Authorities order closure of public venues, cancellation of gatherings in Iranian capital days after Islamic Republic sees record number of infections in a day

The contagion rates, serious case numbers and death toll are dire and worsening. They are not yet exponential, but they will be soon in the absence of a coherent, credible strategy

Ronni Gamzu says he recommended just tightening restrictions, but was rebuffed by government; respects final decision

Cabinet ministers trying to cover for their failed management of crisis, charges Bennett; 'What's the plan' to prevent a third lockdown, demands Lapid

Ministers limit holiday prayer gatherings and demonstrations, close 'nonessential' businesses ; finance minister decries new closure's 'critical' harm to the economy

Reports: Measure will last until October 10; demonstrations limited to 1km from home; synagogues to shutter except for limited prayers on Yom Kippur; cabinet convenes to okay plan

As outbreak surges, Blue and White chief derides 'obsession' with halting rallies, while PM claims party playing politics; Poll: Majority back halting protests, shutting synagogues

Finance Ministry chief urges health officials to resist more severe lockdown despite runaway infections; ministers expected to review fresh limits on workforce, synagogue closures

PM is both the grand strategist who produced the peace being unveiled Tuesday, and the political acrobat whose ceaseless campaigning is undermining Israel's coronavirus fight

Report by IDF's Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center also shows virus's doubling rate is on the rise, as is the doubling rate of serious cases