Coronavirus

PA cabinet head to workers in Israel: Return home

Mohammad Shtayyeh urges all Palestinian Arab workers in Israel to return to their homes amid coronavirus pandemic.

Government approves stricter coronavirus directives

After six-hour meeting, government approves stricter guidelines for the public.

Bill Gates: US didn’t act fast enough on coronavirus

Microsoft co-founder says US missed its chance to avoid mandated shutdowns.

El Al to send rescue flight to Colombia

Flight is expected to depart Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. from Bogota with about 150 hikers stranded in Colombia due to coronavirus pandemic.

The mystical meaning of the coronavirus

Rabbi Mendel Kessin joins Tamar Yonah and talks about the meaning behind this worldwide pandemic.

Watch: What’s funny about the coronavirus?

Is there anything to laugh about in our quarantined spaces during these dismal times? Super-comedian Benji Lovitt has the answer.

It's official: Olympic Games postponed until next year

2020 Tokyo Games postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Israeli students to resume remote learning

Teaching staff throughout the education system will receive full pay until the end of the Passover holiday.

Individuals leaving New York asked to self-quarantine

Trump administration advising individuals leaving New York to self-quarantine for 14 days to avoid potentially spreading coronavirus.

Coronavirus victim speaks: The suffering he is going through

NY resident painfully describes what it is like to have the coronavirus, and it isn’t pretty.

Chief Rabbi, Tzomet head attack ruling permitting virtual Seder

'It's a shame that they misled the public,' said Chief Rabbi Lau in response to letter permitting use of Zoom to conduct a virtual Seder

State Comptroller goes into isolation

State Comptroller and several senior executives in his office ordered into isolation after coming in contact with coronavirus carrier.

NY Chabad students:

'Most of us are sick here, and they want to send us to Israel'

Chabad source says although he and most of his friends discovered with coronavirus symptoms they continue learning at yeshiva.

Coronavirus cases climb to 1,930

34 patients remain in serious condition as death toll rises to 3.

Trump: Closing economy could kill more people than coronavirus

US President says country is not 'built to be shut down,' does not want cure to be worse than coronavirus disease.

Survey shows satisfaction with coronavirus crisis management

61% of respondents express satisfaction with Health Ministry Director performance; 57% satisfied with Prime Minister's conduct.

ANALYSIS: Why Israel's corona crisis is spinning out of control

Israel\s healthcare system is underfunded, understaffed, and lagging behind in crucial areas.

'Wake-up call':

Private, public sector leaders urge international data sharing

Government, economic, tech leaders join hospital heads, medical experts from Israel, Italy, US to share best practices in virtual conference

New restrictions: No walking more than 100 meters from house

Workers in essential positions to be transported by special shuttle, public transportation to be eliminated.

Senior British rabbi dies of coronavirus

Rabbi Yehuda Yaakov Refson, senior Chabad emissary in city of Leeds, passes away from coronavirus.

National pandemic crisis war room headed by Mossad

Due to global equipment crisis, PM directs establishing national HQ led by Mossad head to advance medical procurement with Defense Ministry.

3rd fatality:

87-year-old man dies of coronavirus

2 patients die from coronavirus on the same day.

8 Hadassah hospital workers infected with coronavirus

All employees who tested positive for the coronavirus are asymptomatic.

Netanyahu: Restaurant deliveries will continue

Pick-up of food from restaurants to be banned under new restrictions, through restaurants will be allowed to deliver.

New Sefer Torah Uniting Jews Ignites Hope and Spreads Healing

Writing of 'Miracle Sefer Torah' begun in response to coronavirus pandemic.

US: Haredi outbreak provides excuse for viral anti-Semitism

FBI warns of plans to deliberately infect Jews with coronavirus as hundreds disproportionately found infected in NY's Hasidic neighborhoods.

IDF body identification lab converted to coronavirus lab

IDF Chief Rabbinate joins war against coronavirus, converts DNA lab to facility capable of handling hundreds of specimens daily.

Premature infant tests negative for coronavirus

2-month-old baby's respiratory problems found to be caused by complications from premature birth, not coronavirus.

67-year-old woman dies from coronavirus

Second confirmed death from coronavirus recorded after woman with underlying condition passes away in the hospital.

Operation Golden Guards:

IDF, defense establishment take responsibility for elderly care

IDF to map elderly population and needs, increase awareness; Minister Naftali Bennett: 'We'll rise to the challenge.'

46-year-old Israeli woman recovers from coronavirus

Simcha Friedman contracted virus in France, was hospitalized for 13 days with pneumonia and complications before recovering.

Series on China, Article I: Not for human consumption

Watch: Natan Sharansky's tips for quarantine

Natan Sharansky, refusenik who survived years of solitary confinement under the Soviet regime, shares his advice on surviving quarantine.

Diaspora Affairs Minister and staff in quarantine

Deputy Dir-Gen of Ministry tests positive for coronavirus, met with Hotovely and staff several times in recent days.

IDF & Home Front Command working to contain coronavirus

IDF will help enforce closure if announced. Home Front running 'Coronavirus hotels.' Soldiers caring for children of hospital workers.

Analysis of coronavirus patients shows key risk locations

47% of coronavirus patients contracted virus abroad, approx. 20% from synagogues or shopping centers.

One million unemployed by Passover

Mass layoffs, unpaid leave from work cause unemployment rate to climb to 18.6%. Situation is expected worsen.

'Working to get the message out' to Britain's haredim

British gov't tightens guidelines to combat coronavirus, but many Brits still don't grasp the gravity of the situation.

Israel Post to reduce hours of operations

Postal service receives go-ahead to reduce hours of operation, is urged to expand distance options.

Min. Peretz to MDA: 'You do sacred work with great devotion'

Minister of Education Rabbi Rafi Peretz Visits MDA: 'You do sacred work with great devotion to the health of the public.'

Security guards laid off must deposit their weapons

Government orders owners of security firms to ensure that all guards laid off for more than a week deposit their weapons with firm.

Top doctor: Coronavirus situation 'extremely worrying'

In interview with 103 FM, former Director-General of the Health Ministry says he is seriously concerned at increased rate of infection.

The danger in the elevator

Indian PM Narendra Modi shares video depicting how coronavirus can spread - from one moment in an elevator.

Dangerous illusion: 'It's not much worse than flu'

With 'just' 31 people in serious condition, we still don't appreciate gravity of situation. Within 2 weeks, that could all change. Opinion

COVID 19 in Israel:

1656 coronavirus patients, 31 in serious condition

Number of coroanvirus patients rises 449 in a single day, with 31 in serious condition.

Supermarket CEO allays food shortage concerns

"Supplies are there, we have contingency plans and are hiring aggressively to ensure supermarket shelves will remain stocked.

AIPAC sends blessings to United Hatzalah Chief

AIPAC sends heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to Eli Beer, "whose ingenuity & commitment to medical innovation continues to save lives"

Tourism Minister Levin: Crisis shows how important tourism is

'Unfortunately, it has taken a crisis like this to convince people of the importance of tourism for the entire economy,' says Levin.

EU to send humanitarian aid to Iran

EU foreign minister says €20 million in humanitarian aid will be sent to Iran to help alleviate the coronavirus outbreak.

Merkel's first coronavirus test comes back negative

The German Chancellor is in self-isolation after a doctor who vaccinated her was infected with the novel coronavirus.

Pompeo: Iran spreading conspiracy theories about coronavirus

Secretary of State lashes out at Iran after Supreme Leader hints that COVID-19 was man-made by America.

New York: Financial aid for Passover preparations

UJA-Federation of NY announces more than $23 million in grants and loans in response to COVID-19.

Rouhani: If the US wants to help, it should lift sanctions

Iranian President says Iran has no intention of accepting the United States’ offer of assistance to help it deal with coronavirus.

Japanese firm says it developed vaccine against COVID-19

Japanese biopharmaceutical firm Anges Inc. says it completed development of a prophylactic DNA vaccine and will begin testing it in animals.

First lady tests negative for coronavirus

US President says his wife tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

Report: Olympics to be postponed

International Olympic Committee member says Tokyo Olympics will be pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus.

Trump: The US wasn't built to be shut down

Trump says his administration will work to allow local economies to “cautiously resume” activities at the appropriate time.

260 Israelis to enter isolation at hotel near Tiberias

Minister Bennett orders that Israelis returning from Italy be placed in isolation at Kinar Hotel near Tiberias.

'You must stay at home or risk being fined'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposes curbs on everyday life in a bid to fight the spread of coronavirus.

'Drive and Test' facilities in the north, south and Jerusalem

MDA conducts pilot test, brings suspected coronavirus carriers to be tested in their vehicles.