The South Africans, two of whom had traveled to Israel to be menachem avel the family of terror victim Eli Kay, h’yd, had left South Africa before the new travel restrictions due to the Omicron variant had been announced and were not even aware of them when they arrived in the country • Full Story

While the world loses its mind over Omicron, the new strain of Covid-19 that is the most-mutated version of the virus yet and might be vaccine resistant, everyone would probably be better off if they took a step back, drew in a deep breath, and relaxed. Why? Because the doctor who first sounded the alarm about the variant says that it has “unsual but mild” symptoms, and simply suggested that it was a new variant because her patients were showing atypical symptoms • Full Story

The government voted to ban all foreigners from entering Israel as part of an effort to stem the spread of the new South African “Omicron” variant, one case of which has been confirmed in the country and seven others which are under investigation • Full Story

The body of Rabbi Sholom Eidelman OBM, longtime Shliach in Morocco, who passed away during Pesach 5780 from COVID-19, was exhumed this past week from its place of rest in Morocco and brought to burial in Yerushalayim today. The funeral was attended by a large group, including Yerushalayim’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, himself a student of Rabbi Eidelman’s in Morocco, who delivered inspiring and moving words to those gathered •Photos

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz and Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov approved a plan on Thursday allowing vaccinated and recovered tourists to enter the country beginning on November 1. Tourists will have to have either received two shots of an approved vaccine, or have recovered from COVID in the last six months • Full Story

A plurality of Israelis say the government should impose a fourth lockdown during the upcoming holiday season if the surge in new cases continues – though a majority say such a step would prove the present government has failed in its handling of the crisis, a new poll shows • Full Story