Biden's top medical adviser Fauci says carrier is a twice-vaccinated traveler who returned from South Africa and is experiencing mild symptoms

Ministry statement comes after reports that 4 Israelis have caught new strain, makes no mention of doctors who say they contracted it; 34 more suspected cases being probed

Matanyahu Englman says ‘right to privacy’ must be upheld and that 96.5% of people Shin Bet ordered into quarantine were found to have not been infected

After facing criticism, premier says he no longer recommends avoiding international travel due to details learned in past few days about Omicron strain

World Health Organization says halting flights ineffective, will deter future reporting of variants; US moves to toughen testing rules for travelers

PM argues phone tracking, closure of borders necessitated by continued uncertainty over new coronavirus strain, touts boosters as effective tool to combat pandemic

Both cases are of medical staff at Sheba hospital, with 1 of them recently returning from London conference; 34 Israelis also suspected to have been infected with new variant

Dutch health institute announces that it detected mutated coronavirus strain in samples taken before South Africa alerted WHO about new variant; cases also found in Japan, France

Raz Nizri tells Knesset panel that while tool shouldn't be used on civilians, 'every rule has an exception'; ministers advance law letting program go on past Thursday

Stephane Bancel says there's 'no world' in which protection will prove to be the same against new strain, says he expects a 'material drop'