Coronavirus

News and updates about Coronavirus

Bennett to Netanyahu: Open the economy and education system
In talk with PM, DM Bennett asserts that damage of closure on Israelis' livelihoods is infinitely larger than its medical benefit.

Researchers say economic, cemetery closure policies misguided
Hebrew University researchers argue economy should not be halted, closure policy could be replaced by measures to prevent virus spread.

Israeli researchers transform tap water into corona disinfectant
Researchers from Bar-Ilan U develop method based on tap water they say can eliminate bacteria and kill viruses.

Coronavirus comeback?
Elderly man diagnosed as recovered yet condition deteriorates
Poriya Hospital: Elderly man readmitted to hospital after allegedly recovering from coronavirus yet his condition deteriorates.

Death toll from coronavirus rises to 191
74-year-old woman and 94-year-old man die overnight at Ichilov Hospital. Both came from the Alzheimer's Center in Ramat Gan.

Vegas mayor offered city as test case for reopening
Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she offered Las Vegas as test case for bringing people back to work during the coronavirus, but was turned down.

Jordan mulling resumption of curfew in some areas
Jordan says it could resume a curfew in southern governorates following violations of public health and safety instructions.

Stephen Hawking's family donates his ventilator
Family of renowned British physicist donates his ventilator to help treat hospital patients with novel coronavirus.

'Isolationism is not an option in a global world'
International relations in the COVID-19 era: Richard Haass on what comes after a pandemic.

Cabinet to discuss additional relief for businesses
Cabinet to discuss opening more businesses amid concerns in the Health Ministry of another round of coronavirus infection.

Two New York cats test positive for coronavirus
Two pet cats in New York state test positive for COVID-19, likely contracted it from people in their households or neighborhoods.

US death toll from coronavirus tops 47,000
US deaths from coronavirus total 47,050, according to Reuters tally.

Neo-Nazis interrupt Torah lessons on 'Zoom'
On Holocaust Memorial Day, neo-Nazis break into online Torah lessons given by German rabbis.

The Jewish imperative of the Coronavirus crisis

Trump signs order suspending new green cards
US temporarily suspends the issuance of new green cards in order to protect American jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Hasidic Jew leads effort to fight coronavirus
Chaim Lebovits of Monsey encourages Jews who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their blood plasma and help others battling the virus.

Coronavirus death toll rises to 189
Health Ministry warns of risk of possible second outbreak as number of patients rises to 14,498.

Hundreds volunteer to be infected with COVID-19 to test vaccine
Effort aims to garner support for intentionally infecting humans with coronavirus to speed up the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

Kosher meals now available as part of NYC hunger relief efforts
New York City now distributing kosher food through meals program launched to feed city residents during the coronavirus-induced upheaval.

Remembrance Day, Independence Day regulations released
Regulations ban visiting cemeteries on Remembrance Day and buying food, leaving home except for 'essential' items on Independence Day.

Government approves Independence Day restrictions
Cemeteries to be closed on Memorial Day, general closure to be implemented on Independence Day.

Israel's success against the pandemic

UK death rates may be more than double official numbers
As number of total excess deaths in UK reaches over 41,000, analysis questions if official numbers are accurate.

New grants to aid Jewish schools and summer camps
UJA-Federation of New York announces nearly $9 million in new COVID-19 relief grants.

"Famines of biblical proportions in a few months"
UN World Food Programme Chief warns UN Security Council of hunger pandemic as COVID-19 spreads

Video: Joint global prayer from Jerusalem
Chief Rabbis of Israel and leaders from other religions gather in joint prayer – composed specially in light of coronavirus crisis.

'Israel could face second wave of coronavirus infections'
Senior Israeli health official warns that May could see resurgence of coronavirus in Israel if public fails to keep social distancing rules.

Jewish Agency offers loans to new communities in crisis
New fund provides interest-free loans to global Jewish communities in crisis. 'We'll do everything so Jewish communities can survive.'

Coronavirus, conspiracies and Israelophobia
Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry to host conference on coronavirus and its affects on anti-Semitism.

US: Second coronavirus wave may be worst than first
CDC's Dr. Robert Redfield warns recurrence of coronavirus outbreak in winter may put 'unimaginable' strain on healthcare system.

Coronavirus death toll in Israel rises to 187
14,326 confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel, with 111 patients on respirators. 4,961 have recovered. Recoveries outpace new infections.

Bennett orders halt to testing Gazans for coronavirus
IDF's decision to test Gazans for coronavirus was not coordinated with Defense Ministry, report says.

El Al to operate flights from China to Italy
El Al signs agreement with logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel, agreeing to operate 150 flights between April and October.

Israel's Red Sea resort 'paralyzed' by virus lockdown
Hotel owners in Eilat say year is 'catastrophic,' loss of income may amount to tens of millions of shekels.

IKEA to reopen its branches
IKEA branches in Rishon Lezion, Netanya and Tel Aviv Port will open for limited hours and without the restaurants.

US: Number of coronavirus cases surpasses 800,000
Johns Hopkins University reports 824,147 cases of COVID-19 and 44,999 deaths.

Austria to allow bars and restaurants to reopen on May 15
Austria, which took early action to curb spread of coronavirus, to further loosen its lockdown.

Jewish resilience, the plague and anti-Semitism
Classic imagery of medieval anti-Semitism is rising again during the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic.

What will it take to save America's small businesses?
Pepole across the US tried to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, but eventually gave up because it was so complicated.

UK: Coronavirus vaccine being tested on humans
Experimental vaccine developed at Oxford University will be tested on humans; UK Health Secretary: 'We've seen promising results.'

Coronavirus fatalities rises to 184
Number of patients in serious condition continues to decline.

FDA greenlights home COVID-19 test to let people swab themselves
Test uses self-swab that samples lower nostril, instead of deep nasal passageway like first tests. Kit to cost $119.

Netanyahu decides:
General closure on Independence Day
After discussion on Memorial Day and Independence Day formats it was decided to close military cemeteries on Memorial Day.

Military cemeteries likely to close on Memorial Day
Government to make final decision on whether to allow bereaved families to visit military cemeteries on Israel's Memorial Day tonight.

Live: Coronavirus Briefing with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo
NY Governor holds a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic as it spreads across the state, which has the most positive cases in the U.S.

Annual Tunisia pilgrimage cancelled over coronavirus
Yearly visit to ancient Ghriba synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba called off due to pandemic.

Watch: Welcome home, Eli Beer
United Hatzalah chief Eli Beer returns home to Israel after coronavirus recovery.

Survey: Most haredim are adhering to coronavirus guidelines
Survey shows vast majority of haredim adhering to Health Ministry guidelines for social distancing, personal protection.

WHO chief: Worst of coronavirus is still ahead of us
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus urges countries to work together, prevent further tragedies from coronavirus. 'We warned about this'

French boy with coronavirus wasn't a superspreader
Nine-year-old boy may not have spread COVID-19 to those he came in contact with, researchers say.

United Hatzalah chief on his way back to Israel
Eli Beer, President and Founder of United Hatzalah, is returning to Israel and hoping to 'save more lives than ever.'

Decline in number of coronavirus patients on respirators
Coronavirus death toll in Israel rises to 181, with 13,888 total confirmed cases. 142 patients in serious condition, 113 on respirators.

'Call once a day - it could save a life'
Amid coronavirus epidemic, ZAKA Search and Rescue launches campaign promoting daily 'check-up' calls to the elderly and those living along.

British Airways to renew flights to Tel Aviv next week?
Airline now allows London-Tel Aviv bookings from May 1st.

Yeshiva dean becomes Israel's 180th coronavirus victim
Dean of Bnei Brak yeshiva dies of coronavirus at age 48, leaving behind 14 children. Victim had no known preexisting conditions.

Special ed schools reopen: This is what it looks like
Parents of special ed children can choose whether to send to school or not, each student will receive a distance learning program as well.

Austrian ministers to forego a month's salary amid pandemic
Austrian government announces ministers will donate their April salaries to organizations involved in the fight against COVID-19.

Lockdown on Independence Day a possibility
NSC, Ministry of Health seek to prevent large crowds by imposing similar restrictions to those that were in effect during Passover.

PA institutes ban on working in 'settlements'
PA eases lockdown, but also bans work in "Israeli settlements" and the return of Palestinian workers from Israel.
