Speaking at this evening's press conference, the government's newly appointed coronavirus project manager, Professor Ronny Gamzu, echoed the Prime Minister's words earlier, saying that the government would be doing everything possible to avoid having to impose a national closure, given the tremendously damaging impact the economy and public morale.

Prime minister at press conference: We don't want to institute a lockdown, but we will do it if necessary.

Researchers working at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, are reporting that they have succeeded in training sniffer dogs to detect Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.Reporting the study, the BBC notes that after just a week of training, dogs correctly categorized samples in 94% of cases.If their findings can be replicated, sniffer dogs could be deployed in locations such as airports and large-scale public events. Several other countries, including the UK and Israel, have been attempting similar projects, so far without published results.

Speaking again at this evening's press conference, Professor Ronni Gamzu, the government's coronavirus project manager, said that the decision as to whether or not to impose a national closure is not dependent the number of virus transmissions."Everyone should stop playing this guessing game," he said.

Speaking at a press conference this evening, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the government's new coronavirus project manager, Professor Ronni Gamzu, will receive full authority to oversee testing, epidemiological investigations, and quarantine rules."Professor Gamzu has wide-ranging experience [in the field of public health]," Netanyahu said. "He has dealt with cancer treatment with a great measure of success, and I am sure that he will help us to succeed in this battle against the coronavirus as well."

Still at the same press conference, PM Netanyahu told journalists that he had reached an agreement with Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz to reduce the size of the government's coronavirus cabinet, in order to enable it to reach decisions more swiftly.Note that this is not the Knesset's coronavirus committee, but rather a group composed of ministers from the coalition.

Speaking to journalists at this evening's press conference, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said that the government "has signed an agreement with an American company that's working a vaccine" against the coronavirus.

The Derech Eretz party (comprised of MKs Yoaz Hendel and Tzvi Hauser, who broke off from the Telem party to join the unity government) has submitted a draft proposal that would postpone the final date by which a budget can be passed and the Knesset dispersed.