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Governor to take ventilators for NYC as hospitals buckle

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MARINA VILLENUEVE, JOHN LEICESTER and ARITZ PARRA (AP)

With coronavirus deaths surging in New York, the governor announced Friday he will use his authority to seize ventilators and protective gear from private hospitals and companies that aren’t using them, complaining that states are competing against each other for vital equipment in eBay-like bidding wars.

“If they want to sue me for borrowing their excess ventilators to save lives, let them sue me,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. He added that he will eventually return the equipment or compensate the owners.

The executive order he said he would sign represents one of the most aggressive efforts yet in the U.S. to deal with the kind of critical shortages around the world that authorities say have caused health care workers to fall sick and forced doctors in Europe to make life-or-death decisions about which patients get a breathing machine

The number of the people infected in the U.S. reached a quarter-million and the death toll climbed past 6,500, with New York state alone accounting for more than 2,900 dead, a surge of over 560 in just one day. Most of the dead are in New York City, where hospitals are getting swamped with patients and are facing shortages of ventilators.

The move by Cuomo came as the outbreak snapped the United States’ record-breaking hiring streak of nearly 10 years. The U.S. government said employers slashed over 700.000 jobs in March, bringing a swift end to the nation’s 50-year-low unemployment rate

Shortages of such things as masks, gowns and ventilators have led to fierce competition among buyers from Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere.

A regional leader in Paris described the scramble to find masks a “worldwide treasure hunt,” and the French prime minister said he is “fighting hour by hour” to ward off shortages of essential drugs used to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

France canceled its high school exit exam known as the Baccalaureat, a first in the 212-year history of the test.

Spain reported 932 new deaths, down slightly from the record it hit a day earlier. The carnage most certainly included large numbers of elderly who authorities admit are not getting access to the country’s limited breathing machines, which are being used first on healthier, younger patients. More than half of Spain’s death toll of nearly 11,000 has come in the last seven days alone.

In a vast exhibition center in Madrid that was hastily converted into a 1,300-bed field hospital, bed No. 01.30 held patient Esteban Pinaredo, age 87.

“I’m good, I love you,” Pinaredo told his family via Skype. “I will run away as soon as I can.”

The facility’s organizer, Antonio Zapatero, said Spain’s nationwide lockdown must be maintained.

“Otherwise, this is what you are facing,” he said, pointing at the rows of beds.

In some places in Europe, officials began talking tentatively about how to lift lockdowns that have staved off the total collapse of the health systems but have also battered economies.

But Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in her first video message after emerging from two weeks of quarantine at home, urged Germans to stay home over Easter, saying it would be irresponsible for her to set a date now for loosening restrictions that include a ban on public gatherings of more than two people.

With forecast glorious spring weather likely to tempt stir-crazy families out of lockdown this weekend, the firm message across the continent remained: “Stay home.” Paris police set up roadblocks out of the city to stop those trying to escape for Easter vacation.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tested positive last week, said in a video message on Twitter that he is feeling better but still has a fever and will remain in isolation.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause pneumonia. The World Health Organization said this week that 95% of the deaths in Europe were of people over 60.

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Villenueve reported from Albany, New York. Leicester reported from Le Pecq, France. Associated Press writers around the world contributed.

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Latest News From NY Breaking Coronavirus Update 4/3

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The Empire State building is lit in red and white lights to honor emergency medical workers Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in New York. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NYC MAYOR “WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!”* Mayor Bill de Blasio warned the city would face a massive surge in cases next week with as many as 5,000 or more people in New York City who need to be in ICUs. De Blasio says he asked the White House/Pentagon 10 days ago for reinforcements, including 1,000 nurses, 150 doctors and 300 respiratory therapists, but has not received a firm answer.

“We are running out of time, I think we have literally days to create something that has never existed before, for a crisis this country has never seen before,” he said during an interview on Friday morning. “If that is not done in the coming days, you’re going to see people die who did not need to die, not just in New York, but in many parts of this country.”

*NY COVID-19 UPDATE:* New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there are now 102,863 coronavirus cases in the state. More than 14,000 patients are currently hospitalized. So far, 2,935 people have died in the state — that’s up from 2,373, Cuomo said. “Highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started,” Cuomo said.

NAMES TO PRAY FOR

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If you have any Tehillim names of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19, please contact YWN with those names to be added to the list. Do NOT send us names from existing lists, and ONLY send us names you know personally. This is for COVID-19 victims ONLY. SEND THE NAMES TO [email protected]

Aharon Shaul ben Rachel
Avrohom Aharon HaLevi ben Rasha Roiza
Aharon Yehoshua ben Ettel
Aharon ben Golda
Aharon Tzvi ben Liba Sara
Aharon Yaakov ben Bonia
Aaron Mordechai ben Golda
Asher ben Bracha Sima
Arye ben Chaya Rochel
Avrohom Yosef ben Rochel Leah
Aaron ben Chana
Aharon ben Pessel Leiah
Avrohom ben Malka
Avraham Lev ben Sara Maya
Avraham Meir HaKohen ben Aliza
Avrhom Arye ben Tzipora
Avrohom Shmuel ben Rochel
Avraham ben Yehudis
Avigder Sosson Meir ben Rochel Leah
Avraham Abba ben Gittel
Avrohom Shloima ben Baila
Avichai Yisachar ben Rachel
Aharon ben Mindel
Arlene Chana bas Leah
Aharon ben Giti
Aharon ben Soro
Abraham ben Chana Rivka
Avrohom Yekusiel ben Gittel
Aharon ben Rochel
Avraham Nachman ben Rivka Reizel
Aryeh Zev ben Aidel
Aharon ben Chana Golda
Alexander ben Sora
Aaron Ben Toiba Ettel
Adina bat Pelka
Avraham ben Pesha Faga
Aryeh Leib ben Chaya Sara
Aliza Miriam bas Yocheved
Avraham Ben Esther Malka
Azriel Dovid ben Shulamis
Avraham Shraga Feivil ben Leah
Avraham Meir ben Chana
Aharon Moshe ben Chaya Bina
Aaron Eliyahu ben Leah
Avraham ben Shaindel
Avigdor Yiddel ben Raizel
Aharon Shulem ben Sarah
Ahron Arya ben Chaya Tzortel
Asher Zelig ben Shaindel
Avrohom Yaakov ben Golda Leah
Aidel bas Sarah
Avraham Rachamim ben Yeshua
Aron ben Chana Golda
Avrohom Aron ben Yenta
Abraham ben Bolisa
Ahron ben Yenta
Asher ben Devorah
Avraham ben Miryam
Avraham Dovid ben Chava
Avraham ben Gila
Alexander ben Nissel Leah
Avraham ben Mindel
Avraham ben Rachel
Ahron Shmuel Yeshaya ben Chava
Avraham Zechariah Menachem ben Sara Aidel
Alter Chaim Mordechai ben Rochel
Aryeh Yehoshua ben Chaya Aidel
Avraham Mordechai ben Slava
Avraham Yirmiyahu ben Chava
Avrohom Yaakov ben Chaya
Avraham Baruch ben Sara Rivka
Avraham Meir ben Gittel Leiba
Avraham Yitzchak ben Chana
Avrohom Kaddish ben Malka Baila
Aron Daniel ben Latifa
Avrum Ezriel Meir ben Miriam Leah
Aharon Yaakov ben Yocheved
Ahron Moshe ben Leah Zelda
Aharon ben Yenta
Aharon Peretz ben Chaya Mirel Yitel
Aharon ben Leah
Adina Shaindel bas Sara
Akiva Dov ben Miriam
Amrum ben Ester
Alta Devory bas Chana Hanyu
Amram ben Miriam
Ben Tzion Chaim ben Shayna Necha
Bina bas Chana
Baruch ben Serach
Boruch Tuvia ben Leah
Binyomin ben Camila
Bracha Basya bas Chaya Rivkah
Baruch ben Tzipporah
Binyamin Elimilech Ben Yehudis
Boruch Naftali ben Devorah Chava
Binyamin Reuven ben Veronique Rivka Julie
Binyumen Arye ben Etye
Burech ben Miriam
Batsheva bas Rochel Leah
Binyomin ben Chaya Rivka
Baruch ben Sarah
Binyomin Elimelech ben Malka
Binyomin Mende HaLevi ben Simona Chaya
Baruch Boris ben Shushana
Baila Kreindel bas Alte Tziporah Rochel Leah
Ben Tzion ben Masha Yehudis
Benzion ben Gittel
Bracha bat Frayda
Bracha bas Saryl
Binyomin Meir ben Etel Chaya
Boruch Mordechai ben Masha Hinda
Chaim Dov ben Kraindel
Chaim Meir ben Fraida Rivka
Chana Leba bas Rivka
Chana Rivka bas Rachel Esther
Chaim Yitzchak ben Frieda Feiga Leah
Chaim Shimon Chanaya Yeshua ben Leah Eida
Chaim Mordechai ben Rochel
Chaim Elozor ben Aidel Chaya Mallah
Chaim Levi ben Chana Priva
Chananya Yom Tov Lipa ben Chana Mindel
Chaya Geetel bas Recha Devorah
Chana Reizel bas Breindel
Chaim Moshe ben Ratza
Chaim Moshe ben Perel
Ceti bas Miriam
Chaim Shmuel ben Fraidel Leah
Chananya Yom Tov ben Pessel Leiah
Chana Nechama bas Figlu Chaya
Chaya Faiga bas Chana Reva
Chana bas Adele
Chaim Yosef Dovid ben Shifra
Chanyanya Yom Tov Lipa ben Esther
Channa Malka bat Pepi
Chana bas Henneh
Chaim Nisan ben Basya Leah
Chaim Avigdor Ben Leah
Chana bas Miriam
Chaim Eliyahu ben Tzirel
Chana Baila bas Basha
Chaim ben Roiza
Chana bas Devorah
Chaim Yaniv ben Varda
Chasya Rochel bas Chaya
Chaim Isaac ben Yenta
Chaim Yosef ben Feiga Esther
Chaya Leah bat Sarah
Chaim Mayer ben Leah
Chana bat Raisel
Chaya bas Sarah
Chaim Alexander ben tons
Chana Pesel Miriam bas Chaya Sarah
Chaim Yitzchock ben Rivka Yenta
Chana bas Miriam Perel
Chava Rochel bas Yenta
Chaim Yisrael Shimon ben Chava Chaya Perel
Chaim Tuvia ben Tzirel Perel
Chana Teibe bat Nechama Leibe
Chaim Tzadok ben Tzirel
Chaim ben Sara
Chaim Zalman ben Hinda
Chaim Yaakov ben Sara Rivka
Chana Sarah bas Sheindel Pesha
Chaim ben Rachel
Chaim Asher ben Shprintza Perel
Chanah Sol bat Sarah
Chana Sara bas Fayga
Chana bas Sara
Chaim Yaakov Zev ben Sara
Chaim Yechezkel Shraga ben Rochel Esther
Chava Ratza bat Sheindal Baila
Chiem Burach ben Devora Peral
Chaim Lazer ben Pesha
Chaim Nachum Naftali ben Sara Ettel
Chaya Tzipora Shaindel bas Chana Leah
Chaya bas Elka
Chaim Nochum Naftoli ben Sarah Ettel
Chava bas Aviva
Chaim Dov ben Tzivia Trana
Chaya Feiga Feigel bas Sarah Rivka
Chaim Yitzchok ben Baila
Chaim Yosef ben Chaya Shaindel
Chaim Yehudah ben Esther
Chaim Simcha ben Shoshana Ralla
Chaya Hinde Udel bat Bracha
Dominique Messaouda bat Sultana
Dovid ben Chaya Rivka
Daniel Yosef ben Pesha
Dovid ben Feiga
Devorah Bat Irit
Dovid Yitzchok ben Zissel
Dovber ben Liba Raizel
Don Zev ben Pesil Penina
Dovid ben Shoshana
Daniel ben Emily
Dovid ben Zisla Mariasha
Devorah bas Chili
Dovid Mordechai ben Matil Yehudis
Dovid ben Ettel
Dovid Meir HaKohen ben Chanah
Dovid ben Feigah Rachel
Dov Shraga ben Chaya Tzivia
David ben Rivkah
Devorah Nechama bas Chana
Dovid ben Ella Freidel
Dovid ben Serel
Dovid Menachem Levi ben Leah
Daniel ben Ilana
Daniel Joseph ben Menasche
Dov Ber ben Mattel Pessel
Dovid Aryeh ben Rochel Sara
David Tzvi ben Zisel
David Shimon ben Yehudis
Dovid Binyamin ben Doba Faiga
Devorah Basya bas Chaya
Devora bas Sarah
Dovid Eliezer ben Sosha Fruma
Don ben Golda
Eliezer Yehuda ben Chaya
Esther Roza bas Sara Mindel
Eliezer ben Anela Surah
Elazar Chanoch Yechezkel ben Zahava
Eliezer ben Mohtaram
Esther bat Yamina
Epharim ben Leah
Eliezer Yehoshua ben Perel Bluma
Esther bat Mazal
Eliezer Nosson Ben Tzirel
Eliyahu Yosef Chaim Yedidya ben Sara Marina
Eliyohu Pinchos ben Miriam
Esther bas Penina
Eluzer ben Anele Sara
Esther Raizel bas Chaya Malka
Ester Sarah bat Divora Feiga
Eliezer ben Shaina Miriam
Eilan Avreich ben Nava
Eliza bas Rivka
Esther bas Penina
Ezriel Dovid ben Shulamis
Eliezer ben Gruna Feiga
Esther bas Sarah
Elchonon Shimon ben Baila
Elchonon ben Rivka
Esther Tzina Eige bas Sarah
Edmond ben Rachel
Elchanan Hillel ben Sarah
Esther Shaindel bas Kreindel
Eliyahu ben Talia
Eliyahu Yitzchak Yisroel ben Rivka Shprintza
Eliezer Chaim ben Tziperl
Ettel bas Sheindal
Elinatan Yisroel Shlomo Yaacov ben Malka
Eliezer ben Faiga
Esther Sima bas Chaya Hadassah
Efraim Demikreh Eduard Demikreh Edik ben Rivka
Etan Moshe ben Hila Hinda
Elimelech Dovid ben Frumit Fraida
Esther bas Malka
Elimelech Mordechai ben Shulamis
Elazar ben Gamileh
Esther Sima bas Chaya Haddasa
Eliezer ben Kayla
Eliezer Shlomo ben Esther Yutta Malia
Eliyahu Yaakov ben Miriam Gittel
Ezra Binyomin ben Zisel
Ella bat Mafrat
Faiga Bas Rivkah
Freyda Rifka bas Gittel
Fleur Perl Penina bat Helen Simcha Chaya
Fraida Dubra bas Razel Rivah
Fradel bas Sara
Faiga Malka bas Glickel
Gershon ben Miriam
Gimpel Mordechai Daniel Ben Sora Ita
Gershon Avrohom ben Miriam Malka
Gittel bas Ruchel
Gavriel ben Liza Leah
Gershon ben Sarah
Gruna Feiga bas Bluma
Gittel bas Mindel
Gur Aryeh ben Elka
Gedalia ben Chaya Rivka
Gavriel Yonason Halevi ben Naomi
Gittel Sheinfel bas Chana Malka
George ben Maria
Galia bat Goltaj
Gershon Dovid ben Bluma Sheva Elka
Harriet bat Lillian
Henna Devorah Perel Chaya bas Esther Pesel
Hanan ben Margot
Hana bas Mazel
Henoch Yisroel ben Esther Necha
Henna bas Malia
Hadas Chana bas Rivka Chaya
Ita bas Leah
Ita bas Shifra
Israel David ben Miriam
Irit bat Dorith
Iris bat Barno
Isaiah Eliyahu ben Rivkah Rochel
Isar Rifoel ben Liba
Jacques ben Alice
Jaya Olga bat Linda
Jaim Mordechai ben Leah
Leah bas Miriam
Leah bas Chaya
Leah Devorah bas Chana
Leon ben Emilia
Leah Naomi bas Sarah
Leah Eidel bas Rivka Etya
Leah bas Tobah Yehudis
Levi ben Shira
Liba bas Freida Milka
Leah Sima Charna bas Risha
Leah bas Rivka
Leah Chaya bas Rivka
Leib ben Rachel
Moshe Sholom Eliezer ben Shoshana Roiza
Moshe Eliezer HaLevi ben Esther Tziporah
Moshe Yaakov Yosef ben Rus
Moshe Bentzion ben Rochel Yehudis
Michoel ben Dina
Mordechai Dovid ben Leah Pesia
Menachem Mordechai ben Miriam
Moshe ben Rozette
Mordechai Leib ben Miriam
Menashe Dov ben Rasha Riva
Moshe Mordechai ben Shaina Baila
Menasha Yaakov ben Liba
Moshe ben Rachel
Meir ben Esther
Mordichai Yehuda Leib ben Rivka
Mordechai ben Chaya Sara
Miriam bas Penina
Moshe Shaul ben Sara
Mazal bat Leah
Miriam bas Ceti
Mordechai ben Baila
Mordechai ben Sara
Miriam bas Leah
Mordechai ben Miriam
Moshe ben Leah
Mordechai Leib ben Feiga
Mordechai David ben Nurit Hensha
Moshe Yechezkel ben Rechel Chava
Moshe Shimon ben Sara Leah
Malka Feiga bas Gitel
Mordche Zvi Binyumen ben Reizel
Mordechai ben Clara
Matisyahu ben Rochel Leah
Menasha ben Dina Malka
Mordechai Yehuda ben Alona
Moshe ben Baila Etel
Meir Isamar ben Chana Roiza
Moshe Yitzchok ben Soro Tzvetel
Menachem Mendel ben Masha
Moshe Ezrah ben Esther
Meir ben Chaya
Mordechai ben Chava
Mordechai Dovid ben Matil Yehudis
Mordechai ben Freida Reiza
Moshe ben Sarah
Moshe ben Rivkeh
Mattel bas Klerel
Mordechai ben Rina
Moshe ben Mattel Shaindel
Mayer Dovid ben Fruma Hadas
Moshe Dov ben Blima
Moshe Mordechai ben Haddasah
Mina Rella bas Elka
Moshe Aharon ben Rivka
Meir Yonah ben Chaya Sara
Mordechai ben Baila hasya
Marcos Mordejay ben Rina
Mordechai ben Esther Gittle
Meyer ben Perel
Meir Nachman ben Rivka
Mordechai ben Tamar
Mordechai Gershon ben Pesha
Mordechai ben Latifeh
Mordechai ben Raizel
Michoel Shmuel ben Rivka
Moshe ben Yocheved
Masha Esther bas Chaya Mirel
Masha Tzivya bas Hentcha
Mordechai Menachem ben Esther
Moshe Aaron ben Naomi
Mayer Shulem Yitzchok ben Yitta Chaya
Malka Gittel bas Pessel
Moshe Yosef ben Leah
Mattel Pessel bas Chaya Sara
Miriam Leah bas Rivka
Menachem Mendel ben Yamimah Baila
Moshe ben Chaya Mirel Yitel
Meir Peretz ben Henya
Menoach Yehuda ben Chana
Meir ben Chava Leah
Menachem Mendel ben Devora
Masha Esther bas Chaya Mirel
Miriam bas Esther
Mafrat bat Miriam
Matisyahu ben Rivka
Mafrat bat Tzipporah
Michoel ben Esther
Nehama Dinah bat Tsipora
Nochum ben Chaya Gittel
Nissim ben Daya Odet
Nechemia ben Leah Chasya
Nochum ben Tzartel
Nesanel ben Charna Raizel
Noson David ben Chaya Breindle
Naftoli Hertz Anshel ben Devorah
Nina bat Maria
Nochum ben Rishka
Nochum ben Sara Ettel
Nisim ben Chana
Nosson Moshe ben Sasha Mindel
Nisan Leib ben Chana
Nader Shlomo ben Miriam Nane Joon
Noson Dov ben Soro
Nechemia Rafael ben Ita Tziporah
Noach ben Yuzpah Devorah
Noson ben Rus
Ovadia ben Sara Mina
Osnas bas Rus
Olga bat Linda
Ovadia ben Sara Mindel
Osher Yaakov ben Esther
Pesach Yehoshua ben Tovah Chaya
Pina Rella bas Miriam Guta
Parvanah bas Nosrat
Pinchas Shalom ben Raizel Rochel
Pepi bat Yehudit
Pinchas Zelig ben Chaya Zissel
Pessil bas Frumat Rivka
Pinchas Meir ben Chana
Pinchas Avrohom ben Hendel
Pinchas Baruch ben Sara Esther
Perel bas Rivka
Pessel bas Shoshana Tova
Pesach Yaakov ben Sarah leah
Pinchas Levi ben Hencha
Pesach ben Chana
Peretz Zalman ben Michla
Rochel bas Malka
Rivka bas Hinda
Rami Rahamim ben Shoshana
Rochel Mindel bas Faigel Raizel
Rachamim ben Katerine Rivkah
Rachel bat Tsipora
Reuven Shmuel ben Mazal
Rochel bas Leah
Reuven Shmuel ben Chaya Sara
Rochel bas Matel
Reuven Dov ben Chana Chaya
Raphael Yoel ben Nichole Nechama
Rivka bas Fradel
Rivka Zlata bas Dabbah
Reuven ben Rachel
Rachamim Rami ben Shoshana
Rachel Esther bas Sarah Zeesil Leah
Rachel bas Gamlielah
Refael ben Margarita
Rachamim ben Esther
Rechel bas Baila
Rajel bat ribka
Raitzel bas Tzirel
Ruth Simchah bat Ephrat
Rochel bas Alte Chaya
Rafael ben Sarah
Rachel bas Faiga
Reuven Dovid ben Yehudis
Refael ben Esther
Rochel bas Miriam
Rifka bas Raizel
Ruth bas Chana
Ronni ben Yonina
Raphael Dovid ben Etta Riva
Rivka bas Yachat
Rafi Rafael ben Miriam Nane Joon
Rivka Refaela bas Leah
Rivka Chaya bas Leah
Raya bas Chaya
Refoel Eliyahu ben Esther
Rivka bas Shaindel
Saadya Yeshoshua ben Ahava Rivka
Shabsi ben Esther
Sholom Yisroel ben Bracha
Simche ben Daniele
Shlomo ben Tziviya
Shoshana Fraida bas Malka Tziporah
Simcha Yossel ben Malka Chana
Shmouel Halevi ben Gretel
Shmuel ben Rachel Leah
Shimon ben Chaya Miriam
Shamshen Raphael ben Miriam Chana
Shmuel Leib ben Michal Dina
Sara Mindel bas Hinda
Shraga Dovid Yechezkel ben Shoshana Roisa
Sasha Yonah bas Kuna Chana
Shlomo Gershon ben Duba Mirel
Shlomo ben Shoshana
Shlomo ben Rivka
Shulamis bas Sora Leah
Sholom ben Sara
Shlomo Tzvi ben Elka Yehudis
Shalom Mordechai ben Zelda
Shalom Yosef ben Hendel
Sema Sasson Simcha ben Mafrat
Shraga Tzvi ben Zissel
Shiran Sara bas Ora
Shimon Ben Miriam Hendel
Shulem Eliezer Menachem ben Toba Leah
Shprintza bas Tila
Shaindel Raichel bas Figlu Chaya
Shlomo Elozer ben Miriam
Simcha Daniel ben Kayla
Shmuel ben Margareet
Sharona bat Yehudis
Shmuel Mordechai ben Miriam
Shraga Feivel ben Yehudis
Sion ben Tova
Shlomo Chaim ben Frumit
Shimon ben Baila
Sholom Dovber ben Leah
Shai Avrohom ben Esther
Shmuel ben Raizel
Simon ben Sultana
Shmuel Dovid ben Faiga
Shmuel Dovid Ben Yehudis Faiga
Shimon ben Esther
Shmaryahu Yehoshua Heshel ben Tova
Shlomo ben Esther Rochel
Sofia bas Grazia
Shabsi ben Malkah
Shlomo ben Freida
Shlomo Chizkiyahu ben Mazal
Shaul ben Sara
Shimon Aharon ben Adda Necha
Shloima Mayer ben Raizel
Shulamis bas Chasya Rivka
Shmuel ben Eidel
Shalom ben Yamna
Shlomo ben Nina
Shamai ben Toba Kreindel
Saadia ben Miriam
Shimon Shalom ben Michal Dena
Sima bas Chaya Hadassah
Svetlana Ora bat Sarah
Sidney ben Bahia
Sarah Chana Pesil bas Alta Bina
Shlomo ben Latife
Shmuel ben Bluma
Shmuel Zanvil ben Malka Sheindel
Shoshana Lottie bat Fay
Shlomo ben Bezalel
Shmuel Tzvi ben Chana Nicha
Stephane Yaacov ben Martine Haya
Schneur Zalman Yehuda ben Hinda Yocheved
Shmuel Abba ben Pessel
Shimon ben Esther
Shaul Yedidya Elazar ben Alta Esther Etta
Shneur Zalman ben Slava
Shmuel Zanvil ben Etya
Shimel Meir ben Matl Esther
Shimon ben Malka
Sara bas Rivkah
Shlomo Zev Asher ben Devora
Shaul Zev ben Devorah
Soro bas Raizel
Shoshana Raizel bas Chaya
Shmuel ben Chaya
Shraga Feivel ben Sora Rivka
Saura bas Chaya
Shaindel bat Sara
Tzvi Yehudah ben Rivkah
Tzvi Hersh ben Ruchuma
Tzvi Yitzchok ben Pesha
Tzvi ben Fraida Leah
Tilla bas Toba Nicha
Tzvi ben Yachat
Tirtsa bas Rachel Brigitte
Tziporah Tzivia bas Rochel Leah
Tzvi ben Hinda
Tzvi ben Chana
Tzvi Yisroel Dovid ben Fayga
Tzvi Hirsch ben Sima Raizel
Tzion ben Tova
Tziona Marusa bas Maste Esther
Therese Tamo bat Suzanne Mazal
Tzivia Daaba bat Yenta
Tzvi Yisrael ben Ita Faiga
Tanja bat Nina
Tzvi Chaim ben Sheindel
Tamar Tziporah bas Chaya
Tzvi Chaim ben Halena Sheindal
Tiqua bat Maatuka Helen
Tzadkah Sidney ben Bahieh Beckey
Tzvi ben Gittel
Tzvi Yosef ben Esther
Victor Yehia ben Sultana
Vladik ben Nina
Yitzchak ben Shifra
Yisroel ben Sara
Yehuda Aryeh ben Devorah Leah
Yisroel Moishe ben Esther Chaya
Yehoram ben Donna
Yaakov ben Malka
Yosef Moshe ben Sima
Yosef Yitzchock HaLevi be Chaya Klara
Yechezkel ben Gittel
Yisachor Chaim ben Esther Malka (Dr Greenberg)
Yona Eliyahu ben Sara
Yisroel Yizchok ben Gitel
Yisroel Yaakov Gershon ben Rivka
Yehuda Leib ben Menucha Rochel
Yakov Yehuda ben Chana
Yaakov Shalom Ben Gittel Udyah
Yoel Simhon ben Yaacov
Yakkov Meir ben Mala
Yehonoson Gavriel Ben Naomi
Yosef ben Tziporah
Yakov Yosef ben Miriam Chana
Yitzchak ben Yehudis
Yitzchak ben Esther – Dr. Wurzburger
Yehuda Boruch ben Esther
Yosef Halevi ben Chava
Yisroel Chaim ben Leah
Yakov ben Zohara
Yocheved Leah bas Baila
Yisroel Meir ben Sima Udel
Yitzchok Uziel ben Rivka
Yitzchok Dov Eliyahu ben Chana
Yehuda Yitzchok ben Matel
Yehudah Daniel ben Bunya
Yitzchok ben Fruma Elka
Yitzchok Meir ben Raizel
Yaakov Dovid ben Soroh
Yosef Meir ben Mattel
Yosef ben Batya
Yehudah Leibish Chaim ben Ruchama
Yosef Shlomo ben Fayga Yitel
Yisroel Yechezkel ben Chaya
Yitzchak Isaac ben Chana Alta Feiga
Yosef Mordechai ben Leah
Yael Ella bas Sarah Shaindel
Yosef Ben Monavar
Yosef Zindel ben Serl
Yaakov Yochanan ben Figlu Chaya
Yosef Tzvi ben Chana
Yosef Benyamin Ilan ben Emily
Yakov ben Leah Devora
Yitzchak Menachem ben Leah
Yisroel Yakov ben Feiga Yita
Yisroel ben Mafrat
Yitzchak ben Rochel Miriam
Yicheved bas Chana
Yisrael Tzvi ben Yehudis
Yosef Gad’le ben Sara Devorah
Yitzchok ben Alte Nechama Shulamis
Yehoshua Leib ben Miriam
Yisrael Simcha ben Shifra
Yaakov ben Yaffa
Yehuda ben Esther Yitel
Yaakov ben Yente Layeh
Yael bas Mazal Tov
Yaakov Mayer Yerachmiel ben Chaya
Yisroel Dov ben Liba
Yaakov ben Yaffa
Yekusiel Yehuda ben Hinda Leah
Yitzchok Mendel ben Sara Baila
Yechiel Michel ben Chatzil
Yosef Yitzchok ben Basha
Yitzchok ben Baila
Yehudah Chaim ben Esther
Yakov Yosef ben Esther Malka
Yakov Yitzhak ben Chyla Golda
Yaakov ben Rivka
Yitzchak ben Ester Tera
Yisrael ben Pearl
Yechiel Dovid ben Shaindel
Yerachmiel Shimon ben Rochel
Yaakov ben Martel
Yehuda Reuven ben Miriam Chana
Yechiel Moshe ben Ritzel
Yitzchok Elchonon ben Rivka Taibel
Yehuda Leib ben Menucha Rochem
Yaakov Aharon ben Fradel Nesha Bracha
Yisroel ben Necha
Yehuda Aryeh ben Sheindal
Yehoshua ben Lotza Halevi
Yechiel Michel ben Miriam Rivka
Yocheved bat Batsheva
Yoseph Duvid ben Yita Miriam
Yosef ben Sultana
Yehudis Simcha bas Sara
Yosef Laibish ben Chaya Shprintza
Yehudit Yael bat Golda
Yehudah Yitzchok ben Rachel
Yitzchok Naftali ben Sara
Yaakov Eliyahu ben Rochel
Yosef Tzvi ben Mirel
Yehuda Leib ben Yehudis
Yehoshua Zisha ben Malka Beila
Yakov Chai ben Mazal
Yosef Zvi ben Chana Hanala
Yona ben Zehava
Yom Tov Lipa ben Chaya
Yitzhak ben Soroya
Yisroel ben Shterna Sara
Yaakov Yisroel ben Esther Tica
Yehuda Aryeh ben Tamar Tziporah
Yitzchok Eliyahu ben Chaya Sora
Yitzchok ben Esther
Yocheved bas Alte Tziporah Rochel Leah
Yaakov Yitzchak Dovid ben Toyba
Yosef Yitzchak ben Sima Leah
Yosef Meir ben Yuta Elka
Yisroel Menachem ben Bracha Mindel
Yosef Tzvi ben Miriam
Yechiel Dovid ben Shaindel
Yosef Sholom ben Sheva Etya
Yaakov Yitzchak Dovid ben Toiba Gittel
Yitzchok ben Nechama
Yochanon ben Raizel
Yaakov Meir ben Rishka
Yaakov Naftuli ben Malka Baila
Yeshaya Reuven ben Zelda
Yechiel Michael Ze’ev ben Devorah
Yitzchak Tzvi ben Rivka Tzivia
Yehuda Leib ben Basya
Yaakov Itzjak ben Ruth Jasibe
Yehoshua Baruch ben yitta Chaya
Yitzchok Naftoli ben Sarah
Yuval ben Addi
Yaakov Nachman ben Yuta
Yehoshua Mordechai ben Shaindel Raizel
Yosef Alexander ben Rachel
Yisroel Mordechai ben Malka
Yisroel Zecharia ben Ruchna Devorah
Yosef ben Mazli
Yosef Dov Ber ben Devorah Goldah
Yosef Yehuda ben Fradel
Yissacher Chaim ben Esther Malka
Yitzhak ben Mazal
Yaakov Shia ben Chana
Yehoshua Zelig Halevi ben Tzirel
Yosef Yehonasan Hakohen ben Zissel
Yitzchok Tuvia ben Rickel
Yoel Nosson ben Malka
Yehudah Aryeh ben Malkah
Yisroel Dovid ben Roiza
Yaakov Aryeh ben Freida Rivka
Yosef Arye ben Ester Hentche
Yaakov ben Tova
Yosef Dovid ben Esther
Yosef ben Zilpa
Zev Velvel ben Rochel
Zohar ben Nava
Zahava bat Dvora
Zipora Tsivia bas Rachel Leah
Zina bat Mariah
Zev ben Matel Sheva
Zalman Yaacov ben Chana

Operation Old Folks: Thousands of Elderly to be Transferred Out of Haredi City

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 BY David Isaac

Bnei Brak, the city of ultra-Orthodox, or haredi, Jews has seen the highest infection rate of coronavirus. In order to protect its more vulnerable residents, the elderly, Israeli government ministers decided on Thursday to approve an operation to move thousands of them out of the city.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Defense Minister Naftali Bennett decided that 4,500 residents 80 years-old and above will be taken to special quarantine hotels where they will ride out the pandemic in better health circumstances than if they remained in the city where the coronavirus rages.

An entire IDF division, the 98th, has been deployed to Bnei Brak. It will help with the transfer.

Reports say the government debated imposing a total lockdown of the city but decided against it for the time being. Channel 13’s Barak Ravid reports that Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan has prepared an emergency ordinance for the government’s approval that would give it the power to declare Bnei Brak and cities like it “restricted areas.”

According to Ministry of Health statistics, one out of seven confirmed coronavirus patients in Israel are residents of the city of Bnei Brak.

Ran Sa’ar, CEO of Maccabi, one of Israel’s largest health providers, made a shocking declaration on Thursday, estimating that 38 percent of Bnei Brak residents, or 75,000 people, are infected with the coronavirus.

Haredi cities, especially Bnei Brak, were late to take action in the face of the fast-spreading pandemic. The strictly religious haredi community shuns televisions, smartphones and the internet. Partly for this reason the warnings of the government reached them late.

The haredi community was also more susceptible to the virus’s spread given its emphasis on communal prayer and other activities that brought hundreds together.

It was only at the start of this week that a change in behavior began to be noted within the city. The change has been credited to the call from community leaders to follow the Health Ministry’s guidelines.

On Sunday, for example, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the leader of the Ashkenazic haredi, ordered his followers to pray in private, a remarkable decision given the religious injunction to pray in groups of 10.

The community also saw the toll coronavirus took among its co-religionists in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods outside of Israel in places like Brooklyn.(World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

 

Netanyahu, senior officials quarantined after Israel’s health minister tests positive for coronavirus

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health minister Yaakov Litzman hold a video conference with European Leaders in order to discuss challenges and cooperation between the countries in dealing with the coronavirus COVID-19, at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, on March 9, 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???????

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad intelligence agency chief Yossi Cohen, National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat, Health Ministry director general Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, head of Public Health Services Sigal Sadetsky and head of Hadassah-University Medical Center professor Zev Rotstein all entered self-quarantine on Thursday, after Israeli Health Minister Yaakov Litzman tested positive for coronavirus.

Litzman, 71, whose wife Chava also tested positive for coronavirus, was reported to be in good condition. None of the other leaders were yet reporting symptoms, and many were set to be quarantined in their offices so they could continue their work on behalf of the country

Due to late adoption of social distancing practices, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, of which Litzman is a member, has been particularly hard hit in recent days. In the largely ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, 900 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including 177 in just the past 24 hours—which means one out of every seven infected Israelis is from the city.

To highlight the high rate: While Bnai Brak has under 200,000 residents, the 900,000-person city of Jerusalem has 916 confirmed coronavirus cases.

Due to Bnei Brak’s high infection rate, Netanyahu on Wednesday evening instituted a strict quarantine on the city. In a televised address, he also advised all Israelis to wear masks or other face coverings when out in public.

During his address, Netanyahu also said the government would issue small stipends to pensioners and NIS 500 ($137) for each minor child in a family, with payments made up to four children.

Additionally, anyone arriving from abroad as of Thursday will be required to enter quarantine at a hotel dedicated to the purpose for 14 days, a restriction Netanyahu announced the same day reports revealed he had vetoed a similar plan tabled by Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israelis should maintain social distancing even with their own family members, urging people not to invite elderly grandparents or bring their children in national or army service home for the Passover holiday.

Netanyau beseeched the public to heed Health Ministry directives, saying it could make a big difference in differentiating Israel from countries currently facing massive and growing infection rates, somberly noting that America is forecast to lose 100,000 to 250,000 people to the virus in the next few weeks. “That’s the lighter forecast,” he warned.

As of Thursday morning, 6,211 Israelis were diagnosed with coronavirus, with 107 in serious condition and 83 on ventilators. Two more Israelis died from the virus, raising Israel’s toll to 32.

According to the Health Ministry, 3,201 medical staff are in quarantine, down from 3,498, including 701 doctors and 1,138 nurses, and 900 new nurses have been licensed to practice under an accelerated program.

We need help: Economic, health crises grow as cases top 1M

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MICHAEL R. SISAK, LORI HINNANT and MARK SHERMAN AP

The coronavirus outbreak has thrown 10 million Americans out of work in just two weeks in the swiftest, most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has ever witnessed, and the public health crisis deepened in New York City, where a funeral home in a hard-hit neighborhood had 185 bodies stacked up Thursday — more than triple normal capacity.

The dire news of a record-shattering 6.6 million new unemployment claims, on top of last week’s unprecedented 3.3 million, came as economists warned unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression.

Competition for scarce ventilators, masks and other protective gear seemed to grow more desperate and deaths mounted with alarming speed in Italy, Spain and New York, the most lethal hot spot in the United States, with nearly 2,400 lives lost.

The mounting economic fallout almost certainly signals the onset of a global recession, with job losses that are likely to dwarf those of the Great Recession more than a decade ago.

“My anxiety is through the roof right now, not knowing what’s going to happen,” said Laura Wieder, laid off from her job managing a now-closed sports bar in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

About half of all working Americans report some kind of income loss affecting them or a member of their household because of the epidemic, and poor people and those without college degrees are especially likely to have lost a job, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

With over 240,000 people infected in the U.S. and the death toll topping 5,800, sobering preparations were under way. The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the Pentagon for 100,000 body bags because of the possibility funeral homes will be overwhelmed, the military said.

Corpses in white plastic were already overwhelming the Daniel J. Schaefer Funeral Home in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on Thursday. Usually equipped to handle 40-60 bodies at a time, it was taking care of 185. Masked workers fielded phoned calls and handled file folders labeled “COVID-19” in yellow highlighter.

wner Pat Marmo said he’s been begging families to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible: “This is a state of emergency,” he said. “We need help.”

The Democratic Party pushed its nominating convention back a month, to mid-August. Federal authorities proposed a $611,000 fine against the Seattle-area nursing home connected to at least 40 coronavirus deaths, accusing it of infractions that included failure to report and rapidly manage the outbreak. And a days-long standoff in Florida was resolved when passengers aboard two cruise ships that have had several coronavirus cases and four deaths won permission to come ashore.

Elsewhere around the world, the number of people applying for welfare benefits in Britain increased nearly tenfold to almost 1 million in the past couple of weeks. At least a million in Europe are estimated to have lost their jobs over the same period, and the actual number is probably far higher. Spain alone added over 300,000 to its unemployment rolls in March.

But the job losses there appear to be far smaller than in the U.S. because of Europe’s greater social safety nets.

With its health care system in dire shape, Spain reported a record one-day number of deaths, 950, bringing its overall toll to about 10,000, despite signs that the infection rate is slowing.

Italy recorded 760 more deaths, for a total of 13,900, the worst of any country, but new infections continued to level off.

France recorded a running total of about 4,500 deaths in hospitals, with 471 in the past day. But officials expect the overall toll to jump significantly because they are only now starting to count deaths in nursing homes and other facilities for older people.

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said U.S. infection data suggest not enough Americans are heeding social distancing guidelines, and the country must do better in order to emulate those European nations that have begun “to bend their curves.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that New York could run out of breathing machines in six days. He complained that states are competing against each other for protective gear and breathing machines, or are being outbid by the federal government, in a competition he likened to being on eBay.

In France, a top health official in the country’s hard-hit eastern region said American officials swooped in at a Chinese airport to spirit away a planeload of masks that France had ordered.

Nine leading European university hospitals warned they will run out of essential medicines for COVID-19 patients in intensive care in less than two weeks.

A shipment of nearly 5,900 medical masks that Alabama’s Montgomery County received from the U.S. government stockpile was unusable because of dry rot, the emergency management director said. The masks had a 2010 expiration date, according to the city of Montgomery.

The Trump administration was formalizing new guidance to recommend Americans wear coverings such as non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas over their mouths and noses when out in public, while reserving medical-grade masks, particularly the short-in-supply N95 variety, for those dealing directly with the sick.

Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Thursday in hopes of boosting production of medical-grade masks by Minnesota-based 3M to assist first responders.

Washington is also trying to crack down on a growing black market for protective medical supplies, Defense Production Act policy coordinator Peter Navarro said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia. Over 200,000 people worldwide have recovered, by Johns Hopkins’ count.

With large portions of America under lockdown, job losses for the world’s biggest economy could double to 20 million and unemployment could spike to as high as 15% by the end of the month, many economists have said. Unemployment in the U.S. hasn’t been that high since the tail end of the Depression, just before the U.S. entered World War II.

Roughly 90% of the U.S. population is now under stay-at-home orders, and many factories, restaurants, stores and other businesses are closed or have seen sales shrivel.

Laid-off workers can tap money made available in the $2.2 trillion rescue measure passed by Congress. It adds $600 a week to unemployment benefits, extends eligibility to 39 weeks and for the first time wraps in part-timers and workers in the so-called gig economy, such as Uber drivers.

Achsa Febrero, a Subway worker at a rest stop Fairfield, Conn., is among the millions laid off and now waiting for unemployment benefits to kick in, which could take weeks. She said she is on a payment plan to keep her phone connected and unsure how she’ll pay for groceries — and deeply frustrated at the billions benefiting corporations in the federal bailout.

“These companies are getting government relief, government relief,” Febrero said. “They could afford to pay us more than what we’re getting. They could support us through this time, and they’re not. We’re human. What makes them better than us?”

Now More Than Ever, ‘Prayer is the Highest Form of Existence’

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Rochel Sylvetsky

(The following article has been republished with the permission of the Arutz Sheva editorial staff)

Rabbi Dov Singer is the charismatic dean of Mekor Chaim Yeshiva High School in Gush Etzion and founding head of the Beit Midrash Lehitchadshut (Study Center for Renewal). He is renowned for his innovative and inspiring ability to deepen the connection of students and educators to Torah-true life and for planting the desire to be closer to Hashem through spearheading a revival of Hassidic thought, especially that of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, in Israeli non- hassidic circles.

“Prayer is the highest form of existence,” he asserts and his pocket-book sized handbook of prayer “Tikon Tefillati” – possibly the only book of its kind extant– published in 2017, sold like wildfire in Israel. Its strength lay in an emotive analysis and presentation of the different forms and experiences of prayer, spiritual in nature, while including practical, behavioral suggestions on how each kind of prayer can enter the reader’s heart to become an integral part of his life.  It was recently published in English by Maggid Books and titled “Prepare My Prayer” Recipes to Awaken the Soul,” after being adapted by Reut Brosh and beautifully translated with a readable, flowing text by Leah Hartman..

Each chapter and subheading awakens us to thoughts about prayer which we will be aware of from now on, using a rich medley of sources as set induction. There are excerpts from classic Judaic texts, biblical verses, midrashic insights, Talmudic discourse, the Rambam, the Zohar, Rabbi Nachman’s Likutei Tefillot, Rabbi Kook, as well as modern poetry, always followed by a lyrical, flowing poem-essay by Rabbi Singer that seems to emanate from his very soul. Every topic ends with practical “recipes” and skills, for as the Baal Sefer Chinuch instructs, “our hearts follow the path of our actions.”   These are behaviorist tips that will aid the reader in reaching the goal set by each of the eleven chapters.

The chapters include thoughts like these:

Let me enter Your house: Don’t rush into shul and begin to pray, prepare for speaking to the Creator, just as a musician tunes his instrument before he begins to play.

Soul Movements in Prayer: Traverse the range of prayers from the song of the heart to crying out, a form of communication which precedes language.

The elevator metaphor: As we being morning prayers, we can imagine ourselves in an elevator, ascending from level to level, beginning with prayers dealing with body awakening on the first floor to the wonders of the world in Pesukei dezimra, up to the world of the angels in the paragraphs before Shema and then to the world of closeness and whispered intimacy in the Silent Prayer, the Amida.

The Body’s Gestures: Know that bowing is itself a prayer, one performed by the body, as is standing, lifting up one’s hands to heaven, falling.

The Torah Reading – the entire Torah is names of G-d, and the word for “reading” is also used for “calling out” in Hebrew, so the entire Torah reading calls out G-d’s Name.

The Priestly Blessing is a change in direction because now G-d is the Speaker, while we listen and receive.

Prayer differs from other commandments in that by definition, it needs kavana, intention (although there are those who say that the words themselves have mystic, intrinsic power.)  In fulfilling other mitzvot, intention is important but performance is the only requirement. One cannot say that about prayer, which is all about addressing the Almighty in a meaningful way. The intention requirement is what makes daily prayer a challenging mitzva to fulfill.

The handbook addresses the problem of intention, especially relevant since opposition to praying at set times with set words is a common problem among many of today’s young people, who are so used to individuality and self-expression that they find it hard to be tied to the words written centuries ago. Rabbi Singer gently guides them back:

The written prayer is a fixed prayer, We must make it new, To bring the ancient words inside, To say them again – refreshed, renewed…to reveal the movement from which the words were born before they were expressed, before they were written.

That is the most basic meaning of intention in prayer: To transform mumbling into facing, to turn the word toward their destination, to aim them in the right direction…The Reading of the Shema can be read as a public declaration… and alternatively, it is possible to read it as a quiet statement to myself, to listen to the secret of existence whispering from within reality: G-d is One.

To each verse a different address, a different melody. Don’t make your prayer fixed.

I gave a copy of the Hebrew book to each of my children’s families and therefore can vouch for the fact that the English version, which I read for this review, is true to the original. In English, as well as in Hebrew, the book is a soul-lifting spiritual trek.

But nothing happens by chance in this world. Full disclosure: This article was almost done, timed for posting a few days after Rabbi Singer’s flight to the US for the launching of the English edition. Other responsibilities intruded before it could be finished, and by then Rabbi Singer was back in Israel and in isolation, having contracted coronavirus while out of the country. I  could not bring myself to continue writing the article until yesterday, when, baruch Hashem,  Arutz Sheva ran an interview with the beloved Rabbi as he convalesces in one of the rest homes Israel has set aside for those recovering from the virus.

Perhaps that delay is all for the best, because as the coronavirus pandemic erodes our security in so many ways, it seems fitting to be able to suggest finding sustenance and strength in a book which raises spiritual consciousness as we approach G-d – now, sad to say, most often in supplication.

People for whom prayer is part of everyday life and who, like all of us, sometimes let their minds wander, are now concentrating on their daily prayers as if every day is Yom Kippur- and rightly so. My heart tells me that, like the radically secular MK who revealed years ago that as an IDF soldier he said Shema when he thought it was the end, many people for whom prayer was not part of everyday life have begun feeling that they want to talk to G-d.

In that vein, yesterday morning, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the month of renewal*, I joined hundreds in festive, inspiring prayer online by Rabbi Singer’s Beit Midrash Lehitchadshut – with only ten socially distanced people in view and religious singer Yitzchak Meir leading the service. Rabbi Singer spoke from where he is recuperating.

Festive prayers are one of the best known activities of Rabbi Singer’s welcoming Beit Midrash, one of whose stated goals is increasing motivation to pray and elevating feelings during prayer. The services take place, as do lectures and workshops, in a house of prayer in memory of Segen David Golobechich Hy”d in the picturesque Nahlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem – a gathering place for young adults and for famous Israeli musicians and singers who often join the Rosh Chodesh services.

May G-d hear all our prayers and may we see a full recovery for all those who are ill and be worthy for the Redemption in this Month of Redemption.

Notes: The book is also available at Koren Publishers.

*In the Book of Exodus, Nisan is called the Month of Springtime and Rabbi Kook wrote that “The Exodus from Egypt will forever remain the Springtime of the entire world,” alluding to the Bible’s introduction of the concept of liberty.

**A discordant  note: It is unfortunate that the introduction by Elchanan Nir does what Rav Singer would never do – claims the book is important because other existing Torah messages and ideologies are not successful in reaching today’s youngsters (the ideology refers to is clear to Israeli readers, but this is not the place to argue his point). However, any educator knows that no one message reaches everyone, and truth is not measured by the number of adherents to a particular ideology. Rabbi Singer would be the first to say that he wrote his book not instead, but in addition, to the paths to G-d paved by others. (Israel National News)

Rochel Sylvetsky is Senior Consultant and op-ed and Judaism editor of Arutz Sheva’s English site. She is a former Chairperson of Emunah Israel,1991-96, was CEO/Director of Kfar Hanoar Hadati Youth Village, member of the Emek Zevulun Regional Council and the Religious Education Council of Israel’s Education Ministry as well as managing editor of Arutz Sheva (2008-2013). Her degrees are in Mathematics and Jewish Education.

 

 

Trump Admin Moves Toward Promoting Broader Use of Face Masks

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ZEKE MILLER and MIKE STOBBE

The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis.

The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, were expected to apply to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.

President Donald Trump, who was tested again for coronavirus Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated he would support such a recommendation. “If people wanted to wear them, they can,” he said.

“It’s not a bad idea, at least for a period of time,” Trump had said earlier in the week.

The White House said Trump’s latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was “healthy and without symptoms.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force’s coordinator, told reporters the White House was concerned that the mask guidance would lead to a “false sense of security” for Americans. She said new data show that the administration’s social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.

The discussions on face masks came as the White House moved aggressively to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its efforts to speed the distribution of ventilators and protective equipment needed by medical professionals.

Trump sent a politically tinged letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York objecting to his criticism of the administration’s response. “The Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments,” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.”

Trump said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies before the pandemic.

Vice President Mike Pence also announced Thursday that the White House was considering direct payments to hospitals to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for uninsured Americans.

The emerging guidance on masks appeared to be more limited than a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance, which suggested the recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorized to discuss it.

Officials were expected to limit its geographic scope to just those areas where the virus was spreading rapidly, the official said. The formal announcement was expected as soon as Friday.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city’s 4 million residents to wear masks when they’re in public. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit in his city, the epicenter of the virus’ spread in the U.S.

In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.

The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.

U.S. officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face.

But until now federal officials have stopped short of telling people to cover their faces out in public.

Scientists can’t rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isn’t enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.

The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that don’t linger for long in the air, or also by tinier “aerosolized” particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why health care workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.

The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral RNA in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.

 

President Donald Trump listens during a briefing about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Thursday, April 2, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis.

The recommendations, still being finalized Thursday, were expected to apply to those who live in areas hard-hit by community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task force’s discussion said officials would suggest that non-medical masks, T-shirts or bandannas be used to cover the nose and mouth when outside the home — for instance, at the grocery store or pharmacy. Medical-grade masks, particularly short-in-supply N95 masks, would be reserved for those dealing directly with the sick.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the proposed guidance before its public release.

President Donald Trump, who was tested again for coronavirus Thursday using a new rapid test, indicated he would support such a recommendation. “If people wanted to wear them, they can,” he said.

“It’s not a bad idea, at least for a period of time,” Trump had said earlier in the week.

The White House said Trump’s latest test returned a negative result in 15 minutes, and said Trump was “healthy and without symptoms.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force’s coordinator, told reporters the White House was concerned that the mask guidance would lead to a “false sense of security” for Americans. She said new data show that the administration’s social-distancing guidelines were not being followed to the extent necessary to keep virus-related deaths to a minimum.

The discussions on face masks came as the White House moved aggressively to defend its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its efforts to speed the distribution of ventilators and protective equipment needed by medical professionals.

Trump sent a politically tinged letter to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York objecting to his criticism of the administration’s response. “The Federal Government is merely a back-up for state governments,” Trump wrote. “Unfortunately, your state needed far more of a back-up than most others.”

Trump said states should have done more to stockpile medical supplies before the pandemic.

Vice President Mike Pence also announced Thursday that the White House was considering direct payments to hospitals to cover COVID-19 treatment costs for uninsured Americans.

The emerging guidance on masks appeared to be more limited than a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft of the guidance, which suggested the recommendation apply to nearly all Americans, all over the country, according to a federal official who has seen the draft but was not authorized to discuss it.

Officials were expected to limit its geographic scope to just those areas where the virus was spreading rapidly, the official said. The formal announcement was expected as soon as Friday.

Under the previous guidance, only the sick or those at high risk of complications from the respiratory illness were advised to wear masks. The new proposal was driven by research showing that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

On Wednesday, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, urged his city’s 4 million residents to wear masks when they’re in public. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit in his city, the epicenter of the virus’ spread in the U.S.

In response to recent studies, the CDC on Wednesday changed how it was defining the risk of infection for Americans. It essentially says anyone may be a considered a carrier, whether they have symptoms or not.

The virus spreads mostly through droplets from coughs or sneezes, though experts stress that the germ is still not fully understood.

U.S. officials have been telling people to stay at home as much as possible, and keep at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others when they do go out. Other advice includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face.

Scientists can’t rule out that infected people sometimes exhale COVID-19 virus particles, rather than just when coughing or sneezing, but there isn’t enough evidence to show if that can cause infection, according to a committee convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to advise the White House.

The question has to do with whether the new coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets that don’t linger for long in the air, or also by tinier “aerosolized” particles. Certain medical procedures, such as inserting breathing tubes, can create those tiny particles, which is why health care workers wear close-fitting N95 masks during such care.

The committee cited one study that detected airborne viral RNA in and just outside some hospital isolation rooms, but noted that it was unclear if that could infect someone.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams has repeatedly admonished Americans not to wear face masks, saying they don’t prevent the people who wear them from catching the virus. He and other officials have stressed that surgical face masks and other protective medical equipment have been in short supply and must be prioritized for people such as health-care workers.

The World Health Organization on Monday reiterated its advice that the general population doesn’t need to wear masks unless they’re sick. Since the epidemic began in China, the WHO has said masks are for the sick and people caring for them.

“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” WHO’s epidemic chief Dr. Mike Ryan said during a news conference. “In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite,” he added, noting risks from an improperly fitted mask or improperly putting it on or taking it off.

That’s in addition to the problem that health care workers who do need masks are facing “a massive global shortage,” Ryan said. “The thought of them not having masks is horrific, so we have to be very careful on supply, but that is not the primary reason why WHO has advised against using masks.”

Many people have taken it upon themselves to make their own masks, but one North Carolina health system found that such DIY products vary in how well they work. Wake Forest Baptist Health doctors and scientists tested 13 different designs made by community volunteers. They found that some were better at filtering than off-the-shelf surgical masks but others were barely better than wearing no mask at all.

Separately, a 2013 study tested whether homemade masks might help during a flu pandemic. It found surgical masks were three times more effective in catching droplets from coughing people than masks made from cotton T-shirts, though it’s not clear if the new coronavirus behaves exactly like flu viruses.

Navy Fires Captain who Sought Help for Virus-Stricken ship

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LOLITA C. BALDOR and ROBERT BURNS AP

The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired Thursday by Navy leaders who said he created a panic by sending his memo pleading for help to too many people.

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the ship’s commander, Capt. Brett Crozier “demonstrated extremely poor judgment” in the middle of a crisis. He said the captain copied too many people on the memo, which was leaked to a California newspaper and quickly spread to many news outlets.

Modly’s decision to remove  Crozier as ship commander was immediately condemned by members of the House Armed Services Committee, who called it a “destabilizing move” that will “likely put our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleet’s readiness.”

Modly told Pentagon reporters during an abruptly called press conference Thursday that Crozier should have gone directly to his immediate commanders, who were already moving to help the ship. And he said Crozier created a panic by suggesting 50 sailors could die.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is docked in Guam, and the Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. More than 100 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the virus, but none are hospitalized at this point.

“What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of command’s efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and it’s just not true,” Modly said.

He complained that Crozier sent the memo to people outside his chain of command and in a non-secure, unclassified email. And, he said he concluded that the captain’s ability to react professionally was overwhelmed by the virus challenge, “when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the commanding officers of our aircraft carriers.”

Modly told Pentagon reporters during an abruptly called press conference Thursday that Crozier should have gone directly to his immediate commanders, who were already moving to help the ship. And he said Crozier created a panic by suggesting 50 sailors could die.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, with a crew of nearly 5,000, is docked in Guam, and the Navy has said as many as 3,000 will be taken off the ship and quarantined by Friday. More than 100 sailors on the ship have tested positive for the virus, but none are hospitalized at this point.

“What it does, it undermines our efforts and the chain of command’s efforts to address this problem and creates a panic and creates the perception that the Navy is not on the job, the government is not on the job, and it’s just not true,” Modly said.

He complained that Crozier sent the memo to people outside his chain of command and in a non-secure, unclassified email. And, he said he concluded that the captain’s ability to react professionally was overwhelmed by the virus challenge, “when acting professionally was what was needed most. We do, and we should, expect more from the commanding officers of our aircraft carriers.”

“Captain Crozier was justifiably concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not handle the immense pressure appropriately,” the lawmakers said. “However, relieving him of his command is an overreaction.”

n. Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he told Modly that Navy leaders must make it clear that the decision to fire Crozier doesn’t inhibit others from taking steps to protect their sailors and Marines.

And he said the incident “raised critical questions” about the Navy’s strategy to combat the virus across the fleet.

Crozier, in his memo, raised warnings the ship was facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus and asked permission to isolate the bulk of his crew members on shore, an extraordinary move to take a carrier out of duty in an effort to save lives.

He said that removing all but 10% of the crew would be a “necessary risk” in order to stop the spread of the virus.

91-year-old Holocaust Survivor Dies of Coronavirus

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Holocaust survivor Rabbi Zalman Cohen, who contracted the coronavirus, died on Thursday evening at the Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer.

Rabbi Cohen, 91, was one of the oldest Vizhnitz Hassidim in Bnei Brak. In recent days he felt ill, underwent a coronavirus test and was admitted to the hospital after it became clear that he had contracted the virus.

He was initially listed in good condition but earlier this week his condition deteriorated before he passed away.

On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, a few years ago, he told the Kikar HaShabbat website, “In the camp I was in a group with a boy named Yisrael Meir Lau (the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv) who was 8 years old and his brother, Naftali Lavi, who was older than us. After a period of time we could feel the change in the air and our optimism increased.”

After making Aliyah to Israel, Zalman Cohen married his wife of blessed memory. His sons are Rabbi Yosef Cohen, Rabbi Yisrael Cohen and Hannah Grossman; His grandson is haredi journalist Yisrael Cohen.

for more Isreal News Visit http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

Coronavirus News Roundup: New York , Nationwide and Globally

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Here is all the latest news from all corners regarding the pandemic, the news is rapidly moving

UPDATE 4/3

NYC MAYOR “WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!”* Mayor Bill de Blasio warned the city would face a massive surge in cases next week with as many as 5,000 or more people in New York City who need to be in ICUs. De Blasio says he asked the White House/Pentagon 10 days ago for reinforcements, including 1,000 nurses, 150 doctors and 300 respiratory therapists, but has not received a firm answer.

“We are running out of time, I think we have literally days to create something that has never existed before, for a crisis this country has never seen before,” he said during an interview on Friday morning. “If that is not done in the coming days, you’re going to see people die who did not need to die, not just in New York, but in many parts of this country.”

*NY COVID-19 UPDATE:* New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there are now 102,863 coronavirus cases in the state. More than 14,000 patients are currently hospitalized. So far, 2,935 people have died in the state — that’s up from 2,373, Cuomo said. “Highest single increase in the number of deaths since we started,” Cuomo said.

 

Cuomo press conference yesterday afternoon 

  • New York has confirmed 92,381 cases of coronavirus, governor Andrew Cuomo said at his daily briefing. The state has also seen 2,373 deaths linked to the virus, up from 1,941 yesterday. New York accounts for nearly half of the coronavirus deaths from the entire country.
  • The number of people discharged from the hospital is “way up,” marking some rare good news since cases started to surge. But Cuomo warned the state still needs more hospital beds to prepare for the peak of the crisis. The governor said he was more concerned about ensuring the state has enough medical professionals and equipment to deal with the peak of the crisis. “Beds we can find,” Cuomo said. “The harder component is the staff and the supplies.”
  •  The state would start conducting nightly hospital-by-hospital surveys to assess what medical equipment they need.
  • Cuomo added that it was the “cruelest irony” the country is now dependent on China for the production of crucial medical equipment.
  • The state only has enough ventilators in its stockpile for six days. Cuomo said data indicates about 350 people come in to hospitals every night needing a ventilator, meaning the state is expected to run out in about six days
  • Cuomo noted the state released 400 ventilators to New York City last night and would distribute ventilators based on need in the weeks to come. The state is exploring ways to expand its ventilator capacity, including splitting ventilator tubes and converting BIPAP machines. The state has 2,200 ventilators in its stockpile.
  • Cuomo said data indicates about 350 people come in to hospitals every night needing a ventilator, meaning the state is expected to run out in about six days.

NEW YORK NOTES

  • The cavalry keeps coming”, says New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as 250 ambulances and 500 EMTs and paramedics arrived from around the country thanks to reinforcements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). In a video Thursday morning, de Blasio told the story of two men from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who drove their ambulance all the way to New York City to be of service.
  • As NYC  become the center of the coronavirus crisis in the United States many citizens, especially wealthier ones, have fled the city to second homes or rentals – but they have been met with hostility, fear and blame for potentially spreading the illness, The Guardian reported.
  • Nurses and doctors at Montefiore medical center in the Bronx protested over the lack of personal protective equipment on Thursday. ‘Every day when I go to work, I feel like a sheep going to slaughter,’ said Dr Laura Ucik, a third-year resident at the center
  • Veterinary surgeries have been donating ventilators usually used on animals to the “war effort” against coronavirus in New York City, highlighting the city’s severe shortage of the machines.
  • As New York scrambles to get thousands of ventilators, Mayor de Blasio this week urged anybody in the city with a ventilator – including oral surgeons, plastic surgeons and vets – to come forward, saying “we could use every single one of them”
  •  Gov. Phil Murphy has given New Jersey State Police orders to take N95 masks, ventilators and other personal protective equipment that health care facilities need in their race to slow the spread of coronavirus.

NATIONAL 

  • About two-thirds of U.S. likely voters want their state’s border closed and fines imposed for violating their community’s social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus threat, a new Rasmussen Reports survey finds.
  • The Democratic National Committee has confirmed the party’s nominating convention will be postponed until mid-August “Ultimately, the health and safety of our convention attendees and the people of Milwaukee is our top priority. And we will continue to be in contact with local, state, and federal health officials as we monitor this fluid situation.”
  • House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she spoke to treasury secretary Steven Mnuchinlast night about a potential phase four coronavirus bill. Pelosi has said she wants to pass another bill in response to the pandemic, which would focus on clean water, rural broadband and infrustructure, among other things.
  • About two-thirds of U.S. likely voters want their state’s border closed and fines imposed for violating their community’s social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus threat, a new Rasmussen Reports survey finds.
  • 1 in 1,000: Even with a lack of available testing and delays in getting test results back, about 1 in every 1,500 people in the U.S. have a confirmed case of coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Census Bureau. The daily case count has been rising, but even if it levels off, the U.S. may still get to a point where 1 in 1,000 nationally have it in the next week or so.
  • The coronavirus has been a far deadlier threat in New Orleans than the rest of the United States, with a per-capita death rate much higher than in New York City, Reuters reported
  • An unprecedented number of Americans have resorted to food banks for emergency supplies since the coronavirus pandemic triggered widespread layoffs. The demand for food aid has increased as much as eightfold in some areas, according to an investigation by the Guardian, which gives a nationwide snapshot of the hunger crisis facing the US as millions become unemployed. The national guard has been deployed to help food banks cope with rising demand in cities including Cleveland, Phoenix and St Louis amid growing concerns that supplies may run low as the crisis evolves  (Editor recommends this shocking article)
  • More than 6.65 million people have filed for unemployment benefits in the US last week, according to the latest official figures, highlighting the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the American economy.

GLOBAL NOTES 

  • Global cases of the virus have passed one million, according to figures collected by researchers from Johns Hopkins University. Deaths worldwide have passed 50,000.The global fatality rate has now risen above 5% of all reported cases, with the UK, the US and Spain among countries reporting a spike in fatalities in recent days.
  • The infection rate in Italy, which on Thursday reported 760 new deaths, bringing its total to 13,915, and a total of 115,242 cases including deaths, recovered and current cases, has also slowed. The number of new daily cases is now rising by about 3% compared with highs of 15% during the early phase of the emergency.
  • Governments in the Middle East need to act fast to limit the spread of the coronavirus after cases rose to nearly 60,000, almost double their level a week earlier, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.
  • France reported 471 hospital deaths in past 24 hours, a slight fall on previous days, but announced that 884 people had died in old people’s homes since the crisis began, bringing its total tally to 5,307.
  • Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, told security forces they should shoot dead anyone causing “trouble” in locked-down areas.
  •  Spain  posted another record single-day death toll of 950, and a total of 110,238 cases. It said, however, that the rates of new infections and deaths continued a downward trend.

Promising Treatments for Coronavirus

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. (NIAID-RML via AP)

By Lieba Nesis

There is currently a race to come up with the next coronavirus cure with dozens of medical companies feverishly testing the next panacea.  The financial stakes are great and everyone knows it.  The question is not “if” but “when” as the world waits with baited breath for the results of various clinical trials.

Zhang Linqi, at China’s Tsinghua University, said his team had discovered various antibodies that could block the virus from entering cells when used in medicinal form.  Moreover, the three most talked about drugs Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin and Remdesivir could be significant “game-changers” as echoed by the president.  China initially became interested in Hydroxychloroquine when it observed 80 patients with lupus in its dermatology ward remained immune to coronavirus despite the widespread outbreak in the hospital.  Wuhan hospital treated 20 patients with the drug and within 5 days a chest CT scan showed significant absorption improvement in 19 of them-remarkable results.  Similarly in France, an 80-person study found four out of five patients received favorable outcomes when treated with Hydroxychloroquine.  According to Dr. Gautret 65 of the 80 patients were discharged from the hospital in less than 5 days.  These patients had fairly mild symptoms but the recovery rate is astounding nonetheless.  Anecdotal evidence confirms this success, as Dr. Vladmir Zelenko said that in 699 patients he treated with the drug there were Zero intubations, Zero deaths and four hospitalizations.  To date there has been a hoarding of these medicines as many doctors use them prophylactically on themselves to prevent contraction of the virus upon consistent interaction with sick patients.

Similarly, Remdesivir, a novel antiviral drug categorized as a nucleotide analog has shown immense promise.  The World Health Organization has touted it as the best remedy currently available.  Gilead Sciences is producing the drug-a broad based antiviral that was initially developed to treat Ebola.  There are three ongoing clinical trials across China and The United States which will hopefully prove Remdesivir’s efficacy in blocking the enzyme that viruses use to copy their genomes.  Numerous patients on ventilators have reported miraculous results after near-death experiences with Remdesivir; along with laboratory experiments confirming the drug reduces viral loads and improves respiratory functions in a mouse model of SARS.

The final and most potent tool in the arsenal to inhibit the virus are 40 vaccines which are currently in the pipeline to be ready in 12 to 18 months-when the typical time frame for approval is 10 years.  Experts are warning not to rush too quickly through safety trials as the effects on the public could be devastating.  The “need for speed” at this critical juncture is clear; however, potentially sacrificing lives is only advisable in a last resort situation.

21st Israeli dies of COVID-19 as Cases Reach 5,591; Unemployment hits Record Highs

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Cleaning workers disinfect the Western Wall in the Old city of Jerusalem on March 31, 2020, as preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus. on March 31, 2020. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** ?????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????

As Israel saw its 21st coronavirus fatality on Wednesday and confirmed infections in the country hit 5,591, the Israel National Employment Service (INES) announced that the number of unemployment claimants has exceeded 1 million for the first time.

Israel’s 21st coronavirus casualty was a 98-year-old woman who had “serious and complicated” pre-existing conditions and had been hospitalized at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. According to Israel’s Health Ministry, she represents the second victim to have contracted the virus at the Mishan nursing home in southern Jerusalem, with 12 other residents also testing positive, at least three of whom remain in serious condition.

By Wednesday, more than NIS 1.5 million ($422,000) had been raised by Lod residents for the orphaned 4-year-old children of 49-year-old Lod resident Tamar Peretz-Levi, who was hospitalized with coronavirus for less than a week before passing away on Tuesday. Her husband had died three years ago of a heart attack.

Of Israel’s 5,591 cases, 97 are in serious condition, with 76 on ventilators. Another 122 are in moderate condition and 5,121 have minor symptoms, according to the ministry. Some 226 Israeli coronavirus patients have recovered.

As Israel’s medical establishment battles the epidemic, INES Director-General Rami Garor said on Wednesday that nearly 90 percent of the more than 1 million Israelis now claiming unemployment benefits have been placed on unpaid leave. Israel’s unemployment figure, which before the crisis stood at 4 percent, has now reached more than 24 percent, with nearly 850,000 people applying for benefits since March.

 

JNS NEWS

New York State’s Virus Deaths Jump To More than 1,900

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By ROBERT BUMSTED, MARINA VILLENEUVE and MICHAEL HILL (AP)

Coronavirus deaths soared. New York City playgrounds were targeted for shutdown to help slow an outbreak projected to grow worse for another month. Overtaxed hospitals began transferring patients north of the city. And residents near one struggling hospital have become all too used to ambulance sirens.

“It’s very eerie. I think everyone’s just doing what they can, but at the same time it bothers you. Especially if you’re around Elmhurst because you can hear all the ambulances,” said Emma Sorza, near Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.

NUMBERS UP, NO RESPITE

New York’s COVID-19 death count more than doubled in 72 hours to 1,941.

One month after New York discovered its first infection — a health care worker returning from Iran — the state tallied more than 83,000 positive cases. The 1,941 deaths were up from 965 Sunday morning. New York logged its first virus-related death March 13, an 82-year-old woman with emphysema.

With more than 12,000 people hospitalized, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the latest outbreak projections show no respite this month.

“What we’re looking at now is the apex — the top of the curve — roughly at the end of April, which means another month of this,” Cuomo told a state Capitol news briefing.

One model cited by Cuomo projected 16,000 deaths in New York once the outbreak runs its course in the coming months. Though the governor stressed it’s unclear how the pandemic will end.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen. And I understand the need for closure, the need for control,” he said. “We’re at a place we’ve never been before.”

___

CLOSING PLAYGROUNDS

Upset that people were still packing into New York City playgrounds despite social-distancing rules, Cuomo said he is working with city officials to have them closed. Green spaces would be kept open.

“So use the open space in a park. Walk around, get some sun, great,” Cuomo said. “No density. No basketball games. No close contact. No violation of social distancing, period.”

City police have been patrolling the city’s parks, playgrounds and other public spaces, cautioning people to stay six feet apart and breaking up groups violating the rules. Police have even sent marked patrol cars through big city parks blaring recorded reminders about the importance of social distancing.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said the rules were being followed at most playgrounds, but had closed a handful where violations were rampant. The mayor said Wednesday he respects that Cuomo is approaching the issue with “an abundance of caution” and will work with him.

___

HOSPITALS UNDER PRESSURE

A medical advisory council is telling paramedics in New York City they shouldn’t take fatal heart victims to hospitals to have them pronounced dead.

The temporary protocol issued this week by the Regional Emergency Medical Service is meant to ease the burden on city hospitals, some of which have begun transferring patients more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) north to the Albany area.

Albany Med said it accepted 14 transfer patients late Tuesday who have either confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. The hospital said it accepted patients from hospitals in Jamaica and Flushing in Queens.

Data released by the city shows that the disease is having a disproportionate effect in certain neighborhoods, mainly in Brooklyn and Queens.

“I’m terrified to go outside and also to walk along this strip, because everyone that’s headed to the hospital, which we can see from here, is going through here,” said Nicholas Corsini, near Elmhurst Hospital.

An emergency field hospital with 68 beds opened Wednesday in Central Park near The Mount Sinai Hospital. A temporary hospital in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and a Navy hospital ship docked off Manhattan were also taking patients.

De Blasio said the city is engaged in the “epic process” of increasing hospital capacity from 20,000 beds to 65,000 beds by the end of April. He said the city needs over 5 million masks, 100,000 gowns and 400 more ventilators by Sunday just to be prepared for next week. He said the city will need up to 3,000 more ventilators during the next week.

The virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has spread rapidly across the globe. It causes mild symptoms in many of those infected, but it can cause severe symptoms or death for some, including older adults and those with underlying medical conditions such as respiratory ailments.

___

SUPPLY CZAR

New York City is enlisting its recently retired police commissioner as a coronavirus supply czar, making sure hospitals on the front lines of the fight have sufficient supplies and equipment.

James O’Neill, who left the NYPD in November, is taking the role on a voluntary basis and will remain a senior vice president and global security chief at credit card giant Visa Inc.

O’Neill was with the police department for 36 years, the last three as commissioner.

___

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

At least 82,000 people have volunteered f or New York’s reserve force of medical workers — a group that includes recent retirees returning to work, health care professionals who can take a break from their regular jobs and people between gigs, according to health officials.

Report: U.S. Intelligence Concludes China Is Lying About Coronavirus

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Yuichiro Kakutani _ Washington Free Beacon

A U.S. intelligence report concluded that China lied about the impact of the coronavirus within its borders, under-reporting total case numbers and deaths in public figures, according to Bloomberg News.

China today claims to have roughly 82,000 confirmed cases and 3,300 deaths, but skeptics have long doubted the veracity of those figures, citing accounts from Chinese crematoriums that are processing thousands of urns with coronavirus remains every day. The classified report, which Bloomberg said was submitted to the White House, found that China’s coronavirus figures are “intentionally incomplete,” corroborating circumstantial evidence that China falsified its figures.

“A *single mortuary* in Wuhan reportedly ordered more urns in two days than the Chinese Communist Party has reported total deaths in the whole country,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) tweeted on Sunday. “I’m sure you’re shocked by evidence of Chinese lies.”

Beijing has reported a steady drop in new COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks, painting a rosy picture while the rest of the world struggles to fight the pandemic. However, China’s official count changes by the day as the Chinese Communist Party routinely shifts the standards for who is included in the statistics. For instance, the country started to release its daily tally of new asymptomatic patients starting Wednesday, after the public expressed concerns that asymptomatic carriers might unwittingly transmit the disease.

The report comes as Republican congressional leaders such as Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) push to hold China accountable for exacerbating the coronavirus outbreak. These measures have encountered pushback from Democrats, who accuse Republicans of inflaming racial animosity.

In addition to falsifying its figures, China also launched an aggressive disinformation campaign in March, accusing the U.S. military of bringing the virus into Wuhan. The legislation being pushed by Banks seeks to counter those efforts by urging China to disavow that falsehood.

“The House of Representatives calls on the Chinese Government to (A) publicly state that there’s no evidence that COVID–19 originated anywhere else but China; (B) denounce the baseless conspiracy that the United States Army placed COVID–19 in Wuhan,” the bill states.

Washington Free Beacon

Eden Roc Passover Scam?? Brooklyn Yeshiva Files Breach of Contract Suit

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By Denis Cyr

As the Coronavirus continues to keep New Yorkers sequestered at home, all travel plans for the upcoming Passover holiday have cancelled.  It now appears that an ugly legal dispute has arisen between a Brooklyn school and a Miami Beach hotel.

Click to see the full complaint filed

According to published reports, Brooklyn’s Magen David Yeshiva had planned to spend their Passover holiday at the iconic Eden Roc hotel in South Beach, however the deadly pandemic that has been ravaging the world has prevented New Yorkers from leaving home.

The private school, established in 1946 and rooted in Sephardic Jewish tradition, services students from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade. As with schools across the nation, the viral outbreak has forced the Brooklyn campus to shutter and move classes online, as was reported  by the Miami Herald.

Working with the tour operator, Elegant Travel, the school first booked a Passover trip in 2018, and followed up with another in 2019. Then, it signed a three-year contract to keep the event at the hotel.

Because of rapid spread of the Coronavirus, Magen David had no other option but to cancel the trip. Eden Roc, however is refusing to issue a refund to the school for its down payment of  $2.3 million. The school had rented 621 rooms at the iconic hotel for 10 nights for their 1200 guests to enjoy all of the amenities that the hotel provided.

According to the breach of contract lawsuit filed by Magen David’s attorney in Miami-Dade circuit court, the school has cited a passage in the contract that would allow for a cancellation in the event of a “disease outbreak.”

The NY Post reported that on March 9, the school told the hotel that many of the families who were traveling with the elderly wouldn’t be able to attend because of the “escalating problems presented by COVID-19,” the court documents say. The Miami Herald reported that after Magen David made this announcement, the hotel’s vice president of sales, Sergio Rivera, responded by “demanding” that Magen David pony up an additional $1.2 million toward the rest of the cost of renting out the hotel.

An attorney representing the hotel “did not recognize or acknowledge the mushrooming COVID-19 catastrophe,” the court filings declare.

On March 18th, the school (working with the tour operator Elegant Travel) formally cancelled the trip. Within days, New York’s governor issued a statewide “shelter-in-place” order that forbade travel and Miami Beach ordered hotels to cancel existing reservations, according to the Miami Herald report.

At about the same time, the Eden Roc’s summarily rejected the notion that disease outbreak was a legitimate or credible reason for the trip to be canceled and according to the court filings, said that the Eden Roc will ‘retain the entirety” of the school’s deposit.

Magen David’s attorney, Daniel Blonsky of the Miami law firm, Coffey Burlington, told the Jewish Voice that the contract agreed upon by Magen David, Elegant Travel and the Eden Roc includes a provision entitled “Force Majeure” which grants legal permission for the school to cancel the contract for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the outbreak of disease. The lawsuit reveals that the other matters include “acts of G-d,  natural disasters, union strike, terrorist attacks in the city in which the hotel is located, or declared war on the United States.”

Moreover it includes the following: “In the event that the Force Majeure event causes Group (Magen David) to cancel the Event, all monies paid to the Hotel shall be returned to Group.”

The hotel is insisting the event be rescheduled or “proceed as scheduled with whomever was foolhardy enough to travel from New York to Miami Beach for the Passover 2020 event,” according Mr. Blonsky.

The suit also said that the hotel showed an “utter and contemptuous disregard of the health and safety” of attendees and locals due to the inherent dangers of the virus.  Mr. Blonsky added that the school hoped to avoid a lawsuit and reach a business resolution, but that it was forced to file suit when the Eden Roc refused to recognize what was happening with the pandemic and claimed that the entire deposit was forfeited when the Force Majeure provision was invoked.

The Jewish Voice has made repeated attempts to contact the Eden Roc for comments on this case but calls have not been returned by Julie Cabaleri of the public relations department or  general manager Michael Chin.

According to an unnamed source familiar with the case, the obstinacy on the part of the Eden Roc is emanating from the ownership, which is based in Mexico. The source also revealed that the Eden Roc is an asset of Key International (key-international.com) and is managed by brothers Inigo and Diego Ardid, who are co-presidents. Said the source, “Diego seems to be the one responsible for the Eden Roc. They’re originally from Spain.”

More information here