Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Health and science editor Nathan Jeffay and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Jeffay tells us about the encouraging falling coronavirus infection rates, and what that means for Israelis, and particularly for school-age kids.

Rettig-Gur discusses the Likud party's division into two camps, one supporting Benjamin Netanyahu and the other aiming to be rid of him, with Likud MK Yuli Edelstein vying to lead the latter group.

Finally, Jeffay talks about masking policies in the UK, where he recently visited, vis a vis standards in Israel, and what a lack of masks portends in society.

Discussed articles include:

Virus czar ‘optimistic’ about COVID-19 decline, but says restrictions to remain

Likud MKs pan ‘subversive’ Edelstein for challenging Netanyahu as party leader

Poll shows scant support for Edelstein in Likud leadership battle with Netanyahu

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PHOTO: Medical clowns wearing safety gear as they visit patients in the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem, on February 3, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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