TIMES OF ISRAEL
Israel set to open stores, gyms and culture Sunday in major move toward normalcy
February 15, 2021

The coronavirus cabinet has agreed on an arrangement that will see stores, gyms, hotels, sporting events and culture institutions reopen on Sunday, February 21, widespread reports indicate, based on leaks from the meeting. The decision appears to constitute a compromise between health officials’ desire to wait for Tuesday, February 23, and Blue and White’s demand to start reopening this week. Street-front shops, malls, markets, museums and libraries will be open to all. But only those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the virus will be able to use gyms, enter sporting and culture events, hotels and swimming pools. READ MORE

NEW YORK TIMES Israel’s Vaccination Results Point a Way Out of Virus Pandemic Covid cases fell dramatically and quickly among people who were vaccinated, Israeli studies found. It’s the strongest evidence yet that a robust vaccination program can tame the pandemic.

ALGEMEINER Israeli Study Finds 94% Drop in Symptomatic COVID-19 Cases With Pfizer Vaccine Israel’s largest healthcare provider on Sunday reported a 94% drop in symptomatic COVID-19 infections among 600,000 people who received two doses of the Pfizer’s vaccine in the country’s biggest study to date. Health maintenance organization (HMO) Clalit, which covers more than half of all Israelis, said the same group was also 92% less likely to develop severe illness from the virus.