19 Delta variant

Police officers enforce COVID-19 regulations at Ben Gurion International Airport, on July 19, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

Government approves electronic tracking of travelers in quarantine

Public Security Ministry aims to use a cellphone app to monitor arrivals who are supposed to be in isolation

A young Israeli receives a COVID-19 vaccine in Petah Tikva, 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

Illustrative: Doctors and nurses treat a patient at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

July 25, 2021, 11:04 pm

Unvaccinated woman, 38, in critical condition with COVID following birth

Woman underwent emergency delivery after her condition deteriorated; baby in good health; husband, also unvaccinated, and three children also infected

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

Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, as he testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 20, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

July 25, 2021, 7:24 pm

‘Frustrated’ Fauci says US heading in ‘wrong direction,’ as COVID-19 cases soar

Chief medical adviser to Biden laments resurgence, warns mask recommendation under consideration, including for vaccinated

By AP

July 25, 2021, 6:56 pm

Government approves electronic tracking of travelers in quarantine

Public Security Ministry aims to use a cellphone app to monitor arrivals who are supposed to be in isolation

By TOI staff

Health care workers take test samples of Israelis in a drive through complex to check if they have been infected with the coronavirus, in Modi'in, on July 21, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

July 25, 2021, 2:08 pm

Daily Briefing July 25 – Can stats & sanctions bring last unvaccinated to heel?

Health reporter Nathan Jeffay brings context to confusing COVID figures and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur dives into PM Bennett’s spicy statements on anti–vaxxers

By TOI staff

Israelis wear protective face masks in the streets of Tel Aviv, on July 22, 2021. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

July 25, 2021, 1:01 am

80% of vaccinated COVID carriers didn’t infect anyone in public spaces — report

Health Ministry data indicates that just 3% of immunized people who contracted breakthrough infections spread it to 2-3 others at concerts, restaurants, gyms

By TOI staff

An Israeli youth receives the coronavirus vaccine in Petah Tikva, on July 19, 2021. (Flash90)

July 24, 2021, 9:30 pm

Health officials weighing whether to wait for 3rd vaccine dose tailored to Delta

Sharon Alroy-Preis says pandemic is still here: ‘We need to learn to live with it’; health and education ministries to present dueling proposals for new school year on Sunday

By TOI staff

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

In this April 21, 2021, photo, a man dons protective gear before entering a room at a hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

July 22, 2021, 12:29 pm

Rare ‘breakthrough’ COVID cases among vaccinated cause alarm, confusion in US

Top health experts say evidence shows that the inoculations prevent severe disease and death, borne out by data from Britain, Israel

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

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

Over 50 US Congressmen from both sides of the aisle at a press conference in Jerusalem, August 8, 2017 /courtesy)

July 22, 2021, 9:16 am

AIPAC-affiliated congressional trips to Israel delayed over COVID-19 concerns

Visits scheduled for August put off until early 2022 as Delta variant drives up infection rates in Jewish state; events seen as key to building bipartisan support

By Ron Kampeas