With serious cases decreasing, Nachman Ash says 'there is hope' virus spread has been curbed and 'vaccines will outweigh the effect of the start of the school year'

Serious cases slightly rise on Saturday to 677, but are still on the decline since peak in current wave of 753

Forecast from Hebrew University points to an optimistic trajectory for current wave of pandemic, finds recent case spike is due to increased testing among kids

Expert advising government says morbidity declining faster than recently predicted; relaxed quarantine rules for those immunized against COVID take effect

Serious patients now at 666 after reaching 753 on Sunday; despite active cases passing 90,000 and with over 11,000 daily infections, COVID czar expresses 'cautious optimism'

Serious cases down by 36 since start of day and testing positivity rate also drops slightly compared to previous days, but death toll jumps by 56 in 24 hours

Health Ministry figures show 6,576 new cases identified on Sunday; ministry chief says leveling-off of serious cases means holiday lockdown off the table

Teachers union said planning to ban unvaccinated or untested pupils, supplies of rapid tests intended for first day reportedly failing; some procedures still unclear

Shasha-Biton says initial statements opposing vaccines during school hours were 'too harsh,' vows to 'unreservedly' help Health Ministry implement inoculation plan

Officials will back return to classrooms on September 1, reports say, and expect serious cases to drop to some 500 by mid-September