Salman Zarka urges Israelis to take precautions during Hannukah, get updated vaccine; Health Ministry warns flu, RSV viruses spreading

Second-generation vaccines being distributed to healthcare providers, as scientific community waits expectantly to see how much they help

Salman Zarka urges people to get vaccinated for coronavirus and flu, noting that new vaccines adapted to variants have arrived in Israel

Despite recent discovery of new subvariant BA2.75 in Israel, Salman Zarka says mask mandate not expected to return anytime soon

Salman Zarka says highly infectious variant driving 6th wave is a danger to the elderly, steps must be taken to protect at-risk groups; calls for returning travelers to get a PCR

Salman Zarka says current spike being fueled by Omicron subvariant, is not as serious as previous outbreak; also urges Israelis to mask indoors

Number of seriously ill patients continues to rise, reaching 180; COVID czar says he believes verified cases are only 'tip of the iceberg' due to low testing rates

Virus czar Salman Zarka reiterates importance of indoor masks, says BA.5 strain quickly overshadowing Omicron

Positive test rate for virus rises to 29.77%, highest since early April; virus czar says it's still not a wave, but admits many cases unreported

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