In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, government advisers conclude vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and over. American Academy of Pediatrics president hails US Food and Drug Administration endorsement as “a light at the end of the long tunnel of this pandemic.”
Ministers convene to discuss imposing new restrictions that would ban individuals from being inside another person's home between the hours of 5:30 pm and midnight. Violations of the curfew to incur 500 shekel fine, according to Health Ministry proposal aimed at preventing people from gathering in small spaces over the Hanukkah holiday.
Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport, PM Netanyahu declares the end of the pandemic is "in sight," says that, seeking to serve as an example to the public, he will be vaccinated first.
With over 67,000 tests administered in the past 24 hours, the percentage of tests returning positive stood at 2.8% on Monday, down from 3.2% on Sunday and 3.9% Saturday.
The cabinet's decision now awaits the approval of the government, which is expected to convene Tuesday afternoon to decide on the matter.
Likud MK Yifat Shasha-Biton blasts Health Ministry for failing to send senior official to Knesset Coronavirus Committee meeting. With an infection rate of 3.3%, ministry officials call for drastic measures to be implemented to curb the spread of the virus. There are currently 342 Israelis in serious condition. Of those in serious condition, 88 are on ventilators.
Survey finds just 18% of Israelis would refuse vaccine, with women more likely to do so than men. WHO emergencies director warns there is no magic bullet for coronavirus, "Vaccines do not equal zero COVID," he says.
Director-General of the Health Ministry Prof. Hezi Levi calls on healthcare providers to prepare for the arrival of four million COVID vaccines expected in the coming weeks.
the Committee on Intelligence Services says possible policy shift comes amid improved epidemiological research carried out by the IDF's Homefront Command.
The first batch of doses will be enough to inoculate two million people, with a second two-million batch to be delivered later.
