Ministry says 4 cases of highly contagious variant discovered, but stresses no evidence that it causes more severe illness

Schools closing as highly contagious strain more likely to spread among children, who will then pass it to adults -- but there's no evidence it will make kids any sicker

Police say Ilan Atlan was operating store in violation of lockdown and that he assaulted officers at scene; owner checked himself into hospital after being freed, due to injuries

Force puts up checkpoints, closes and fines stores, with officials estimating movement is down 70%; however, unenforced violations reported in ultra-Orthodox cities

Netanyahu and Edelstein to get Pfizer's second dose Saturday; 1.7 million Israelis have been vaccinated, but infections still near all-time high

Police to deploy across country to enforce new restrictions beginning midnight; Health Ministry figures suggest slight slowdown in spread of virus

President calls on population to abide by new lockdown due to begin Friday 12:01 a.m., says it's needed so we don't 'kill each other'

Following criticism, grandson of Chaim Kanievsky tells Netanyahu influential leader has ordered educational institutions temporarily shuttered amid surging cases

93,000 people inoculated Wednesday, down from daily highs of 150,000; following up a Pfizer dose with a Moderna one may be allowed in extreme cases; 5% of population have had COVID

Latest effort to curb rise in COVID-19 comes into force at midnight on Thursday, January 7, and will remain in force for at least two weeks. These are the restrictions