Special Coverage

The booster would be administered to immunocompromised children and others in that age group who have serious co-morbidities so long as three months have passed since their second dose.

Health Ministry data indicates children and adolescents vaccinated against COVID-19 are better protected against the Omicron variant than the unvaccinated. Infection rate hits 17% as nearly 72,000 Israelis test positive for the virus.

Education Ministry is pushing for lawmakers to change the current self-isolation guidelines that have confined thousands of children – and their parents – to their homes.

British leader says if data supports it, he may end the legal requirement for people to self-isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus.

Government approves millions in aid for cultural institutions impacted by the Omicron wave. Under pressure, PM Bennett weighs ending weeklong quarantine for unvaccinated students exposed to confirmed carriers.  

Despite claims by Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton that 90% of Israeli students are going to school per normal, just 27% of parents say their children have been in school over the past week.

Dr. Michael Ryan tells World Economic Forum that if vaccines and other tools aren't shared fairly, the "tragedy" of the virus, which has so far killed more than 5.5 million people worldwide, will continue.

Antibody cocktail by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was also given to former President Donald Trump when he contracted the disease. Technical problem of Health Ministry's coronavirus data website persists. Sheba Medical Center research shows a fourth vaccine dose provides only limited defense against the Omicron variant.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute, 54% of Israelis say the pandemic caused them to change their daily routine, but most prefer to stay at their current job.

Several other countries already shortened the mandatory quarantine period, including the United States and Britain. Israel is currently seeing an unprecedented wave of infections driven by the Omicron variant.