COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
Overview of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: origins, public-health responses, vaccination campaign, social and economic effects, and notable features of the country’s pandemic experience.
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic in Israel refers to the spread and societal response to SARS-CoV-2 within the State of Israel. Cases were identified in early 2020 and the pandemic prompted a range of public-health measures, legal steps and economic interventions designed to limit transmission, treat patients and mitigate social disruption. The topic covers epidemiology, government policy, vaccination and the pandemic’s social effects.
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Timeline and early cases
The first confirmed case in Israel was reported on 21 February 2020: a returning citizen who had been on the cruise ship Diamond Princess. From that point, Israel experienced successive waves of infections driven by local transmission and imported cases. The government and health authorities adjusted restrictions, testing and tracing practices as knowledge of the virus evolved.
Public-health measures
Authorities used a combination of interventions to control spread. Common measures included:
- travel restrictions and border controls;
- widespread testing and contact tracing efforts;
- temporary closures of schools, businesses and public venues;
- mask mandates and limits on public gatherings.
Vaccination campaign
Israel launched a vaccination campaign in late 2020 using vaccines authorized by international regulators. The program was notable for its rapid early rollout and close coordination between health providers and the central government. Israel also introduced policies linking vaccination or recovery status to access to some public spaces. Booster doses were later adopted as evidence about waning immunity and new variants emerged.
Societal and economic effects
The pandemic affected everyday life, education, employment and healthcare delivery. Economic support measures and emergency regulations were implemented to support businesses and vulnerable populations. Public debates addressed the balance between civil liberties, religious practices, and public-health needs; some communities experienced higher infection rates and distinct challenges in reaching vaccination and testing targets.
Notable aspects
Israel’s experience is often cited for its rapid vaccination logistics and for policy experiments such as health-status certification for access to services. Like other countries, it faced multiple waves linked to variant emergence and had to adapt public-health strategies over time. For further context see general resources on the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel.
Case numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel developed as follows, according to WHO data:
| February 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 20.02. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21.02. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 22.02. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23.02. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24.02. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25.02. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26.02. | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 27.02. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28.02. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29.02. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| March 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.03. | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 02.03. | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 03.03. | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 04.03. | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 05.03. | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 06.03. | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 07.03. | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 08.03. | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 09.03. | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 10.03. | 34 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 11.03. | 38 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 12.03. | 71 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| 13.03. | 90 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 14.03. | 112 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 15.03. | 147 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 16.03. | 176 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
| 17.03. | 215 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| 18.03. | 288 | 73 | 1 | 1 |
| 19.03. | 382 | 94 | 1 | 0 |
| 20.03. | 500 | 118 | 1 | 0 |
| 21.03. | 636 | 136 | 1 | 0 |
| 22.03. | 804 | 168 | 1 | 0 |
| 23.03. | 1.014 | 210 | 1 | 0 |
| 24.03. | 1.268 | 254 | 1 | 0 |
| 25.03. | 1.620 | 352 | 1 | 0 |
| 26.03. | 2.323 | 703 | 5 | 4 |
| 27.03. | 2.748 | 425 | 6 | 1 |
| 28.03. | 3.268 | 520 | 11 | 5 |
| 29.03. | 3.701 | 433 | 13 | 2 |
| 30.03. | 4.181 | 480 | 14 | 1 |
| 31.03. | 4.713 | 532 | 17 | 3 |
| April 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.04. | 5.260 | 547 | 18 | 1 |
| 02.04. | 5.998 | 738 | 22 | 4 |
| 03.04. | 6.694 | 696 | 30 | 8 |
| 04.04. | 7.413 | 719 | 39 | 9 |
| 05.04. | 8.010 | 597 | 44 | 5 |
| 06.04. | 8.438 | 428 | 50 | 6 |
| 07.04. | 9.021 | 583 | 57 | 7 |
| 08.04. | 9.472 | 451 | 65 | 8 |
| 09.04. | 9.849 | 377 | 73 | 8 |
| 10.04. | 10.187 | 338 | 81 | 8 |
| 11.04. | 10.530 | 343 | 90 | 9 |
| 12.04. | 10.889 | 359 | 98 | 8 |
| 13.04. | 11.234 | 345 | 104 | 6 |
| 14.04. | 11.786 | 552 | 110 | 6 |
| 15.04. | 12.224 | 438 | 119 | 9 |
| 16.04. | 12.623 | 399 | 127 | 8 |
| 17.04. | 12.934 | 311 | 140 | 13 |
| 18.04. | 13.230 | 296 | 147 | 7 |
| 19.04. | 13.528 | 298 | 156 | 9 |
| 20.04. | 13.819 | 291 | 167 | 11 |
| 21.04. | 14.095 | 276 | 175 | 8 |
| 22.04. | 14.394 | 299 | 181 | 6 |
| 23.04. | 14.676 | 282 | 190 | 9 |
| 24.04. | 14.901 | 225 | 193 | 3 |
| 25.04. | 15.177 | 276 | 197 | 4 |
| 26.04. | 15.425 | 248 | 200 | 3 |
| 27.04. | 15.584 | 159 | 203 | 3 |
| 28.04. | 15.667 | 83 | 205 | 2 |
| 29.04. | 15.795 | 128 | 209 | 4 |
| 30.04. | 15.954 | 159 | 214 | 5 |
| May 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.05. | 16.036 | 82 | 220 | 6 |
| 02.05. | 16.178 | 142 | 226 | 6 |
| 03.05. | 16.294 | 116 | 230 | 4 |
| 04.05. | 16.351 | 57 | 233 | 3 |
| 05.05. | 16.378 | 27 | 236 | 3 |
| 06.05. | 16.431 | 53 | 239 | 3 |
| 07.05. | 16.463 | 32 | 241 | 2 |
| 08.05. | 16.528 | 65 | 242 | 1 |
| 09.05. | 16.589 | 61 | 243 | 1 |
| 10.05. | 16.622 | 33 | 249 | 6 |
| 11.05. | 16.641 | 19 | 252 | 3 |
| 12.05. | 16.670 | 29 | 256 | 4 |
| 13.05. | 16.709 | 39 | 261 | 5 |
| 14.05. | 16.732 | 23 | 264 | 3 |
| 15.05. | 16.771 | 39 | 267 | 3 |
| 16.05. | 16.793 | 22 | 269 | 2 |
| 17.05. | 16.805 | 12 | 269 | 0 |
| 18.05. | 16.810 | 5 | 272 | 3 |
| 19.05. | 16.825 | 15 | 276 | 4 |
| 20.05. | 16.852 | 27 | 279 | 3 |
| 21.05. | 16.874 | 22 | 281 | 2 |
| 22.05. | 16.889 | 15 | 282 | 1 |
| 23.05. | 16.906 | 17 | 282 | 0 |
| 24.05. | 16.925 | 19 | 282 | 0 |
| 25.05. | 16.930 | 5 | 282 | 0 |
| 26.05. | 16.943 | 13 | 283 | 1 |
| 27.05. | 16.965 | 22 | 285 | 2 |
| 28.05. | 17.015 | 50 | 285 | 0 |
| 29.05. | 17.055 | 40 | 287 | 2 |
| 30.05. | 17.132 | 77 | 288 | 1 |
| 31.05. | 17.245 | 113 | 288 | 0 |
| June 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.06. | 17.274 | 29 | 288 | 0 |
| 02.06. | 17.361 | 87 | 288 | 0 |
| 03.06. | 17.461 | 100 | 291 | 3 |
| 04.06. | 17.582 | 121 | 293 | 2 |
| 05.06. | 17.679 | 97 | 294 | 1 |
| 06.06. | 17.821 | 142 | 294 | 0 |
| 07.06. | 17.948 | 127 | 295 | 1 |
| 08.06. | 18.026 | 78 | 299 | 4 |
| 09.06. | 18.166 | 140 | 301 | 2 |
| 10.06. | 18.345 | 179 | 301 | 0 |
| 11.06. | 18.518 | 173 | 302 | 1 |
| 12.06. | 18.758 | 240 | 303 | 1 |
| 13.06. | 18.949 | 191 | 303 | 0 |
| 14.06. | 19.133 | 184 | 303 | 0 |
| 15.06. | 19.282 | 149 | 304 | 1 |
| 16.06. | 19.418 | 136 | 306 | 2 |
| 17.06. | 19.616 | 198 | 306 | 0 |
| 18.06. | 19.916 | 300 | 307 | 1 |
| 19.06. | 20.187 | 271 | 307 | 0 |
| 20.06. | 20.489 | 302 | 307 | 0 |
| 21.06. | 20.799 | 310 | 308 | 1 |
| 22.06. | 20.959 | 160 | 309 | 1 |
| 23.06. | 21.132 | 173 | 309 | 0 |
| 24.06. | 21.477 | 345 | 310 | 1 |
| 25.06. | 21.929 | 452 | 312 | 2 |
| 26.06. | 22.416 | 487 | 315 | 3 |
| 27.06. | 22.932 | 516 | 319 | 4 |
| 28.06. | 23.396 | 464 | 322 | 3 |
| 29.06. | 23.794 | 398 | 325 | 3 |
| 30.06. | 24.179 | 385 | 327 | 2 |
| July 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.07. | 24.936 | 757 | 327 | 0 |
| 02.07. | 25.722 | 786 | 328 | 1 |
| 03.07. | 26.694 | 972 | 331 | 3 |
| 04.07. | 27.842 | 1.148 | 332 | 1 |
| 05.07. | 28.781 | 939 | 335 | 3 |
| 06.07. | 29.602 | 821 | 340 | 5 |
| 07.07. | 30.433 | 831 | 342 | 2 |
| 08.07. | 31.567 | 1.134 | 350 | 8 |
| 09.07. | 32.957 | 1.390 | 355 | 5 |
| 10.07. | 34.284 | 1.327 | 360 | 5 |
| 11.07. | 35.809 | 1.525 | 365 | 5 |
| 12.07. | 37.218 | 1.409 | 369 | 4 |
| 13.07. | 38.386 | 1.168 | 374 | 5 |
| 14.07. | 39.625 | 1.239 | 381 | 7 |
| 15.07. | 41.345 | 1.720 | 385 | 4 |
| 16.07. | 42.948 | 1.603 | 392 | 7 |
| 17.07. | 44.825 | 1.877 | 398 | 6 |
| 18.07. | 46.762 | 1.937 | 407 | 9 |
| 19.07. | 48.367 | 1.605 | 419 | 12 |
| 20.07. | 49.815 | 1.448 | 427 | 8 |
| 21.07. | 50.831 | 1.016 | 437 | 10 |
| 22.07. | 52.718 | 1.887 | 449 | 12 |
| 23.07. | 54.724 | 2.006 | 458 | 9 |
| 24.07. | 56.768 | 2.044 | 464 | 6 |
| 25.07. | 58.757 | 1.989 | 480 | 16 |
| 26.07. | 60.587 | 1.830 | 488 | 8 |
| 27.07. | 61.699 | 1.112 | 495 | 7 |
| 28.07. | 62.741 | 1.042 | 506 | 11 |
| 29.07. | 64.789 | 2.048 | 513 | 7 |
| 30.07. | 66.914 | 2.125 | 521 | 8 |
| 31.07. | 68.868 | 1.954 | 536 | 15 |
| August 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.08. | 70.655 | 1.787 | 551 | 15 |
| 02.08. | 72.017 | 1.362 | 565 | 14 |
| 03.08. | 72.642 | 625 | 579 | 14 |
| 04.08. | 73.350 | 708 | 590 | 11 |
| 05.08. | 75.150 | 1.800 | 605 | 15 |
| 06.08. | 76.879 | 1.729 | 616 | 11 |
| 07.08. | 78.569 | 1.690 | 626 | 10 |
| 08.08. | 80.246 | 1.677 | 635 | 9 |
| 09.08. | 82.010 | 1.764 | 647 | 12 |
| 10.08. | 82.764 | 754 | 660 | 13 |
| 11.08. | 83.688 | 924 | 667 | 7 |
| 12.08. | 85.392 | 1.704 | 682 | 15 |
| 13.08. | 87.215 | 1.823 | 693 | 11 |
| 14.08. | 88.837 | 1.622 | 708 | 15 |
| 15.08. | 90.480 | 1.643 | 724 | 16 |
| 16.08. | 91.868 | 1.388 | 736 | 12 |
| 17.08. | 92.625 | 757 | 746 | 10 |
| 18.08. | 93.693 | 1.068 | 765 | 19 |
| 19.08. | 95.343 | 1.650 | 769 | 4 |
| 20.08. | 96.992 | 1.649 | 783 | 14 |
| 21.08. | 98.632 | 1.640 | 795 | 12 |
| 22.08. | 100.119 | 1.487 | 807 | 12 |
| 23.08. | 101.612 | 1.493 | 820 | 13 |
| 24.08. | 102.323 | 711 | 830 | 10 |
| 25.08. | 103.288 | 965 | 843 | 13 |
| 26.08. | 105.188 | 1.900 | 859 | 16 |
| 27.08. | 107.144 | 1.956 | 878 | 19 |
| 28.08. | 109.097 | 1.953 | 889 | 11 |
| 29.08. | 111.168 | 2.071 | 900 | 11 |
| 30.08. | 113.000 | 1.832 | 912 | 12 |
| 31.08. | 113.910 | 910 | 917 | 5 |
| September 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.09. | 115.011 | 1.101 | 931 | 14 |
| 02.09. | 117.189 | 2.178 | 954 | 23 |
| 03.09. | 119.442 | 2.253 | 969 | 15 |
| 04.09. | 122.635 | 3.193 | 983 | 14 |
| 05.09. | 125.296 | 2.661 | 999 | 16 |
| 06.09. | 127.919 | 2.623 | 1.011 | 12 |
| 07.09. | 129.424 | 1.505 | 1.026 | 15 |
| 08.09. | 131.601 | 2.177 | 1.038 | 12 |
| 09.09. | 134.989 | 3.388 | 1.055 | 17 |
| 10.09. | 138.478 | 3.489 | 1.075 | 20 |
| 11.09. | 142.472 | 3.994 | 1.091 | 16 |
| 12.09. | 146.633 | 4.161 | 1.105 | 14 |
| 13.09. | 150.608 | 3.975 | 1.125 | 20 |
| 14.09. | 153.326 | 2.718 | 1.140 | 15 |
| 15.09. | 156.501 | 3.175 | 1.157 | 17 |
| 16.09. | 161.306 | 4.805 | 1.177 | 20 |
| 17.09. | 166.846 | 5.540 | 1.193 | 16 |
| 18.09. | 171.420 | 4.574 | 1.219 | 26 |
| 19.09. | 176.805 | 5.385 | 1.236 | 17 |
| 20.09. | 182.145 | 5.340 | 1.256 | 20 |
| 21.09. | 185.954 | 3.809 | 1.283 | 27 |
| 22.09. | 188.533 | 2.579 | 1.304 | 21 |
| 23.09. | 192.399 | 3.866 | 1.336 | 32 |
| 24.09. | 199.419 | 7.020 | 1.362 | 26 |
| 25.09. | 206.544 | 7.125 | 1.387 | 25 |
| 26.09. | 214.778 | 8.234 | 1.418 | 31 |
| 27.09. | 223.167 | 8.389 | 1.448 | 30 |
| 28.09. | 229.049 | 5.882 | 1.474 | 26 |
| 29.09. | 232.463 | 3.414 | 1.506 | 32 |
| 30.09. | 233.622 | 1.159 | 1.534 | 28 |
| October 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.10. | 238.614 | 4.992 | 1.569 | 35 |
| 02.10. | 247.692 | 9.078 | 1.606 | 37 |
| 03.10. | 255.422 | 7.730 | 1.652 | 46 |
| 04.10. | 262.481 | 7.059 | 1.677 | 25 |
| 05.10. | 265.075 | 2.594 | 1.715 | 38 |
| 06.10. | 268.013 | 2.938 | 1.752 | 37 |
| 07.10. | 273.734 | 5.721 | 1.779 | 27 |
| 08.10. | 278.458 | 4.724 | 1.824 | 45 |
| 09.10. | 282.622 | 4.164 | 1.850 | 26 |
| 10.10. | 286.377 | 3.755 | 1.897 | 47 |
| 11.10. | 289.340 | 2.963 | 1.937 | 40 |
| 12.10. | 290.256 | 916 | 1.972 | 35 |
| 13.10. | 291.902 | 1.646 | 2.018 | 46 |
| 14.10. | 295.071 | 3.169 | 2.048 | 30 |
| 15.10. | 297.407 | 2.336 | 2.086 | 38 |
| 16.10. | 299.525 | 2.118 | 2.121 | 35 |
| 17.10. | 301.137 | 1.612 | 2.152 | 31 |
| 18.10. | 302.637 | 1.500 | 2.188 | 36 |
| 19.10. | 303.049 | 412 | 2.220 | 32 |
| 20.10. | 303.973 | 924 | 2.253 | 33 |
| 21.10. | 305.490 | 1.517 | 2.285 | 32 |
| 22.10. | 306.683 | 1.193 | 2.305 | 20 |
| 23.10. | 307.855 | 1.172 | 2.330 | 25 |
| 24.10. | 308.887 | 1.032 | 2.359 | 29 |
| 25.10. | 309.736 | 849 | 2.385 | 26 |
| 26.10. | 309.982 | 246 | 2.412 | 27 |
| 27.10. | 310.588 | 606 | 2.447 | 35 |
| 28.10. | 311.472 | 884 | 2.475 | 28 |
| 29.10. | 312.359 | 887 | 2.503 | 28 |
| 30.10. | 313.082 | 723 | 2.513 | 10 |
| 31.10. | 313.726 | 644 | 2.532 | 19 |
| November 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.11. | 314.406 | 680 | 2.544 | 12 |
| 02.11. | 314.634 | 228 | 2.569 | 25 |
| 03.11. | 315.292 | 658 | 2.588 | 19 |
| 04.11. | 316.080 | 788 | 2.603 | 15 |
| 05.11. | 316.925 | 845 | 2.629 | 26 |
| 06.11. | 317.694 | 769 | 2.645 | 16 |
| 07.11. | 318.264 | 570 | 2.659 | 14 |
| 08.11. | 318.955 | 691 | 2.675 | 16 |
| 09.11. | 319.167 | 212 | 2.683 | 8 |
| 10.11. | 319.701 | 534 | 2.690 | 7 |
| 11.11. | 320.420 | 719 | 2.696 | 6 |
| 12.11. | 321.095 | 675 | 2.706 | 10 |
| 13.11. | 321.859 | 764 | 2.713 | 7 |
| 14.11. | 322.695 | 836 | 2.725 | 12 |
| 15.11. | 323.456 | 761 | 2.730 | 5 |
| 16.11. | 323.747 | 291 | 2.742 | 12 |
| 17.11. | 324.372 | 625 | 2.751 | 9 |
| 18.11. | 325.245 | 873 | 2.759 | 8 |
| 19.11. | 326.074 | 829 | 2.771 | 12 |
| 20.11. | 326.869 | 795 | 2.778 | 7 |
| 21.11. | 327.640 | 771 | 2.786 | 8 |
| 22.11. | 328.414 | 774 | 2.792 | 6 |
| 23.11. | 328.836 | 422 | 2.804 | 12 |
| 24.11. | 329.598 | 762 | 2.820 | 16 |
| 25.11. | 330.557 | 959 | 2.827 | 7 |
| 26.11. | 331.414 | 857 | 2.833 | 6 |
| 27.11. | 332.493 | 1.079 | 2.838 | 5 |
| 28.11. | 333.580 | 1.087 | 2.847 | 9 |
| 29.11. | 334.611 | 1.031 | 2.854 | 7 |
| 30.11. | 335.193 | 582 | 2.863 | 9 |
| December 2020 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.12. | 336.217 | 1.024 | 2.873 | 10 |
| 02.12. | 337.470 | 1.253 | 2.880 | 7 |
| 03.12. | 338.669 | 1.199 | 2.890 | 10 |
| 04.12. | 340.257 | 1.588 | 2.895 | 5 |
| 05.12. | 341.709 | 1.452 | 2.905 | 10 |
| 06.12. | 343.223 | 1.514 | 2.915 | 10 |
| 07.12. | 344.223 | 1.000 | 2.925 | 10 |
| 08.12. | 345.585 | 1.362 | 2.933 | 8 |
| 09.12. | 347.444 | 1.859 | 2.940 | 7 |
| 10.12. | 349.212 | 1.768 | 2.952 | 12 |
| 11.12. | 351.078 | 1.866 | 2.966 | 14 |
| 12.12. | 353.083 | 2.005 | 2.979 | 13 |
| 13.12. | 354.918 | 1.835 | 2.991 | 12 |
| 14.12. | 356.215 | 1.297 | 3.007 | 16 |
| 15.12. | 357.944 | 1.729 | 3.016 | 9 |
| 16.12. | 360.259 | 2.315 | 3.027 | 11 |
| 17.12. | 363.150 | 2.891 | 3.039 | 12 |
| 18.12. | 366.002 | 2.852 | 3.053 | 14 |
| 19.12. | 368.848 | 2.846 | 3.070 | 17 |
| 20.12. | 371.640 | 2.792 | 3.086 | 16 |
| 21.12. | 373.527 | 1.887 | 3.105 | 19 |
| 22.12. | 376.620 | 3.093 | 3.124 | 19 |
| 23.12. | 380.469 | 3.849 | 3.140 | 16 |
| 24.12. | 384.844 | 4.375 | 3.153 | 13 |
| 25.12. | 388.879 | 4.035 | 3.178 | 25 |
| 26.12. | 392.931 | 4.052 | 3.193 | 15 |
| 27.12. | 396.941 | 4.010 | 3.213 | 20 |
| 28.12. | 399.600 | 2.659 | 3.236 | 23 |
| 29.12. | 403.128 | 3.528 | 3.257 | 21 |
| 30.12. | 408.647 | 5.519 | 3.290 | 33 |
| 31.12. | 414.285 | 5.638 | 3.316 | 26 |
| January 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.01. | 420.153 | 5.868 | 3.332 | 16 |
| 02.01. | 426.028 | 5.875 | 3.368 | 36 |
| 03.01. | 432.050 | 6.022 | 3.402 | 34 |
| 04.01. | 436.268 | 4.218 | 3.429 | 27 |
| 05.01. | 441.498 | 5.230 | 3.455 | 26 |
| 06.01. | 449.905 | 8.407 | 3.492 | 37 |
| 07.01. | 458.142 | 8.237 | 3.516 | 24 |
| 08.01. | 466.020 | 7.878 | 3.560 | 44 |
| 09.01. | 473.667 | 7.647 | 3.608 | 48 |
| 10.01. | 481.827 | 8.160 | 3.653 | 45 |
| 11.01. | 486.985 | 5.158 | 3.673 | 20 |
| 12.01. | 493.922 | 6.937 | 3.714 | 41 |
| 13.01. | 503.635 | 9.713 | 3.743 | 29 |
| 14.01. | 512.933 | 9.298 | 3.798 | 55 |
| 15.01. | 522.404 | 9.471 | 3.855 | 57 |
| 16.01. | 531.699 | 9.295 | 3.914 | 59 |
| 17.01. | 540.128 | 8.429 | 3.965 | 51 |
| 18.01. | 545.215 | 5.087 | 4.012 | 47 |
| 19.01. | 550.863 | 5.648 | 4.068 | 56 |
| 20.01. | 560.980 | 10.117 | 4.114 | 46 |
| 21.01. | 569.604 | 8.624 | 4.157 | 43 |
| 22.01. | 577.968 | 8.364 | 4.211 | 54 |
| 23.01. | 585.241 | 7.273 | 4.259 | 48 |
| 24.01. | 592.629 | 7.388 | 4.325 | 66 |
| 25.01. | 595.078 | 2.449 | 4.376 | 51 |
| 26.01. | 600.023 | 4.945 | 4.453 | 77 |
| 27.01. | 608.754 | 8.731 | 4.513 | 60 |
| 28.01. | 616.554 | 7.800 | 4.566 | 53 |
| 29.01. | 624.282 | 7.728 | 4.626 | 60 |
| 30.01. | 631.466 | 7.184 | 4.675 | 49 |
| 31.01. | 638.226 | 6.760 | 4.720 | 45 |
| February 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.02. | 640.849 | 2.623 | 4.758 | 38 |
| 02.02. | 646.075 | 5.226 | 4.810 | 52 |
| 03.02. | 655.001 | 8.926 | 4.856 | 46 |
| 04.02. | 663.030 | 8.029 | 4.917 | 61 |
| 05.02. | 670.504 | 7.474 | 4.974 | 57 |
| 06.02. | 677.757 | 7.253 | 5.022 | 48 |
| 07.02. | 684.341 | 6.584 | 5.055 | 33 |
| 08.02. | 686.998 | 2.657 | 5.107 | 52 |
| 09.02. | 691.594 | 4.596 | 5.151 | 44 |
| 10.02. | 699.434 | 7.840 | 5.181 | 30 |
| 11.02. | 705.598 | 6.164 | 5.224 | 43 |
| 12.02. | 711.274 | 5.676 | 5.256 | 32 |
| 13.02. | 716.283 | 5.009 | 5.286 | 30 |
| 14.02. | 720.946 | 4.663 | 5.327 | 41 |
| 15.02. | 722.833 | 1.887 | 5.356 | 29 |
| 16.02. | 726.316 | 3.483 | 5.393 | 37 |
| 17.02. | 731.504 | 5.188 | 5.409 | 16 |
| 18.02. | 736.073 | 4.569 | 5.451 | 42 |
| 19.02. | 740.240 | 4.167 | 5.478 | 27 |
| 20.02. | 743.572 | 3.332 | 5.513 | 35 |
| 21.02. | 747.364 | 3.792 | 5.535 | 22 |
| 22.02. | 748.619 | 1.255 | 5.560 | 25 |
| 23.02. | 751.726 | 3.107 | 5.584 | 24 |
| 24.02. | 756.535 | 4.809 | 5.600 | 16 |
| 25.02. | 760.982 | 4.447 | 5.635 | 35 |
| 26.02. | 765.356 | 4.374 | 5.662 | 27 |
| 27.02. | 769.170 | 3.814 | 5.685 | 23 |
| 28.02. | 772.983 | 3.813 | 5.707 | 22 |
| March 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.03. | 774.421 | 1.438 | 5.736 | 29 |
| 02.03. | 777.491 | 3.070 | 5.757 | 21 |
| 03.03. | 782.350 | 4.859 | 5.775 | 18 |
| 04.03. | 786.728 | 4.378 | 5.796 | 21 |
| 05.03. | 791.397 | 4.669 | 5.812 | 16 |
| 06.03. | 795.056 | 3.659 | 5.829 | 17 |
| 07.03. | 798.771 | 3.715 | 5.847 | 18 |
| 08.03. | 800.649 | 1.878 | 5.867 | 20 |
| 09.03. | 802.995 | 2.346 | 5.882 | 15 |
| 10.03. | 806.779 | 3.784 | 5.904 | 22 |
| 11.03. | 809.899 | 3.120 | 5.919 | 15 |
| 12.03. | 812.732 | 2.833 | 5.936 | 17 |
| 13.03. | 815.281 | 2.549 | 5.954 | 18 |
| 14.03. | 817.694 | 2.413 | 5.966 | 12 |
| 15.03. | 818.477 | 783 | 5.982 | 16 |
| 16.03. | 819.866 | 1.389 | 6.009 | 27 |
| 17.03. | 821.989 | 2.123 | 6.025 | 16 |
| 18.03. | 823.553 | 1.564 | 6.042 | 17 |
| 19.03. | 825.083 | 1.530 | 6.055 | 13 |
| 20.03. | 826.329 | 1.246 | 6.063 | 8 |
| 21.03. | 827.413 | 1.084 | 6.075 | 12 |
| 22.03. | 827.762 | 349 | 6.082 | 7 |
| 23.03. | 828.436 | 674 | 6.097 | 15 |
| 24.03. | 829.415 | 979 | 6.110 | 13 |
| 25.03. | 830.103 | 688 | 6.125 | 15 |
| 26.03. | 830.581 | 478 | 6.135 | 10 |
| 27.03. | 831.423 | 842 | 6.145 | 10 |
| 28.03. | 831.943 | 520 | 6.156 | 11 |
| 29.03. | 832.174 | 231 | 6.162 | 6 |
| 30.03. | 832.303 | 129 | 6.174 | 12 |
| 31.03. | 832.666 | 363 | 6.184 | 10 |
| April 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.04. | 833.109 | 443 | 6.195 | 11 |
| 02.04. | 833.601 | 492 | 6.211 | 16 |
| 03.04. | 833.936 | 335 | 6.218 | 7 |
| 04.04. | 834.354 | 418 | 6.234 | 16 |
| 05.04. | 834.478 | 124 | 6.241 | 7 |
| 06.04. | 834.674 | 196 | 6.249 | 8 |
| 07.04. | 835.054 | 380 | 6.255 | 6 |
| 08.04. | 835.359 | 305 | 6.261 | 6 |
| 09.04. | 835.635 | 276 | 6.270 | 9 |
| 10.04. | 835.847 | 212 | 6.281 | 11 |
| 11.04. | 836.070 | 223 | 6.291 | 10 |
| 12.04. | 836.156 | 86 | 6.300 | 9 |
| 13.04. | 836.295 | 139 | 6.306 | 6 |
| 14.04. | 836.516 | 221 | 6.312 | 6 |
| 15.04. | 836.715 | 199 | 6.325 | 13 |
| 16.04. | 836.911 | 196 | 6.328 | 3 |
| 17.04. | 837.006 | 95 | 6.330 | 2 |
| 18.04. | 837.115 | 109 | 6.335 | 5 |
| 19.04. | 837.198 | 83 | 6.341 | 6 |
| 20.04. | 837.339 | 141 | 6.345 | 4 |
| 21.04. | 837.472 | 133 | 6.348 | 3 |
| 22.04. | 837.631 | 159 | 6.351 | 3 |
| 23.04. | 837.745 | 114 | 6.353 | 2 |
| 24.04. | 837.874 | 129 | 6.355 | 2 |
| 25.04. | 837.982 | 108 | 6.360 | 5 |
| 26.04. | 838.021 | 39 | 6.364 | 4 |
| 27.04. | 838.098 | 77 | 6.366 | 2 |
| 28.04. | 838.191 | 93 | 6.368 | 2 |
| 29.04. | 838.278 | 87 | 6.373 | 5 |
| 30.04. | 838.374 | 96 | 6.373 | 0 |
| May 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.05. | 838.468 | 94 | 6.375 | 2 |
| 02.05. | 838.547 | 79 | 6.377 | 2 |
| 03.05. | 838.560 | 13 | 6.379 | 2 |
| 04.05. | 838.610 | 50 | 6.380 | 1 |
| 05.05. | 838.675 | 65 | 6.382 | 2 |
| 06.05. | 838.747 | 72 | 6.384 | 2 |
| 07.05. | 838.815 | 68 | 6.386 | 2 |
| 08.05. | 838.863 | 48 | 6.388 | 2 |
| 09.05. | 838.896 | 33 | 6.390 | 2 |
| 10.05. | 838.912 | 16 | 6.391 | 1 |
| 11.05. | 838.946 | 34 | 6.392 | 1 |
| 12.05. | 838.998 | 52 | 6.394 | 2 |
| 13.05. | 839.032 | 34 | 6.395 | 1 |
| 14.05. | 839.059 | 27 | 6.395 | 0 |
| 15.05. | 839.090 | 31 | 6.397 | 2 |
| 16.05. | 839.117 | 27 | 6.397 | 0 |
| 17.05. | 839.137 | 20 | 6.398 | 1 |
| 18.05. | 839.166 | 29 | 6.399 | 1 |
| 19.05. | 839.181 | 15 | 6.402 | 3 |
| 20.05. | 839.203 | 22 | 6.402 | 0 |
| 21.05. | 839.258 | 55 | 6.402 | 0 |
| 22.05. | 839.291 | 33 | 6.402 | 0 |
| 23.05. | 839.313 | 22 | 6.404 | 2 |
| 24.05. | 839.325 | 12 | 6.404 | 0 |
| 25.05. | 839.351 | 26 | 6.405 | 1 |
| 26.05. | 839.380 | 29 | 6.405 | 0 |
| 27.05. | 839.402 | 22 | 6.405 | 0 |
| 28.05. | 839.416 | 14 | 6.405 | 0 |
| 29.05. | 839.454 | 38 | 6.408 | 3 |
| 30.05. | 839.454 | 0 | 6.408 | 0 |
| 31.05. | 839.458 | 4 | 6.411 | 3 |
| June 2021 | ||||
| Infections | Deceased | |||
| Date | summed up | New infections | summed up | per day |
| 01.06. | 839.483 | 25 | 6.412 | 1 |
| 02.06. | 839.515 | 32 | 6.413 | 1 |
| 03.06. | 839.515 | 0 | 6.413 | 0 |
| 04.06. | 839.539 | 24 | 6.417 | 4 |
| 05.06. | 839.539 | 0 | 6.417 | 0 |
Infections
Deaths
History
On March 17, 2020, it was announced that Interior Minister Arje Deri, Agriculture Minister Zachi Ha-Negbi, and two Knesset members were quarantined after meeting with an infected person. Economy Minister Eli Cohen no longer ruled out a complete shutdown of the country.
In May 2020, an analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material from various sufferers in Israel revealed that seven out of ten had contracted a strain of the virus that had been introduced into Israel from the United States. Tel Aviv University researchers also detected viral strains from Belgium (8%), France (6%), the United Kingdom (5%), Spain (3%), Italy (2%), the Philippines (2%), Australia (2%), and Russia (2%).
Until the beginning of May, very strict exit restrictions applied in Israel; by mid-May, only 16 newly infected people per day were counted in Israel. Then, abrupt relaxations were allowed (probably also in view of the difficult economic situation with an unemployment rate of around 20 percent); schools were opened.
When temperatures reached 42 degrees during the first heat wave of the year, the Ministry of Health temporarily lifted the obligation to wear masks. Later, many people ignored this obligation. Since the fine was doubled to 500 shekels (about 130 euros), everyone is again complying with the mask requirement.
On June 20, the "National Center for Information and Knowledge in the Fight Against Coronavirus" was the first agency to officially state that there would be thousands of new infections per day and several hundred additional COVID-19 deaths if Israel did not take action soon against the second wave.
At the beginning of July, 10,000 active cases and more than 1,000 new infections a day were reported. The proportion of Israelis testing positive has quadrupled to more than four percent of all those tested. Those infected are now much younger than in the spring. Private indoor events have been limited to 20 participants since July 3, and to 50 in synagogues, bars and clubs.
On July 6, the closure of bars, clubs, theaters, wedding halls, concert halls, swimming pools and fitness centers was ordered.
On July 9, 2020, 1,464 new cases and 35,500 infected persons were reported. The following day, curfews were imposed in certain neighborhoods in the cities of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Lod, Ramla, and Kiryat Mal'achi, and others were extended elsewhere. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heavily criticized by many Israelis for his actions and communications regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of mid-September 2020, Israel had achieved one of the highest rates of new infections in the world relative to its population size. With approximately 46,370 active cases, 5,238 new infections had been recorded as of September 17 alone. 577 patients were in critical condition. Thus, a second lockdown was ordered just hours before the start of the Rosh Ha-Shanah holiday on September 18.
Measures
First, the Israeli government imposed a 14-day home quarantine on all returnees from Japan and South Korea. Subsequently, an entry ban was also imposed on all citizens of South Korea and on all travelers who had been in South Korea during the previous two weeks. On March 6, an order by the Minister of Interior went into effect at 8 a.m. banning travelers from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland from entering Israel unless they can prove they have a quarantine facility in a locked housing unit. The crossing at the Allenby Bridge from Jordan into the West Bank, controlled by Israeli authorities, was completely closed. On March 11, 2020, Israel banned events and gatherings of more than 100 people. Schools and universities were closed. Five days later, the number for gatherings was lowered to ten, with orders to keep at least two meters apart. On March 12, 2020, entry restrictions were extended to all travelers from abroad. Violators of ordered quarantines were threatened with prison terms of up to seven years. In addition, schools and universities were closed. On March 17, the Israeli Embassy Berlin was closed after Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. On March 18, orders were issued to close all hotels, kindergartens, stores, shopping malls, restaurants, entertainment venues such as amusement parks, theaters, cinemas or fitness centers. Grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and gas stations remained exempt. On public buses, the number of passengers was limited and payment with cash was prohibited. The announcement of these measures led to hoarding purchases among the population. Hotels with at least 200 beds and a maximum distance of 30 kilometers from a medical center are to be converted to accommodate patients with minor illnesses and operated by the Israel Defense Forces for an initial period of one month, with an option to extend for another month.
According to the Health Ministry's recommendation, since March 18, foreigners have been barred from entering Israel even if they can prove they have a home quarantine.
Over the course of the second half of March 2020, the railroad's passenger services were gradually suspended until they were discontinued altogether on March 25, 2020, following a government decision to that effect. From the end of April 2020, the resumption of traffic was then considered and postponed several times, most recently to June 1, 2020.
With a new decree, the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet received general permission to collect individual information of citizens. Shin Bet accessed people's cell phone and movement data and registered patients. The data were not anonymized. People who were identified as contacts of infected persons according to this data received a request to go into quarantine immediately.
On March 18, 2020, mass surveillance tools began to be deployed. 400 people who had been in contact with people infected with COVID-19 were informed by text message that they must go into quarantine. The mass surveillance aims to alert people who have been within two meters for 10 minutes or more of someone found to be infected with COVID-19 in the past two weeks. Self-quarantine lasts 14 days, so if the incident occurred 10 days earlier, self-quarantine must last four days. The electronic tracking program has been met with sharp criticism, including from government officials. Its legality has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
On March 19, the first shipment of 100,000 COVID-19 test kits arrived, apparently organized abroad by the Mossad intelligence service. Further, according to research by the New York Times, the service secured medical protective equipment and the technical knowledge to build respirators and to set up its own mask production facility. Two of the special missions had failed - in Germany, for example, officials stopped a shipment before Mossad could get it out of the factory, and another failed when Indian customs officials stopped a shipment of disinfectant.
On April 2, 2020, Bnei Berak, the town with the highest percentage of infected people, became the first Israeli town to be declared a restricted zone and sealed off by police. Of the approximately 200,000 mostly ultra-Orthodox residents, 7,030 had contracted COVID-19 by then.
Schools reopened in early May, beaches in mid-May, and bar and restaurant visits were possible again by the 22nd week. Moshe Bar-Simon-Tow, as director general of the Ministry of Health, again noted an increase in infection rates, over a longer period of time and in different parts of the country. Neither the heat waves nor the humidity had caused the disease to disappear. Consideration was given to closing some schools or grades, or to early summer vacations.
A second lockdown went into effect at 2 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2020. The mass of the population is not allowed to leave a radius of one kilometer around their home address, except for emergencies, work or shopping.
On November 12, 2020, it was announced that BioNTech/Pfizer's BNT162b2 vaccine against COVID-19 could likely be administered beginning in January 2021, following its approval by the FDA. A total of eight million doses will be delivered during 2021. After two vaccinations per person are needed, this would be enough to vaccinate four million Israelis (about 40% of the population). Israel had previously signed an agreement for the sale of a vaccine with the American pharmaceutical company Moderna.
In early 2021, Amnesty International demanded that Israel "stop ignoring its international obligations as an occupying power." Vaccines should also be "made available to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza." In response, Alan Posener made clear that Palestinians in Gaza were not living under Israeli occupation but under the administration of Hamas, and that 96 percent of Palestinians in the West Bank were controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah, which was also responsible for medical care. Posener highlighted that by the mid-2020s, according to the United Nations, there had been "strong Israeli-Palestinian cooperation" in this area, such as Israel training Palestinian medical personnel or laboratory technicians and planning a joint vaccination campaign. However, he said, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas cut off all cooperation with Israel out of anger over the Trump Middle East plan. Posener also objected to the claim that Israeli Arabs and Palestinians living in East Jerusalem receive less vaccine than Jewish Israelis. According to Posener, the lower vaccination rates are related to conspiracy theories circulating on Arabic-language social media that the vaccine used by Israel will kill Arabs or alter their DNA.
Religion
At the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, a large number of Orthodox Jews gathered in mid-February 2020 for a mass prayer against COVID-19.
Around March 12, 2020, Israel's top rabbis recommended staying away from the Wailing Wall altogether. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who is in charge of the Wailing Wall, ordered to refrain from ritual kissing of the Wall in order not to spread COVID-19 further.
The Israeli government's March 16 order that gatherings may not consist of more than ten people also applies to staying at the Wailing Wall.
There are particularly high SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among ultra-Orthodox Jews. A minority of them nevertheless resist state precautions.
A kashrut expert from Beitar Illit lost his work visa in the U.S. after he flew to the U.S. in mid-April 2020 and back to Israel on a United Airlines flight on April 23 without informing authorities that he had already tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before traveling to the U.S. and received a positive result a short time later. After re-entering Israel, he had to go into quarantine, as did the other passengers on his flight.
See also
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Palestinian territories.
- List of epidemics and pandemics
- List of casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com COVID-19 pandemic in Israel Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/23758
Sources
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