Coronavirus cabinet set to meet and discuss further restrictions to combat current infections surge; serious cases rise to 72, 15 of them on ventilators; death toll at 6,455

Former PM's announcement he spoke to Moderna, Pfizer CEOs surprised Health Ministry experts, who criticize him for pushing treatment that is yet to be authorized and politicizing issue

According to the outline, Israelis will have to present a certificate of vaccination or recovery at entrances to public events, including gyms and synagogues, with more than 100 people inside; UK, Cyprus, Georgia and Turkey added to list of high-risk countries

Horowitz says outline drawn up by his ministry for education system will focus heavily on testing rather than restrictions, stresses importance of keeping Ben-Gurion Airport open and under supervision

In an unprecedented manner, PM stages a press conference to slam Israelis who refuse to get vaccinated and urges the public to pressure 'vaccine refusers' they know into getting inoculated; 'Convince them, explain to them,' he says

Health Ministry report shows vaccine's efficacy is also down when it comes to preventing serious illness, 91%, and hospitalizations, 88%; recently 5,770 fully vaccinated people were diagnosed with COVID, 495 were hospitalized, 123 died

Event marks the second time Fethi Nurin withdrew from a high-profile competition in order to avoid being paired up against Tohar Butbul, with the first incident occurring at 2019 World Judo Championships