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Ran Balicer

A Magen David worker takes a COVID-19 rapid antigen test in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 27, 2022, 1:21 pm
Science of uncertainty: Gov’t adviser on why this COVID wave is so hard to predict
Prof. Ran Balicer says current spike reflects waning immunity, a new variant and summer AC use — but widespread unreported home testing means we don’t know yet how severe it’ll be
By Nathan Jeffay
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on December 19, 2021. (Abir SULTAN / POOL / AFP)
December 19, 2021, 8:23 am
PM urges vaccination to slow Omicron: Time is running out, infection wave is coming
Bennett says border restrictions delayed entry of variant, but there is already community transmission; reportedly not planning a sweeping ban on international travel
By ToI Staff
Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Nov. 30, 2021 (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
December 1, 2021, 11:02 am
Gov’t adviser: ‘Truly don’t know’ if travel ban will end in time for winter tourism
Ran Balicer suggests government will set high bar before skies open, while head of travel agency says industry in tatters and Israel ‘lost whatever goodwill we had from tourists’
By Nathan Jeffay
A technician collects a swab sample for COVID-19, at a testing center in Tel Aviv (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
July 21, 2021, 10:58 pm
Israeli study claims major drop in vaccine protection; experts don’t believe it
Report says protection against serious COVID-19 illness fell to 80%, or 50% for over-60s; government adviser, physician and health statistics expert all criticize research
By Nathan Jeffay
A young Israeli receives a coronavirus vaccine shot at a Clalit vaccination center in Petah Tikva on June 6, 2021. (Flash90)
July 5, 2021, 3:03 pm
Early Israeli data signals Delta strain may bypass vaccine, cause mild illness
But Ran Balicer, chair of Israel’s national expert panel on COVID-19, stresses it is ‘too early to precisely assess vaccine effectiveness against the variant’
By AFP
An Israeli teen receives a coronavirus vaccination in Jerusalem on June 24, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
July 1, 2021, 11:11 pm
Curbing Delta’s force, vaccines keep Israel’s hospitals calm and avert lockdown
‘If we weren’t so well-vaccinated, lockdown would be looming,’ says top government adviser; doctors breathe sigh of relief, but worries linger about ‘weak spot’ in COVID fight
By Nathan Jeffay
Travelers line up for COVID-19 testing at the Ben Gurion International Airport, on June 20, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)
June 21, 2021, 11:58 am
As virus infection rate rises once more, health experts say: Don’t panic
40% of cases in past month said to come from abroad, amid Delta variant fears; Binyamina designated ‘yellow’ town; but professionals say Israel likely protected from serious wave
By ToI Staff
Israelis on the streets of Tel Aviv, May 23, 2021. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
May 24, 2021, 11:15 am
Ministry virus experts say they weren’t involved in decision to end restrictions
Members of Health Ministry team dealing with pandemic question motives behind move; deputy health minister rejects concerns, says recommendation properly considered
By Stuart Winer
A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine injection at Clalit COVID-19 vaccination center in Jerusalem, on February 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/ Flash90)
February 14, 2021, 8:55 pm
Israel’s largest HMO finds vaccines 92% effective in preventing serious illness
Clalit survey of 1.2 million Israelis, half of them immunized, finds that shots drive down symptomatic COVID by 94%
By ToI Staff
People wearing face masks walk in Jerusalem's city center on February 7, 2021 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
February 12, 2021, 11:58 am
Israel on track to reopen large swaths of economy in 11 days — virus czar
Virus reproduction rate said lowest in 3 months; Nachman Ash asks businesses to ‘hang on,’ opening is ‘just around the corner’
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, at the weekly cabinet meeting, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem on June 21, 2020. (Marc Israel Sellem/POOL)
February 5, 2021, 1:02 am
After tumultuous vote, Israel extends lockdown until Sunday; death toll at 5,000
An initial decision, opposed by Blue and White, was ruled invalid by AG Mandelblit, leading Netanyahu to accuse Gantz of ‘condemning many to terrible death’; a compromise followed
By ToI Staff
Israelis wearing face masks walk in Jerusalem on February 4, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
February 4, 2021, 9:04 pm
Netanyahu, Gantz said close to agreement to extend lockdown into next week
Blue and White party has been objecting to Health Ministry plan to add 3 more days of closure followed by gradual easing of restrictions; ministers approve doubling fines
By ToI Staff
Jerusalemites on Jaffa street on January 13, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
February 3, 2021, 8:28 pm
High Israel contagion rates blur effect of Pfizer shot on virus transmission
Data from HMOs carrying out world’s fastest vaccination campaign show vaccine protects against severe illness; not clear, however, whether ‘epidemiological barrier’ formed
By Guillaume LAVALLÉE and Ben Simon
Magen David Adom workers wearing protective clothing outside the coronavirus unit at Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem, September 14, 2020 (Nati Shohat/Flash90)
September 15, 2020, 11:55 am
Daily infection rate surges to nearly 5,000 ahead of lockdown
Record high testing still returns over 10% rate; expert advising government says spread in Israel now ‘out of control’; some 50 said infected as result of a wedding
By ToI Staff
Israelis play tennis on an empty road during lockdown, following the government's measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, April 9, 2020. (AP/ Oded Balilty)
September 14, 2020, 8:34 pm
New measures ‘not even close’ to a full lockdown, says top virus aide
Fresh restrictions, starting Friday, won’t feel anything like the spring closure, claims head of virus czar’s expert panel
By Nathan Jeffay
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