But Chezy Levy stresses 'all of us want to avoid' such a move, cautions there's 'no magic wand' to swiftly bring down infections; Health Ministry: 2,740 new cases recorded Thursday

But Chezy Levy says drop not sufficient to cut chains of infection; NSC reportedly pushing for further restrictions; presentation of Gamzu plan reportedly delayed

Education minister insists studies will begin as planned on September 1, says those who claim otherwise are creating 'unnecessary panic'; virus death toll rises to 606

Israel tops 80,000 infections amid continued failure to bring infection rate down; number of serious patients up by 11 to 369

Health Ministry confirms almost 2,000 infections in 24 hours, but rate of positive test results is declining; serious patients up by 29 in a day, continuing to flood hospitals

Chezy Levy says decision-makers are weighing all options to halt spread of virus; ministers reportedly critical of new coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu, say he appears 'incompetent'

'We're doing everything... so this will happen,' Prof. Chezy Levy says, as Health Ministry announces nine more deaths from virus

PM has always sought to sideline competing ministers and make all the decisions himself; that strategy served him well in the first wave of the virus, but then he got distracted

If one specimen in tube comes back positive for COVID-19, all others will be tested individually; Health Ministry hopes to roll out method within days

Health Ministry says demonstrator was at Rabin Square from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, days after officials warned that gathering would feed increase in infections