Coronavirus Outbreak

Hai Shoulian continued to call for protests against the vaccine and Israel's green pass vaccination certificate policy until he succumbed to the virus at Wolfson Medical Center.

A total of 7,686 new cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed across Israel Sunday, down from 10,183 new cases reported a day earlier. Local authorities to distribute rapid coronavirus tests to parents before the resumption of classes following High Holidays.

Citing lack of ICU beds, staff, Professor Galia Rahav, who heads Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer's Infectious Disease Unit, calls coronavirus morbidity "insufferable," very difficult. "I feel like Don Quixote," she says.

As reproduction rate drops to 0.8, Health Ministry chief attributes slowdown in new infections to administration of third vaccine dose. Inoculation "the most effective tool in the fight against the coronavirus," Ash says.

Prime Minister Bennett warns that pilgrims who violate rules could face criminal charges, as authorities fear hundreds of more such cases among the 25,000 Israelis who traveled to the Ukrainian city for the Rosh Hashanah celebrations.

With first plea ignored, World Health Organization chief says: "Because manufacturers prioritized deals with rich countries, low-income countries have been deprived of the tools to protect their people." In Israel, Delta wave shows signs of abating as reproduction rate drops to 0.83. Fifty Israelis die of COVID over Rosh Hashanah.

With tens of thousands of Israelis expected to either contract virus, receive third vaccine dose in coming weeks, officials say over 80% will have some protection from disease. Israel to present vaccine booster data to FDA.

Professor Nachman Ash says it remains to be seen whether the booster shot campaign will be able to counter the start of the school year and the High Holidays, as number of COVID patients listed in serious condition reaches 679, with 143 on ventilators.

With no official guidelines for how to celebrate High Holidays, Health Ministry Director-General recommends Israelis hold limited gatherings outdoors, ask attendees to take rapid COVID test ahead of Rosh Hashanah meal.