Special Coverage

COVID infection rate slightly down as 903 Israelis test positive for the virus. Noticable drop in new coronavirus cases reported in South Africa, where the Omicron strain was first detected.

US health officials predict 2021 will see at least 15,000 more COVID deaths than 2020, the most lethal in US history to date.

Health Ministry task force recommends fourth shot for people age 60 and over, healthcare workers, as government decides on a series of restrictions to battle Omicron wave.

One of the most influential ultra-Orthodox leaders, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky instructs Torah-learning institutions to "make sure to get the vaccines to schools" and inoculate the students.

After meeting into the night, ministerial forum on tackling the pandemic decides to limit access to certain shops within malls to fully vaccinated, as well as shift to remote learning in certain cases.

Following outbreak at Maaleh Adumim schools, Mayor Benny Kashriel adds more COVID testing sites, orders mobile testing units and stricter enforcement of COVID regulations, as well as more vaccinations. Nationwide, virus reproduction rate hits four-month high of 1.28.

"There is a lot of anxiety on the issue of vaccination," according to one school principal. A small but vocal group of parents is behind the efforts to sow panic, promote conspiracy theories across the country, she says.

Health Ministry's Chief COVID-19 Officer Professor Salman Zarka says Omicron wave will be like nothing we've seen before, stresses that vaccines provide the best protection.

"Don't depend on your neighbor being vaccinated – it won't help you," prime minister says at cabinet meeting as Health Ministry reports highest virus reproduction rate since early September.

Reports suggest infection caused by Israeli family returning from South Africa, who violated self-isolation guidelines. Government kicks off new quarantine guidelines for returnees from abroad. Palestinian Health Ministry detects three Omicron cases in West Bank.