quarantine

Doctors administer the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Bronxville, New York (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen).

February 9, 2022, 7:30 pm

Fauci says ‘full-blown’ pandemic in US nearly over, as England to scrap quarantines

Biden’s medical adviser says new treatments and vaccines will make virus ‘more manageable’; UK’s Johnson says measure to ditch isolations will only take effect if infections low

By TOI staff and Agencies

Alon Helfgott speaking from quarantine with Channel 12 news, January 30, 2022. (screenshot)

January 30, 2022, 11:50 pm

Israeli boy, 11, has caught 3 different coronavirus strains

Alon Helfgott has officially been infected with Alpha, Delta, and now Omicron; says he’s been in quarantine 3-4 times since start of school year

By TOI staff

Yaffa Ben-David, head of Israel’s Teacher’s Union arrives for a court hearing at the Labor Court in in Bat Yam, January 27, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

January 27, 2022, 1:43 pm

State prosecutors assail ‘violent and political’ attempt to launch teachers strike

Education official says new quarantine rules will make schools safest places in the country, while teachers union chief says planned walkout was ‘protest,’ not labor action

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Students at the Ramon School in Modi'in, on October 12, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

January 27, 2022, 6:20 am

Court blocks teachers’ strike over canceled quarantine for kids, classes to go ahead

Schools to open normally on Thursday despite strike threat, except in Jerusalem, northern Israel and parts of West Bank, where a snow day has been called

By TOI staff

Children going into 1st grade attend school on their first day of the new academic year at the Pola school in Jerusalem, on September 1, 2021. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

January 26, 2022, 12:22 am

Depression, anxiety in children jumped during pandemic, study shows

Children forced to quarantine multiple times were more likely to exhibit violence toward friends and family and outbursts of anger, according to National Council for the Child

By Amy Spiro

Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash speaks during a meeting at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan on October 24, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

January 18, 2022, 10:26 am

Health boss says shortening isolation risky, with 500 serious cases

Ministry chief Nachman Ash acknowledges quarantine was cut to 5 days mainly due to public pressure, says outbreak peak still a week away, hospitals ‘stretched to the limit’

By Michael Bachner

Illustrative: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, right, and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz hold a press conference at the HaKirya military base in Tel Aviv, November 26, 2021. (Moti Milrod)

January 17, 2022, 6:02 pm

Mandatory COVID quarantine to be shortened to 5 days

Health minister, PM announce that asymptomatic cases can end isolation on fifth day with negative antigen tests; those displaying symptoms must continue for full 10 days

By TOI staff

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks during a press conference about COVID-19, on December 30, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

January 16, 2022, 9:42 pm

Health minister pushes to cut mandatory quarantine to 5 days

Horowitz orders ministry officials to move forward with further shortening of isolation period, days after it was slashed to a week

By TOI staff

Shaare Zedek hospital team members wearing safety gear as they work in the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on January 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 13, 2022, 12:54 pm

Number of seriously ill COVID patients rises, with over 48,000 new virus cases

Data shows that though new case numbers are breaking records, serious illness and deaths still lower than rates in past waves; over 400,000 tests carried out, nearly 12% positive

By Stuart Winer

A Magen David Adom health worker takes a swab sample at a drive-thru coronavirus testing complex in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 11, 2022, 7:27 pm

Israel cuts quarantine for asymptomatic COVID patients to 7 days

Top health official says move will help the economy function while safeguarding public health, amid record surge in cases

By TOI staff

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at a Magen David Adom drive-through complex in Jerusalem, on January 10, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 10, 2022, 11:56 pm

Expert Health Ministry panel recommends slashing quarantine to 7 days

Team backs adoption of ‘simple and clear policy’ for isolating those infected with COVID; advises against expanding eligibility for 4th vaccine dose

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A policeman holds handcuffs. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

January 10, 2022, 9:53 pm

Woman indicted for breaking quarantine while infected with COVID

Prosecutors charge Netivot resident with ‘an act that may spread a life-threatening disease’ for visiting her father at hospital despite testing positive

By TOI staff

Magen David Adom workers conduct COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at an MDA testing center in Jerusalem on January 5, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 5, 2022, 10:30 pm

Health experts expect to keep breaking COVID daily case records as Omicron rages

Conflicting reports as to whether officials foresee manageable number of severe cases or huge jump; surging cases force reliance on potentially unreliable rapid tests

By Amy Spiro

Knesset Economic Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Biton leads a meeting of the committee at the Knesset on December 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 2, 2022, 9:13 am

Knesset member tests positive for COVID-19

Michael Biton, chairman of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, spent hours in the parliament on Thursday holding multiple hearings and meetings

By Amy Spiro

Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital team members in the coronavirus ward in Jerusalem on December 27, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

December 30, 2021, 12:24 pm

Nearly 4,000 new cases as virus surge brings rise in serious patients, transmission

Daily cases nearly triple in a week; PM said to warn surge may leave hospitals on verge of collapse; Pfizer pill shipment set to arrive; 1st case recorded of both COVID and flu

By TOI staff