pandemic

Illustrative image: a woman receives a coronavirus vaccine in Kimana, southern Kenya on Aug. 28, 2021. While vaccines have been rolled out in Africa, boosters are lacking there, as in many other parts of the world. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)

Israeli study shows importance of COVID boosters, lacking in much of the world

Many Western countries long ago gave 3rd shots, but many poor countries haven’t; new peer-reviewed research spells out their value in upping antibodies’ quality and quantity

May 10, 2022, 10:02 am

Israeli study shows importance of COVID boosters, lacking in much of the world

Many Western countries long ago gave 3rd shots, but many poor countries haven’t; new peer-reviewed research spells out their value in upping antibodies’ quality and quantity

By Nathan Jeffay

A relative of a person who died of COVID-19 is consoled by another during cremation in Jammu, India, on April 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

May 6, 2022, 12:41 am

Doubling official total, WHO reports nearly 15 million deaths associated with COVID

Current official death toll is over 6 million; US surpasses 1 million deaths

By Maria Cheng

Family members visiting a family member at the coronavirus ward of Ziv Medical Center in the northern city of Safed on February 15, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)

May 4, 2022, 3:24 pm

Israeli researchers warn of new international COVID wave, driven by Delta comeback

Omicron didn’t wipe out the previous variant, which is super-resilient and could reemerge with a vengeance, according to peer-reviewed study based on cutting-edge sewage monitoring

By Nathan Jeffay

Israeli self-employed and small business owners participate in a rally calling for financial support from the government outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, on April 19, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 1, 2022, 3:12 pm

Business owners who must repay undeserved COVID grants go to battle with the taxman

Israel Tax Authority demands return of funds paid out to small businesses and to self-employed professionals who didn’t lose as much income as they had thought during lockdowns

By Shoshanna Solomon

Illustrative image of a mother with postnatal depression (iStock by Getty Images)

April 15, 2022, 7:43 pm

Depression rates among pregnant women, new moms doubled during lockdown, study finds

Researcher ‘surprised’ by the high numbers, and says that even though lockdowns seem to be behind us, it will take time for levels to get back to normal

By Nathan Jeffay

A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

April 13, 2022, 2:55 pm

Israeli researchers propose vaccine trial overhaul: Smart sensors instead of surveys

Today’s trials rely heavily on participants saying how they feel, but Tel Aviv researchers publish a study showing process can be automated

By Nathan Jeffay

A heart transplant patient receives a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at the Sheba Medical Center on December 31, 2021. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

April 10, 2022, 11:56 pm

Israeli study: 4th COVID shot halves death risk among severe patients over 60

Fresh booster for each new coronavirus wave may be wise based on findings, says study author Dr. Tal Brosh, a top hospital doctor and government adviser

By Nathan Jeffay

A Magen David worker takes a COVID-19 rapid antigen test from Israelis, at a Magen David Adom drive through complex in Jerusalem, on March 22, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

April 6, 2022, 10:44 am

The wave that never was: Did Israelis’ ‘common sense’ help stop a new COVID spike?

In March, when case numbers rose again, people didn’t wait for rules, but rather started to take more care; experts say this combined with high immunity levels to reduce infection

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: Dena Rubanowitz describes her struggle with an eating disorder with a caption that reads 'I am not my eating disorder.' (courtesy What I Be)

April 6, 2022, 2:42 am

As eating disorders among teens soar in pandemic, YA novel takes on grave issue

For debut work of fiction about anorexic high school girls, 25-year-old E.J. Schwartz draws on her own recent experience of social media-influenced devastating drive for thinness

By Renee Ghert-Zand

An Israeli man receives a second booster of the COVID-19 vaccine in Modi'in, on January 6, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

March 28, 2022, 1:26 pm

Israeli study: 4th shots were key to saving lives among over-60s in Omicron wave

Research by Clalit, not yet peer-reviewed, shows just one fully-boosted elderly Israeli died for every five un-boosted – raising question of how many could have been saved globally

By Nathan Jeffay

Police officers wearing protective gear control access to a tunnel in the direction of Pudong district in lockdown as a measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Shanghai, March 28, 2022. (Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

March 28, 2022, 1:10 pm

China starts its most extensive lockdown in two years as cases surge in Shanghai

The financial capital has become China’s COVID hotspot, with 3,500 new cases detected Sunday; residents complain of city’s ‘inconsistent’ control measures

By Agencies

Illustrative image: A teenage girl suffering from depression (Ridofranz vis iStock by Getty Images)

March 23, 2022, 5:06 am

Big data shows mental health issues spiked during pandemic among teen girls

Huge Israeli study reveals markedly higher rates of depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, and associated medication among girls, though experts say boys impacted as well

By Nathan Jeffay

Illustrative image: Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge speak to patient William Taylor, 94 , during a visit to the Clitheroe Community Hospital, in Lancashire, England, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, to learn about the challenges faced by rural health providers in the face of the coronavirus pandemice. (James Glossop/Pool Photo via AP)

March 20, 2022, 10:48 am

Transmission rate now over 1, Israel may be following UK to COVID resurgence

Cases spreading fast in Omicron bellwether UK, where some 1 in 30 of people age 70-plus had virus in one week. Israel should be concerned — but has an edge in rules and vaccines

By Nathan Jeffay

A woman receives a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Clalit Health Services in Mevaseret Zion, Jan. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

March 17, 2022, 3:26 pm

Before age 60, 4th vaccine slightly cuts infection rates, moderately thwarts illness

Peer-reviewed Israeli research likely to be widely noted worldwide as health authorities debate whether to administer 4th doses to the general population

By Nathan Jeffay

Workers are seen wearing protective clothes next to some lockdown areas after the detection of new cases of COVID-19 in Shanghai, March 14, 2022. (Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

March 14, 2022, 5:47 pm

China battles multiple COVID outbreaks fueled by ‘stealth Omicron’ variant

New strain challenges country’s zero-tolerance virus strategy as ‘different districts adopt different policies’; Hong Kong leader unsure if public ‘would accept further measures’

By Agencies