'It's an unpredictable and unstable situation,' says immune system expert Prof. Cyrille Cohen, urging lawmakers to 'actively encourage herd immunity among the vulnerable'

Doctor at Sheba Medical Center says someone once infected with the COVID variant but lacks inoculation 'is not protected' from other strains

Vaccine reportedly triggers increased resistance across prior variants, although it's unclear for how long; study performed on 437 people and is not yet scientifically reviewed

Report says Health Ministry to recommend indoor masking for the elderly, at-risk; transmission rate continues to climb, test positivity rate over 20%

First 2 cases of BA.5 reported in Israel; ministry also announces another infection from BA.4 subvariant, both of which are spreading in South Africa

Knesset committee told officials will meet in coming weeks to discuss lifting further restrictions, including quarantine for positive cases

Passengers from South Africa, Singapore and Italy found to be infected with BA.4; Health Minister Horowitz says no reason to worry at this time

VP at US pharma firm says data showing shot it developed to help counter Beta variant 'really give us hope' that boosters can be adjusted for other coronavirus strains

Official figures show pandemic further receding in wake of Omicron-fueled outbreak that pushed morbidity to record levels

Fresh booster for each new coronavirus wave may be wise based on findings, says study author Dr. Tal Brosh, a top hospital doctor and government adviser