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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 534

Salman Zarka

Magen David Adom emergency service staff with a patient from the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on February 9, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
December 9, 2022, 2:29 am
Coronavirus czar calls for return to masking in public as infections climb
Salman Zarka urges Israelis to take precautions during Hannukah, get updated vaccine; Health Ministry warns flu, RSV viruses spreading
By ToI Staff
Illustrative image: an Israeli woman receives a coronavirus vaccine at the Hadassah Medical Center, in Jerusalem, on January 6, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
September 15, 2022, 6:46 am
Israelis to start getting new variant-tailored shots by end of month — COVID czar
Second-generation vaccines being distributed to healthcare providers, as scientific community waits expectantly to see how much they help
By Nathan Jeffay
COVID czar Salman Zarka seen during a visit of Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz at the Ziv medical center in the northern Israeli city of Safed, on June 23, 2022. (David Cohen/Flash90)
September 14, 2022, 4:31 pm
COVID czar reports rise in infections, warns of fresh wave in winter
Salman Zarka urges people to get vaccinated for coronavirus and flu, noting that new vaccines adapted to variants have arrived in Israel
By ToI Staff
Jerusalemites wearing face masks walk in the city center in February 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
July 18, 2022, 6:32 pm
COVID czar cautiously optimistic sixth wave will recede soon
Despite recent discovery of new subvariant BA2.75 in Israel, Salman Zarka says mask mandate not expected to return anytime soon
By Ash Obel
Screen capture from video of national coronavirus czar Salman Zarka during a video press briefing, July 6, 2022. (Twitter)
July 6, 2022, 6:47 pm
COVID czar says health officials weighing return of indoor mask mandate
Salman Zarka says highly infectious variant driving 6th wave is a danger to the elderly, steps must be taken to protect at-risk groups; calls for returning travelers to get a PCR
By ToI Staff
Coronavirus czar Prof. Salman Zarka seen during a press conference near Tel Aviv, on November 9, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 22, 2022, 11:44 pm
COVID czar: Israel in midst of pandemic’s sixth wave, but no restrictions pending
Salman Zarka says current spike, being fueled by Omicron subvariant, is not as serious as previous outbreak; also urges Israelis to mask indoors
By ToI Staff
COVID-19 rapid antigen testing in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022 (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 21, 2022, 11:45 am
Israel sees over 10,000 new coronavirus cases for 2nd day in a row
Number of seriously ill patients continues to rise, reaching 180; COVID czar says he believes verified cases are only ‘tip of the iceberg’ due to low testing rates
By ToI Staff
Coronavirus czar Prof. Salman Zarka attends a press conference about the coronavirus in Jerusalem on August 29, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
June 15, 2022, 2:06 pm
Health official: Israel likely seeing up to 20,000 daily COVID cases amid outbreak
Virus czar Salman Zarka reiterates importance of indoor masks, says BA.5 strain quickly overshadowing Omicron
By ToI Staff
People stand in line to be tested for the COVID-19, at a testing center on HaBima square in Tel Aviv, on March 28, 2022. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
June 12, 2022, 8:00 pm
Key COVID-19 transmission figure hits 3-month high as renewed outbreak intensifies
Positive test rate for virus rises to 29.77%, highest since early April; virus czar says it’s still not a wave, but admits many cases unreported
By ToI Staff
Magen David Adom medical team members at a drive-through coronavirus testing site in Tel Aviv, on March 22, 2020 (Flash90)
June 8, 2022, 12:31 pm
Official warns of COVID wave; PM, health minister hold off new restrictions for now
As cases rise, indoor masking recommended for the public; virus czar says 5th vaccine dose may be needed; transmission rate continues to rise, positive test rate over 20%
By ToI Staff
A woman talks to a friend from her apartment balcony, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jerusalem on March 31, 2020. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
May 31, 2022, 4:03 pm
Virus czar: Compulsory quarantine for COVID-19 patients could end next month
Salman Zarka says staying home will still be recommended for those infected; Health Ministry director says 5th round of vaccination being considered but admits public reluctant
By ToI Staff
Travellers wearing protective face masks arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport, on Sunday, November 28, 2021, soon after Israel approved barring entry to foreign nationals to clamp down on a new coronavirus variant. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
March 24, 2022, 10:59 pm
No plans to close airport, Israeli officials say, amid fear of renewed COVID spike
Officials said concerned of outbreak during Passover holiday; daily cases on course to surpass 30,000 next week; first case of BA.3 Omicron strain identified in country
By ToI Staff
A Magen David Adom worker takes a COVID-19 test sample at a drive through complex in Jerusalem, on January 17, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
March 13, 2022, 11:48 pm
COVID reproduction number rising steadily in Israel in recent weeks
Two weeks after most restrictions lifted, coronavirus czar Salman Zarka said to be worried that trend of declining cases will reverse ahead of Purim, Passover
By Amy Spiro
A medical worker tends to a patient infected by the coronavirus, in an isolation ward at the Ziv Medical Centre in Safed, on February 6, 2022 (JALAA MAREY / AFP)
February 13, 2022, 12:55 pm
Rate of new serious COVID cases drops, but virus czar urges caution
Zarka says it’s too early to ease restrictions as Health Ministry reportedly considers canceling mask mandate in light of waning fifth wave
By ToI Staff
An Illustration of the 'Green Pass' vaccine certification on October 4, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 7, 2022, 1:00 am
Green Pass COVID restrictions rolled back as case count falls
Israelis no longer have to flash pass at restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and hotels, but will still have to at events and dance clubs, even as serious cases continue to climb
By ToI Staff
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