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Israeli health establishment backs vaccinating children, but not all experts agree

Since the start of the pediatric COVID vaccination campaign last week, only 3.6% of all Israeli children ages 5-11 have been jabbed, with some experts saying coronavirus isn’t dangerous to kids, so inoculating them isn't urgent

The Media Line , 09:09, 12.03.21

Israel confirms third case of Omicron coronavirus variant

Prof. Elad Maor — a cardiologist at Sheba Medical Center — believes he was infected during a medical conference in London; Health Ministry says it was investigating at least 30 other cases

Adir Yanko , 19:52, 12.02.21

Israeli, Omicron-hit doctor says he most likely was infected in London

Professor Elad Maor is one of the doctors who tested positive for new COVID-19 variant upon returning from a big medical conference in Britain; Dr. Dan Elian, a fellow co-worker, got infected as well

Attila Somfalvi , 17:15, 12.02.21

Coronavirus czar says vaccine mandate needed

Prof. Salman Zarka says position is his alone and does not reflect any Health Ministry or government policy; head of public health opposes inoculation mandate, saying country has yet to reach such a stage of emergency

Ynet , 12:58, 12.01.21

FDA panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck

Experts warn drug should not be used by anyone who is pregnant for fear of birth defects, or adults already vaccinated due to lack of testing; medication yet to be tested for Omicron variant

Associated Press , 08:31, 12.01.21

New info shows Omicron spread wider earlier than thought

It remains unclear where or when the variant first emerged or how contagious it might be — but that hasn't stopped wary nations from rushing to impose travel restrictions, especially on visitors coming from southern Africa

Associated Press , 20:37, 11.30.21

Early data show booster effective against Omicron, health minister says

Horowitz stresses importance of keeping economy open despite new variant, government has 'no intention to enact unnecessary restrictions for a prolonged period of time'

Ilana Curiel , 19:05, 11.30.21

Two Israeli doctors infected with Omicron, hospital says

Sheba Medical Center says one of the doctors recently returned from conference in London and likely infected his colleague at the hospital; received three doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine

Reuters , 15:28, 11.30.21

Senior health official claims COVID cases in South Africa multiply every 3 days

Head of Public Health Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis tells Knesset panel new Omicron variant has abundance of mutations strategically placed to cause extensive contagion

Nina Fox , 12:58, 11.30.21

Moderna CEO says vaccines likely less effective against Omicron

Stéphane Bancel tells UK's Financial Times 'there is no world' where current shot has same level of efficacy against new variant and expects to see 'significant drop' in jab's ability to protect from illness

Reuters , 08:04, 11.30.21

Miss Universe hopeful tests positive for COVID-19 in Israel

Organizers did not identify the contestant, and it was unclear if she had the Omicron strain, which has raised alarm worldwide and was detected in two travelers returning to Israel in recent days

Associated Press , 19:25, 11.29.21

WHO says Omicron poses 'very high' global risk, world must prepare

UN agency urges member states to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups since new COVID strain has 'an unprecedented number of spike mutations'; meanwhile, Japan joins Israel in banning entry of all foreigners to country

Reuters , 11:06, 11.29.21

Israel confirms second case of Omicron coronavirus variant

New, highly mutated strain found in woman from central Israel who has been sent to self-isolate in quarantine hotel; Health Ministry reports 14 suspected carriers, three of whom did not travel abroad recently

Yaron Druckman, Adir Yanko , 20:28, 11.28.21

Suspected Omicron cases mild, leading South Africa doctor says

Angelique Coetzee, chair of South African Medical Association, says it's unfortunate that COVID-19 variant had been hyped as 'extremely dangerous' with multiple mutations while its virulence is still unknown

AFP , 19:13, 11.28.21

Israel has Omicron variant 'under control', health minister says

Horowitz defends controversial program tracking cellphones of carriers of new strain, adding that measure will be 'very limited'; senior health official says travel to more countries may be restricted if Omicron cases are detected

Adir Yanko , 18:58, 11.28.21

Coronavirus czar says Omicron 'game changer', vaccines 'vital'

Prof. Salman Zarka tells Ynet new variant is spreading fast, and officials worry over increase in hospitalization of children; adds total closure of Ben Gurion Airport unnecessary but urges Israelis to refrain from international travel

Adir Yanko, Attila Somfalvi , 14:55, 11.28.21

Senior health official backs new curbs over Omicron's 'abnormal' mutations

Head of Public Health Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis tells Knesset committee at least 13 people currently under suspicion of having contracted new COVID variant; says foreigners must be kept out of Israel because tracking them while in country 'impossible'

Nina Fox , 12:22, 11.28.21

New COVID variant spreads to more countries as world on alert

Dr. Anthony Fauci says in an interview potentially more contagious Omicron probably already in the U.S.; WHO warns against overreaction before variant was thoroughly studied

Associated Press , 07:23, 11.28.21

Israel to ban entry of foreigners from all countries over Omicron COVID variant

Coronavirus cabinet also votes to reintroduce use of mobile phone surveillance for contact tracing; Israel becomes first country to shut its borders completely over new strain; Bennett says measure set to last for 14 days

Ynet, News agencies , 00:14, 11.28.21

What is known so far about new COVID variant Omicron

The newly discovered strain carries a mix of known and unknown mutations, which may render it immune to the current vaccines, though its severity remains an open question

AFP , 23:42, 11.27.21

PM warns of state of emergency as cases of new coronavirus variant crop up

Bennett says B.1.1.529 more contagious than Delta variant and seeks aggressive response to stave off its spread; Health Ministry's Dr. Alroy-Preis suggests shutting down Ben Gurion Airport for at least a week after four cases of new strain confirmed

Attila Somfalvi, Adir Yanko , 15:20, 11.26.21

Israel reports first case of new highly mutated coronavirus variant

Hours after Israel embargoes travel to several southern African nations, B.1.1.529 detected in foreign worker arriving from Malawi which is not included in travel blacklist; 2 other travelers also suspected of carrying new bug; all three are vaccinated

Adir Yanko , 10:23, 11.26.21

Israel restricts travel to southern Africa as new coronavirus variant emerges

Bennett announces travel embargo on 7 African nations as reports from South Africa suggest B.1.1.529 could be more transmissible and better adept in evading body's immune response than predecessors

Itamar Eichner, Nadav Eyal , 23:09, 11.25.21

Senior health official says new COVID-19 wave not 'inevitable'

Weizmann Institute's Prof. Eran Segal tells Ynet that Israel must put all of its efforts to vaccinate half of 1.1 million people who have yet to receive the booster, as well as a third of children aged 5-11 in order to see real decline in rising morbidity

Attila Somfalvi, Riki Carmi Piasezky , 15:03, 11.25.21

Nearly 40% of Israel's active COVID patients below age of 12, health officials say

Health Ministry reports 603 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed the previous day, putting the infection rate at 0.74%; against backdrop of rising morbidity, Bennett rules to leave curbs on public gatherings in place for two more weeks

Ynet , 10:36, 11.24.21

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