jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Coronavirus: Number of deaths in Israel reaches 200

Israelis will wake up on Sunday to a new and less restrictive reality , after the Cabinet on Friday approved emergency regulations to further restore the Israeli economy in the shadow of the coronavirus crisis.Stores in the public sphere will open , as well as hairdressers and beauty salons and restaurants and cafes for pickup and takeaway .
Caregivers may return to work.Ministers and the top-tier of the education system are expected to meet about when to open schools on Sunday , too.The moves come as the Health Ministry reports that 200 people have died , and 15,398 have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 100 people between Saturday night and Sunday morning .
Currently , there are 132 people in serious condition , among them 100 who are intubated .
Some 6,602 have recovered.The new regulations are valid through May 3 and the Prime Minister ’ s Office said that measures to further ease restrictions after that date would be evaluated based on the level of infection.N12 revealed that the government has rolled out a formal set of criteria by which to evaluate next steps .
If the current trend continues , restrictions will decrease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients per day increase to more than 300 daily or the number of infected people doubles in a period of 10 days , then restrictions will be increased.The decision to define a set of specific criteria came after Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit accused the prime minister and the cabinet of making decisions “ arbitrarily , without clear criteria and transparent indices.
” Mandelblit said that the High Court would not intervene at present , “ but if emergency regulations continue to be approved this way – the court may not be able to resist.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations on businesses , thousands of Israelis can not return to work because they are home with young children.Over the weekend , the Histadrut sent a heated letter to the prime minister in which it was explained that “ gradually opening up the economy without a solution for working parents is an attempt to save the economy with one eye closed.
” The letter called on the prime minister to respond swiftly and “ appropriately.
” The plan on the table for Sunday ’ s meeting involves minimally opening up infant-care facilities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 3 .
As of now , no target date had been set for the rest of the grades .
Classes will be of no more than 15 kids at a time.Furthermore , there is discussion that distance learning programs will be cut to 50 % and teachers then required to make up the missing class time for no extra pay in July .
In other words , for every two days of distance learning , one day of learning will be made up during what would have been summer vacation.Back to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : At restaurants , owners will be required to install a partition between staff and customers to prevent the transfer of droplets .
Employees will be required to be scheduled into consistent shifts to avoid mass infection , and these same employees must wear masks and gloves.Stores will be required to take the temperature of its customers as they enter the premises and to inquire about any symptoms they might have .
Business owners will also need to monitor that shoppers and staff maintain a two-meter distance between them , including at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be asked to wait if too many people are already inside .
Owners must appoint a staffer to oversee ensuring coronavirus regulations are followed , including disinfecting internal surfaces and wearing gloves and masks.Hair and beauty salons will need to follow the most stringent policies , due to the obvious contact between client and service provider .
These shops will be required to disinfect equipment , including surfaces , tools , chairs , towels and smocks between haircuts or treatments .
Moreover , technicians will need to wear face guards that cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cover their mouths and noses.At all stores and restaurants , no more than two to four people can be in a checkout line at the same time , depending on the size of the establishment .
Hair and beauty parlors can have two to eight customers , also depending on size.Before opening , all stores must submit a signed declaration to their local authority indicating that they will do their utmost to maintain the conditions laid out by the Health Ministry .
Businesses who violate the rules will be subject to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will still be enforced .
The Cabinet determined that anyone over the age of 7 – an increase of one year from the previous restrictions – will be required to wear a mask in public and that fines will not be levied on a first offense .
A team of inspectors overseen by local authorities and the Nature and Parks Authority will be charged with monitoring and enforcing these regulations.Despite the eased restrictions , a long list of fashion retailers and cafes said they will not open their doors to or serve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chains including Fox , Castro , Roladin and Japanika will remain shut as part of a strike announced last week , said N12 .
Business owners have vowed not to reopen until a compensation plan is formulated by the government for large companies.The government approved an additional NIS 8 billion in financial aid for small businesses and self-employed workers on Friday , and a special “ adaptation ” grant for workers aged over 67 who have found themselves out of work .
The financial aid package for small businesses will include a grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixed costs and reduced revenues and includes the second payment of the extended grant for self-employed workers – up to 70 % of taxable income or a maximum of NIS 10,500.The latest financial aid follows criticism regarding the apparent inaccessibility of an NIS 8b .
government-guaranteed loan fund for small and medium-sized businesses .
Figures published on Wednesday showed an improvement in the processing of applications , with almost 6,500 loans now approved – valued at a total of approximately NIS 2.5b.New data published by the Israeli Employment Service on Thursday showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support since the start of March , bringing the unemployment rate to an unprecedented total of 27.05 % .
Among them , 88 % are employees placed on unpaid leave and 7.2 % were made redundant.A total of 3,840 employees placed on unpaid leave at the start of the crisis have informed the Employment Service of their return to work during the week .
It is believed that several thousand more have returned to work , but not yet updated the authorities.The Health Ministry continues to increase daily coronavirus testing , taking 13,861 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 24th.The Mossad delivered an additional 1,000 molecular testing kits to Israel on Friday , according to a report by N12 .
Included in the delivery were ventilators , flasks for producing hand-sanitizing gel , reagents used to develop coronavirus tests in the lab and an HIV drug from India that is currently being used to treat patients infected with the coronavirus.Also last week , the Health and Defense ministries signed an agreement with MyHeritage to establish and operate a new , independent lab that can process as many as 10,000 coronavirus tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MyHeritage staff using equipment from the Beijing Genomics Institute ( BGI ) .

Israelis will wake up on Sunday to a new and less restrictive reality, after the Cabinet on Friday approved emergency regulations to further restore the Israeli economy in the shadow of the coronavirus crisis.Stores in the public sphere will open, as well as hairdressers and beauty salons and restaurants and cafes for pickup and takeaway. Caregivers may return to work.Ministers and the top-tier of the education system are expected to meet about when to open schools on Sunday, too.The moves come as the Health Ministry reports that 200 people have died, and 15,398 have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 - an increase of only 100 people between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Currently, there are 132 people in serious condition, among them 100 who are intubated. Some 6,602 have recovered.The new regulations are valid through May 3 and the Prime Minister’s Office said that measures to further ease restrictions after that date would be evaluated based on the level of infection.N12 revealed that the government has rolled out a formal set of criteria by which to evaluate next steps. If the current trend continues, restrictions will decrease. If the country sees the number of patients per day increase to more than 300 daily or the number of infected people doubles in a period of 10 days, then restrictions will be increased.The decision to define a set of specific criteria came after Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit accused the prime minister and the cabinet of making decisions “arbitrarily, without clear criteria and transparent indices.” Mandelblit said that the High Court would not intervene at present, “but if emergency regulations continue to be approved this way – the court may not be able to resist.”Although the government chose to ease regulations on businesses, thousands of Israelis cannot return to work because they are home with young children.Over the weekend, the Histadrut sent a heated letter to the prime minister in which it was explained that “gradually opening up the economy without a solution for working parents is an attempt to save the economy with one eye closed.” The letter called on the prime minister to respond swiftly and “appropriately.”The plan on the table for Sunday’s meeting involves minimally opening up infant-care facilities, preschools and grades 1 through 3 on May 3. As of now, no target date had been set for the rest of the grades. Classes will be of no more than 15 kids at a time.Furthermore, there is discussion that distance learning programs will be cut to 50% and teachers then required to make up the missing class time for no extra pay in July. In other words, for every two days of distance learning, one day of learning will be made up during what would have been summer vacation.Back to what the country will look like on Sunday: At restaurants, owners will be required to install a partition between staff and customers to prevent the transfer of droplets. Employees will be required to be scheduled into consistent shifts to avoid mass infection, and these same employees must wear masks and gloves.Stores will be required to take the temperature of its customers as they enter the premises and to inquire about any symptoms they might have. Business owners will also need to monitor that shoppers and staff maintain a two-meter distance between them, including at the entrances to their stores, where customers will be asked to wait if too many people are already inside. Owners must appoint a staffer to oversee ensuring coronavirus regulations are followed, including disinfecting internal surfaces and wearing gloves and masks.Hair and beauty salons will need to follow the most stringent policies, due to the obvious contact between client and service provider. These shops will be required to disinfect equipment, including surfaces, tools, chairs, towels and smocks between haircuts or treatments. Moreover, technicians will need to wear face guards that cover their eyes in addition to the masks that cover their mouths and noses.At all stores and restaurants, no more than two to four people can be in a checkout line at the same time, depending on the size of the establishment. Hair and beauty parlors can have two to eight customers, also depending on size.Before opening, all stores must submit a signed declaration to their local authority indicating that they will do their utmost to maintain the conditions laid out by the Health Ministry. Businesses who violate the rules will be subject to a NIS 2,000 fine.Social distancing and hygienic practices will still be enforced. The Cabinet determined that anyone over the age of 7 – an increase of one year from the previous restrictions – will be required to wear a mask in public and that fines will not be levied on a first offense. A team of inspectors overseen by local authorities and the Nature and Parks Authority will be charged with monitoring and enforcing these regulations.Despite the eased restrictions, a long list of fashion retailers and cafes said they will not open their doors to or serve the public, Israeli media reported.Approximately 200 major chains including Fox, Castro, Roladin and Japanika will remain shut as part of a strike announced last week, said N12. Business owners have vowed not to reopen until a compensation plan is formulated by the government for large companies.The government approved an additional NIS 8 billion in financial aid for small businesses and self-employed workers on Friday, and a special “adaptation” grant for workers aged over 67 who have found themselves out of work. The financial aid package for small businesses will include a grant of up to NIS 400,000 based on fixed costs and reduced revenues and includes the second payment of the extended grant for self-employed workers – up to 70% of taxable income or a maximum of NIS 10,500.The latest financial aid follows criticism regarding the apparent inaccessibility of an NIS 8b. government-guaranteed loan fund for small and medium-sized businesses. Figures published on Wednesday showed an improvement in the processing of applications, with almost 6,500 loans now approved – valued at a total of approximately NIS 2.5b.New data published by the Israeli Employment Service on Thursday showed that over 995,000 Israelis have applied for unemployment support since the start of March, bringing the unemployment rate to an unprecedented total of 27.05%. Among them, 88% are employees placed on unpaid leave and 7.2% were made redundant.A total of 3,840 employees placed on unpaid leave at the start of the crisis have informed the Employment Service of their return to work during the week. It is believed that several thousand more have returned to work, but not yet updated the authorities.The Health Ministry continues to increase daily coronavirus testing, taking 13,861 tests on April 23 and 11,799 on the 24th.The Mossad delivered an additional 1,000 molecular testing kits to Israel on Friday, according to a report by N12. Included in the delivery were ventilators, flasks for producing hand-sanitizing gel, reagents used to develop coronavirus tests in the lab and an HIV drug from India that is currently being used to treat patients infected with the coronavirus.Also last week, the Health and Defense ministries signed an agreement with MyHeritage to establish and operate a new, independent lab that can process as many as 10,000 coronavirus tests daily. It will be run by MyHeritage staff using equipment from the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI).


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Yair Lapid: Blue and White signed off on crushing Israeli democracy

By subscribing I accept the terms of use

Head of the Yesh Atid-Telem Party Yair Lapid said during the Knesset committee meeting, "There is a legislative package here that is changing the history of the Israeli democracy, and there is no one here who really understands basic laws, parliamentary procedure, nothing."He claimed that Blue and White "are signed on crushing the Israeli democracy" because they are in a situation in which Blue and White has no impact on government policy and is simply a junior partner in the Netanyahu government.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Quadcopter infiltrates Israel from Gaza, returns to Strip

A quadcopter infiltrated into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday and then returned to the Strip after a short period, according to Walla! news.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Aviv Kochavi: Lockdown decision is difficult but justified, must be respected

IDF Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said on Sunday morning that the "decision to lock down is a difficult one, but it is justified and it is important to respect it."He continued, "The distance does not stop closeness or deep sympathy with sorrow, even in this special time, we will do everything so as to stay a stable surface for you all."His speech was during the "Falling Flag" ceremony for Remembrance Day.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Health Ministry official: Coronavirus considerations are 'not entirely medical'

Head of the medical department at the Health Ministry Dr. Vered Ezra told Israel's Ynet News on Sunday morning that "unfortunately, considerations are not purely medical" when it comes to new governmental policies revolving around the coronavirus pandemic.She explained that numerous subjects and aspects are brought up during the committee meetings that decide the policies of the state.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--South Korea's large churches reopen with new restrictions

Onnuri Church , one of the biggest churches in Seoul , required members to sign up online ahead of the service and sit on designated seats to maintain distance .
It has also limited attendance to 700 in a hall with a capacity of 3,000 people , a church official said .
Last Sunday , South Korea extended its social distancing policy until May 5 but offered some relief for religious and sports facilities previously subject to strict restrictions .
A secretive church , the Shincheonji Church of Jesus , was at the epicenter of South Korea 's coroavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's total infections of 10,728 linked to its members .
South Korea managed to curb the first major outbreak outside China with massive testing and aggressive contact tracing but there have been a series of small outbreaks involving churches and other clusters .
South Korea on Sunday reported 10 new cases , marking the eight day when the number of new infections hovered around that level .
Church members expressed faith in the ability by South Korea and churches to tackle the coronavirus outbreak .
“ I did not have fear .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe principles and resume worships , ” Kang Hye-mi , a 29-year-old worshiper , said at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul .
When restrictions were put in place , South Korean churches turned to online or drive-in services where churchgoers attended by parking their cars on school playgrounds .
Yang Sun-kyung , who went to the Onnuri church for the first time in two months , said she is able to concentrate better when attending church rather than during online worship which was sometimes distracting .
She said churches are a “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrain from going to bars and clubs , which are “ very dangerous . ''
`` I hope this ( our church ) can be an exemplary case for others .
And I hope the coronavirus would end as soon as possible , ” Han Jin-gun , a 34-year-old worshiper at Onnuri said .

Onnuri Church, one of the biggest churches in Seoul, required members to sign up online ahead of the service and sit on designated seats to maintain distance.
It has also limited attendance to 700 in a hall with a capacity of 3,000 people, a church official said.
Last Sunday, South Korea extended its social distancing policy until May 5 but offered some relief for religious and sports facilities previously subject to strict restrictions.
A secretive church, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was at the epicenter of South Korea's coroavirus outbreak, with about half of the country's total infections of 10,728 linked to its members.
South Korea managed to curb the first major outbreak outside China with massive testing and aggressive contact tracing but there have been a series of small outbreaks involving churches and other clusters.
South Korea on Sunday reported 10 new cases, marking the eight day when the number of new infections hovered around that level.
Church members expressed faith in the ability by South Korea and churches to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
“I did not have fear. I believed that the church would abide by safe principles and resume worships,” Kang Hye-mi, a 29-year-old worshiper, said at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul.
When restrictions were put in place, South Korean churches turned to online or drive-in services where churchgoers attended by parking their cars on school playgrounds.
Yang Sun-kyung, who went to the Onnuri church for the first time in two months, said she is able to concentrate better when attending church rather than during online worship which was sometimes distracting.
She said churches are a “very safe” place, but people should refrain from going to bars and clubs, which are “very dangerous."
"I hope this (our church) can be an exemplary case for others. And I hope the coronavirus would end as soon as possible,” Han Jin-gun, a 34-year-old worshiper at Onnuri said.
South Korea's large churches reopened on Sunday, requiring worshipers to keep their distance and wear masks, after the government relaxed restrictions on religious gatherings aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Saudi Arabia partially lifts curfew, but keeps 24-hour curfew in Mecca

Saudi Arabia eased curfews on Sunday across the country , while keeping 24-hour curfews in the city of Mecca and in neighborhoods previously put in isolation , state news agency SPA said .
Outside those exceptional areas , curfews will be eased between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ( 0600-1400 GMT ) effective Sunday until May 13 .
The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began on Friday .
The royal order also allowed some economic and commercial activities to re-start , including wholesale and retail shops and shopping malls , from Wednesday until May 13 .
Activities which do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cinemas , will remain closed .
Social gatherings of more than five people are forbidden .
Authorities in the capital Riyadh issued additional advice saying banknotes were not to be used .
Shops that do open should ensure no more than one customer per 10 square meters .
Malls must be sterilized every 24 hours and children under 15 are not allowed to enter .
Saudi Arabia has recorded 16,299 cases of infection with the new coronavirus and 136 deaths .
These are the highest numbers in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded almost 43,000 cases and 250 deaths .

Saudi Arabia eased curfews on Sunday across the country, while keeping 24-hour curfews in the city of Mecca and in neighborhoods previously put in isolation, state news agency SPA said.
Outside those exceptional areas, curfews will be eased between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (0600-1400 GMT) effective Sunday until May 13. The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began on Friday.
The royal order also allowed some economic and commercial activities to re-start, including wholesale and retail shops and shopping malls, from Wednesday until May 13.
Activities which do not allow for physical distancing, including salons and cinemas, will remain closed. Social gatherings of more than five people are forbidden.
Authorities in the capital Riyadh issued additional advice saying banknotes were not to be used.
Shops that do open should ensure no more than one customer per 10 square meters. Malls must be sterilized every 24 hours and children under 15 are not allowed to enter.
Saudi Arabia has recorded 16,299 cases of infection with the new coronavirus and 136 deaths. These are the highest numbers in the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which together have recorded almost 43,000 cases and 250 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Spain reports 288 new coronavirus deaths, lowest number in over a month

That took total fatalities to 23,190 from 22,902 the day before , the health ministry said .
The overall number @ @ @ @ @ 207,634 from 205,905 the day before .

That took total fatalities to 23,190 from 22,902 the day before, the health ministry said.
The overall number of coronavirus cases rose to 207,634 from 205,905 the day before.
Spain said on Sunday the number of daily coronavirus-related fatalities fell to its lowest level in more than a month, with 288 deaths in the previous 24 hours.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Tokyo reports 72 new coronavirus cases

Tokyo reports 72 new coronavirus cases

The latest figures bring total coronavirus infections in Japan 's capital city to more than 3,900 cases , according to @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , the total number of cases in Japan had reached 13,231 , @ @ @ @ @ broadcaster NHK said .
The government has encouraged residents to stay indoors as much as @ @ @ @ @ holiday period .

The latest figures bring total coronavirus infections in Japan's capital city to more than 3,900 cases, according to statistics of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
On Sunday, the total number of cases in Japan had reached 13,231, with 360 deaths, public broadcaster NHK said. The government has encouraged residents to stay indoors as much as possible during the Golden Week holiday period.
Tokyo registered 72 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, Kyodo news agency reported, the lowest daily tally since April 1.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Malaysia reports 38 new coronavirus, no new deaths

It has so far recorded a total of 5,780 infections , with 98 fatalities .

It has so far recorded a total of 5,780 infections, with 98 fatalities.
Malaysia reported 38 new coronavirus cases on Sunday with no new deaths, Noor Hisham Abdullah, the secretary general of Malaysia's Ministry of Health, told reporters at a news conference.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Indonesia reports 275 new coronavirus cases, 23 new deaths

The data showed 23 people who tested positive for the virus died , raising the total deaths to 743 .

The data showed 23 people who tested positive for the virus died, raising the total deaths to 743.
Indonesia reported on Sunday 275 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 8,882, data provided by health ministry official Achmad Yurianto showed.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Russia coronavirus case tally passes 80,000

Sixty-six people succumbed to the virus in the past day , bringing the death toll to 747 , Russia 's @ @ @ @ @ .

Sixty-six people succumbed to the virus in the past day, bringing the death toll to 747, Russia's official crisis response center said.
Russia reported 6,361 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, pushing its national tally to 80,949.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--No remaining cases in hospitals in Wuhan, says Chinese health official

The novel coronavirus is believed to have originated in a wet market in Wuhan and first emerged in December before spreading quickly worldwide .
Some 2.83 million people have been reported to be infected globally and 197,872 have died , according to a Reuters tally .
`` The latest news is that by April 26 , the number of new coronavirus patients in Wuhan was at zero , thanks to the joint efforts of Wuhan and medical staff from around the country , '' National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a briefing .
The city had reported 46,452 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total .
It saw 3,869 fatalities , or 84 % of China 's total .
Wuhan and the province of Hubei were put in lockdown near the end of January , with roads sealed , trains and planes canceled and residents unable to move freely for more than two months .
The city is still testing residents regularly despite relaxing the restrictions .
The focus has since shifted to the northeast border province of Heilongjiang , which has seen large numbers of imported coronavirus cases entering from Russia .
China 's health authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the mainland on April 25 , down from 12 the previous day , with no fatalities .

The novel coronavirus is believed to have originated in a wet market in Wuhan and first emerged in December before spreading quickly worldwide. Some 2.83 million people have been reported to be infected globally and 197,872 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
"The latest news is that by April 26, the number of new coronavirus patients in Wuhan was at zero, thanks to the joint efforts of Wuhan and medical staff from around the country," National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a briefing.
The city had reported 46,452 cases, 56% of the national total. It saw 3,869 fatalities, or 84% of China's total.
Wuhan and the province of Hubei were put in lockdown near the end of January, with roads sealed, trains and planes canceled and residents unable to move freely for more than two months. The city is still testing residents regularly despite relaxing the restrictions.
The focus has since shifted to the northeast border province of Heilongjiang, which has seen large numbers of imported coronavirus cases entering from Russia.
China's health authority had earlier reported 11 new coronavirus cases on the mainland on April 25, down from 12 the previous day, with no fatalities.
The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the global coronavirus pandemic began, now has no remaining cases in its hospitals, a health official told reporters on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Phillipines coronavirus death toll passes 500

It recorded 285 new cases , bringing the country 's total number of confirmed infections to 7,579 .

It recorded 285 new cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed infections to 7,579.
A total of 862 patients have recovered.
The Philippines' health ministry on Sunday reported seven more fatalities due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, taking the death toll in the Southeast Asian country to 501.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Philippines' coronavirus death toll tops 500

The Philippines' health ministry on Sunday reported seven more fatalities due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, taking the death toll in the Southeast Asian country to 501.It recorded 285 new cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed infections to 7,579.A total of 862 patients have recovered.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Germany coronavirus cases rise by 1,737, death toll rises by 140

On Saturday , confirmed coronavirus cases had increased by 2,055 .
Germany 's death toll rose by 140 to 5,640 @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .

On Saturday, confirmed coronavirus cases had increased by 2,055.
Germany's death toll rose by 140 to 5,640, the RKI said on Sunday.
Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 1,737 to 154,175, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Thailand reports 15 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths

Thailand on Sunday reported 15 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths, bringing the total number of cases since its outbreak in January to 2,922 cases and 51 deaths.Of the new cases, four were linked to previous cases, another four had no known links, while five new patients are arrivals from overseas who have been under state quarantine.Two other new cases were reported from the southern province of Yala, where the authorities are aggressively testing the population because of high infection rates there, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.Since the outbreak in Thailand, 2,594 patients have recovered and gone home.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Home Front Command reinforces teams in Bet Shemesh, Netivot

The Home Front Command will be taking part in imposing traffic restrictions on certain neighborhoods in Netivot and Bet Shemesh by intensifying its activity in the cities amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the IDF.Forces of the Southern District in Netivot and in the Jerusalem District, as well as Central District forces in Bet Shemesh, will assist in distributing food to families in need.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Mexico coronavirus infections rise to 14,677 cases and 1,351 deaths

The government has said the real number of infected people is significantly higher than the confirmed cases .

The government has said the real number of infected people is significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Mexico's health ministry on Sunday reported 835 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 46 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 14,677 cases and 1,351 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--US CDC reports 928,619 coronavirus cases, 52,459 deaths

The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19 , caused by a new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ ET on April 25 , compared with its count a day earlier .
The CDC @ @ @ @ @ cases reported by individual states .
The tally reported over the weekend is preliminary and @ @ @ @ @ .

The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 pm ET on April 25, compared with its count a day earlier.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states. The tally reported over the weekend is preliminary and will be updated on Monday.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 928,619 cases of new coronavirus, an increase of 32,853 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 2,020 to 52,459.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Iran plans to reopen mosques in areas free of coronavirus, president says

Iran , one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the pandemic , will be divided up into white , yellow and red regions based on the number of infections and deaths , Rouhani said , according to the presidency 's website .
Activities in each region will be restricted accordingly , so an area that has been consistently free of infections or deaths will be labelled white and mosques could be reopened and Friday prayers resumed , Rouhani said .
He said the label given to any region in the Islamic Republic could change and he did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into force .
Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said in an interview with state TV on Sunday that 116 counties in the country could be considered white at the moment and 134 yellow .
Iranians have returned to shops , bazaars and parks over the past week as the country eases coronavirus restrictions , with the daily increase in the death toll below 100 since April 14 .
The toll rose by 60 over the past 24 hours to 5,710 , with 90,481 confirmed cases , Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between protecting public health and shielding an economy already battered by sanctions , the government has refrained from imposing the kind of wholesale lockdowns on cities seen in many other countries .
But it has extended closures of schools and universities and banned cultural , religious and sports gatherings .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had a phone call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday and discussed the battle against the spread of the coronavirus and regional developments along with passing on a congratulatory message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ramadan .

Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the pandemic, will be divided up into white, yellow and red regions based on the number of infections and deaths, Rouhani said, according to the presidency's website.
Activities in each region will be restricted accordingly, so an area that has been consistently free of infections or deaths will be labelled white and mosques could be reopened and Friday prayers resumed, Rouhani said.
He said the label given to any region in the Islamic Republic could change and he did not specify when the colour-coding programme would come into force.
Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said in an interview with state TV on Sunday that 116 counties in the country could be considered white at the moment and 134 yellow.
Iranians have returned to shops, bazaars and parks over the past week as the country eases coronavirus restrictions, with the daily increase in the death toll below 100 since April 14.
The toll rose by 60 over the past 24 hours to 5,710, with 90,481 confirmed cases, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV on Sunday.
Seeking a balance between protecting public health and shielding an economy already battered by sanctions, the government has refrained from imposing the kind of wholesale lockdowns on cities seen in many other countries.
But it has extended closures of schools and universities and banned cultural, religious and sports gatherings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had a phone call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday and discussed the battle against the spread of the coronavirus and regional developments along with passing on a congratulatory message for the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
Iran plans to reopen mosques in parts of the country that have been consistently free of the coronavirus outbreak as restrictions on Iranians gradually ease, President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--UK's Johnson could ease lockdown before May 7 deadline

Johnson is due to be back at work on Monday after spending a week in hospital with COVID-19 and two @ @ @ @ @ residence .

Johnson is due to be back at work on Monday after spending a week in hospital with COVID-19 and two weeks recovering at his country residence.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce plans for easing the lockdown as early as this week after he returned to Downing Street on Sunday night, the Telegraph reported.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Dubai lifts lockdown on two densely populated commercial districts

Dubai on Friday cut its emirate-wide 24-hour lockdown back to a 10:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew .
It has now taken the same step in the Al Ras and Naif districts , which had been sealed off as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus .
The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management took the decision since no new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the two areas in the last two days , the government media office said in a statement .
It said more than 6,000 tests were conducted among Al Ras and Naif @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The UAE has reported more than 10,300 cases and 76 deaths resulting from the virus , the second-highest count among the six Gulf Arab countries after Saudi Arabia .
It does not give breakdowns for each of the seven emirates that make up the country .
The Gulf states , where expatriates make up the bulk of the labour force , have seen infections spread among low-wage foreign workers living in cramped quarters despite measures to combat the disease including the suspension of passenger flights , curfews and the closure of public spaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business hub , on Friday allowed dine-in cafes and restaurants to resume business with a maximum capacity of 30 % and shopping malls to be reopened partially .
Mosques , cinemas and playgrounds remain closed .

Dubai on Friday cut its emirate-wide 24-hour lockdown back to a 10:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew. It has now taken the same step in the Al Ras and Naif districts, which had been sealed off as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management took the decision since no new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the two areas in the last two days, the government media office said in a statement. It said more than 6,000 tests were conducted among Al Ras and Naif residents in less than a month.
The UAE has reported more than 10,300 cases and 76 deaths resulting from the virus, the second-highest count among the six Gulf Arab countries after Saudi Arabia. It does not give breakdowns for each of the seven emirates that make up the country.
The Gulf states, where expatriates make up the bulk of the labour force, have seen infections spread among low-wage foreign workers living in cramped quarters despite measures to combat the disease including the suspension of passenger flights, curfews and the closure of public spaces.
Dubai, the Middle East's business hub, on Friday allowed dine-in cafes and restaurants to resume business with a maximum capacity of 30% and shopping malls to be reopened partially. Mosques, cinemas and playgrounds remain closed.
The emirate of Dubai said on Sunday it has lifted its full lockdown on two commercial districts which have a large population of low-income migrant workers, after the United Arab Emirates eased nationwide coronavirus curfews over the weekend.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--US renews waiver for Iraq to import Iranian electricity, shortens time

The United States has renewed a waiver for Iraq to import Iranian electricity imports, a State Department official said on Sunday, but this time for a shorter period of time, adding that Washington would be reassessing whether to renew again once a 'credible government' is formed in Iraq."The Secretary granted this brief extension of the waiver to allow time for the formation of a credible government," a State Department official said, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and added that the waiver would expire on May 26. Previous waivers were being granted for three months.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--French coronavirus death toll rises by 242 to 22,856

The death toll in France from the coronavirus has risen by 242 to 22,856, the health ministry said on Sunday, as the government prepares to see how it might ease a national lockdown that has been in place since mid-March.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Coronavirus: 201 dead; 15,433 infected - 133 in serious condition

In a blow to the government, the High Court of Justice ordered the state to pass legislation if it wants to continue Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) surveillance of Israelis infected with the novel coronavirus In their decision, the justices ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to pass legislation that will regulate the use of the tracking tools. The surveillance program has been criticized since it was implemented shortly after the health crisis began in Israel nearly two months ago.The current legal basis was inadequate, the justices said, and if a law was not passed in the Knesset, they would be forced to end the program.Earlier in the evening, the government zigzagged over a decision concerning restrictions on sport activities.At first, it approved lifting the restrictions and informed the Health Ministry, which then panicked that too many people may venture outside during the Independence Day holiday. As a result, the ministry asked the government to revoke its decision, which it did.The final verdict according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office: The 500-meter restriction will be lifted as of April 30 at 8 a.m.Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev said she welcomed the Health Ministry’s adoption of her recommendation to lift the restriction. She said her ministry was preparing to “expand sporting activities immediately after Independence Day,” and it was considering opening workout centers and swimming pools.Beginning Thursday, runners and cyclists can run alone or in small groups as long as they maintain a two-meter distance from one another. Golf, marine sports, tennis, archery, horseback riding and other similar activities can be resumed. Athletes are asked to use their own personal equipment and disinfect it between training sessions. If people work out together, they should stay two meters apart.The move came a day after restrictions were relaxed to allow some establishments to reopen, including hairdressers, beauty salons, restaurants and cafes for takeaway. Caregivers were allowed to return to work.Netanyahu is scheduled to convene a meeting of top ministers on Monday to discuss the reopening of schools, which are expected to start in a limited framework next week. A preliminary meeting between top officials from the relevant ministries took place on Sunday.The plans under consideration include resuming school on Sunday for infants through third grade or resuming school only for children in kindergarten and younger.Either way, the class size will likely be limited to just 15 students. Remote learning will continue for children in grades 4 through 10. Teens in grades 11 and 12 will come to school for matriculation exams in small groups.On Monday, Israel’s death toll reached 202, with 8,468 active cases of infections, including 129 in serious condition, out of which 96 are on ventilators.The majority of new cases on Sunday were concentrated in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh and Modi’in Illit – all cities with large haredi (ultra-Orthodox) populations, referred to as “hot spots” and “red zones.”The Israeli-Arab city of Hura also has reported a spike in infections, with 19 patients, up from three just three days ago, representing a 533% increase.Among the patients in serious condition is an 11-year-old girl who was staying at a coronavirus hotel in northern Israel with her family when last Friday her condition took a turn for the worse. She was transferred first to Baruch Padeh Medical Center in Poriya near Tiberias.Over the weekend, she developed pericarditis, an inflammation of the two thin layers of a sac-like tissue that surround the heart, and was moved to the intensive-care unit for coronavirus patients at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and is now intubated.She is the country’s youngest patient to be in serious condition.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--UK seeing definite downward trend in people in hospital with COVID-19

`` We now have a very definite trend in reduced number of people in hospitals .
That is most marked @ @ @ @ @ also see that in the Midlands and the beginnings of that in other areas of @ @ @ @ @ Medical Director of NHS England Stephen Powis told a news conference .

Britain is now seeing a very definite downward trend in the number of people who are in hospital with the new coronavirus, the national medical director of England's health service said on Sunday.
"We now have a very definite trend in reduced number of people in hospitals. That is most marked in London but you can also see that in the Midlands and the beginnings of that in other areas of the UK," National Medical Director of NHS England Stephen Powis told a news conference.
"That is definitely showing that our compliance with social distancing is proving to be beneficial, it is reducing the transmission and spread of the virus."


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Saudi Arabia halts executions of those committing crimes as minors

By subscribing I accept the terms of use

Saudi Arabia will no longer impose the death sentence on individuals who committed crimes while still minors, the state-backed Human Rights Commission (HRC) said in a statement, citing a royal decree by King Salman."The decree means that any individuals who received a death sentence for crimes committed while he or she is a minor can no longer face execution. Instead, the individual will receive a prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility," HRC President Awwad Alawwad said in the statement.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Canada's coronavirus death toll rises by under 6% in a day

The total number of people killed by the coronavirus in Canada rose by under 6% to 2,489 in a day, official data posted by the public health agency showed on Sunday.The figure for those diagnosed with the coronavirus had climbed to 45,791, according to a statement. On Saturday there were 2,350 deaths and 44,364 positive diagnoses.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--White House sees jobless rate hitting 16% or higher in April

The U.S. unemployment rate is likely to hit 16% or higher in April, and "really big thoughtful policies" will be needed to rebuild confidence, a White House adviser said on Sunday."I think the next couple of months are going to look terrible," White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told reporters. "You're going to see numbers as bad as anything we've ever seen before."


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Israel removes restriction of sports only up to 500 meters from home

The Israeli government has removed on Sunday the restriction that only allowed people to practice sports up to 500 meters from their home.The decision was made as Israel slowly rolls out its exit plan for Israelis to return to work as more businesses were allowed to open shops on Sunday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Stall owner at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market commits suicide – report

Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion said that he is “ horrified and pained by the news.
” Calling the reported @ @ @ @ @ avoidable death in the war for public health ” Labor leader Amir Peretz called on @ @ @ @ @ it clear it will stand on the side of those who are ( financially ) @ @ @ @ @ and business owners.
” Peretz is expected to assume the role of Finance Minister in @ @ @ @ @ party approve of the terms under which it is to join Blue and White and @ @ @ @ @ government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
He called upon the government to “ open @ @ @ @ @ warned that “ any delay might cost human lives .
”

Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion said that he is “horrified and pained by the news.”
Calling the reported suicide “a painful and avoidable death in the war for public health” Labor leader Amir Peretz called on the government “to make it clear it will stand on the side of those who are (financially) hurt (both) employees and business owners.”
Peretz is expected to assume the role of Finance Minister in the next government should his party approve of the terms under which it is to join Blue and White and take part in a coalition government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He called upon the government to “open the market immediately” and warned that “any delay might cost human lives.”


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--11-year-old girl with coronavirus hospitalized in critical condition

An 11-year-old girl who is sick with coronavirus had experienced a deterioration of health and is currently intubated under sedation @ @ @ @ @ reported on Sunday .
The girl is being moved to Rambam Health Care Campus in @ @ @ @ @ at the coronavirus patients wing of the Baruch Padeh Medical Center on Friday and her @ @ @ @ @ Saturday night , doctors suspect she is suffering from Pericarditis .

An 11-year-old girl who is sick with coronavirus had experienced a deterioration of health and is currently intubated under sedation, Baruch Padeh Medical Center reported on Sunday.
The girl is being moved to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. She was hospitalized at the coronavirus patients wing of the Baruch Padeh Medical Center on Friday and her health began to decline on Saturday night, doctors suspect she is suffering from Pericarditis.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--England's hospital COVID-19 death toll rises to 18,420

The patients who died were aged between 28 and 100 years old .
Out of the total , 22 people @ @ @ @ @ had no known underlying health conditions .

The number of people who have died in hospitals in England after testing positive for the new coronavirus has risen to 18,420, up by 336 in 24 hours, the National Health Service said on Sunday.
The patients who died were aged between 28 and 100 years old. Out of the total, 22 people aged between 41 and 94 had no known underlying health conditions.
Figures for the United Kingdom as a whole will be published later in the day.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Israeli traffic surges, 75% of what it was before coronavirus pandemic

Traffic in Israel surged after the government eased some of the coronavirus restrictions and is now at 75 % of @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , Channel 13 reported on Sunday .
On Independence Day , food stores will @ @ @ @ @ encouraged to celebrate the holiday at home .
As Monday and Tuesday are the nation @ @ @ @ @ Independence Day , roads leading to military cemeteries will be blocked to prevent mass visits @ @ @ @ @ to visit them ahead of time.On Independence Day , food stores will be closed and @ @ @ @ @ the holiday at home .

Traffic in Israel surged after the government eased some of the coronavirus restrictions and is now at 75% of what it was before the pandemic, Channel 13 reported on Sunday.
As Monday and Tuesday are the nation’s Memorial Day and Independence Day, roads leading to military cemeteries will be blocked to prevent mass visits and bereaved families are encouraged to visit them ahead of time.On Independence Day, food stores will be closed and citizens are encouraged to celebrate the holiday at home.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Netanyahu to hold a Monday meeting for the reopening of education system

Various ministers and administration officials will be asked to present Netanyahu with their options to resume schooling in the country @ @ @ @ @ mostly closed for roughly two months .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting @ @ @ @ @ different approaches for a controlled return of the education system to full learning capacity during @ @ @ @ @ administration officials will be asked to present Netanyahu with their options to resume schooling in @ @ @ @ @ had been mostly closed for roughly two months .
As preparation to the Monday meeting @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday between Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz , Director of the office of prime @ @ @ @ @ of the education ministry Shmuel Aboav , as well as officials from the Finance Ministry @ @ @ @ @ The reopening of schools is vital to allow parents to return to work .
It @ @ @ @ @ and if , Israeli children will make up for the lost days of school to @ @ @ @ @ exams .

Various ministers and administration officials will be asked to present Netanyahu with their options to resume schooling in the country as Israeli schools had been mostly closed for roughly two months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the different approaches for a controlled return of the education system to full learning capacity during the coronavirus pandemic.Various ministers and administration officials will be asked to present Netanyahu with their options to resume schooling in the country as Israeli schools had been mostly closed for roughly two months.
As preparation to the Monday meeting, intense discussions were held on Sunday between Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Director of the office of prime minister Ronen Peretz, Director of the education ministry Shmuel Aboav, as well as officials from the Finance Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The reopening of schools is vital to allow parents to return to work. It is still unclear how, and if, Israeli children will make up for the lost days of school to be able to take their exams.


jerusalempost--2020-04-26--Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 655 to 37,845, with 66 new deaths

The country 's death toll stands at 4,475 , the Netherlands ' Institute for Public Health ( RIVM ) said @ @ @ @ @

The Netherlands' number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen by 655 to 37,845, health authorities said on Sunday, with 66 new deaths.
The country's death toll stands at 4,475, the Netherlands' Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.
The RIVM cautioned it only reports confirmed cases, and actual numbers are higher.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Two US soldiers missing in action in eastern Syria

The vehicle was found completely destroyed and burned with no sign of the two soldiers .

"Sadly Another Nonsense Article," tweeted spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III. "There is no incident involving coalition forces in Deir Ezzor. We can say that if there are prizes for fake news, this news agency deserves to win them all."
Al-Mayadeen added that this is the third attack to target US forces in Syria in the past month. The other two reported attacks both were claimed to have occurred in Deir Ezzor as well and included one incident in which a US officer and two militants from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed and another incident in which an American convoy came under attack.
The SDF denied the report about deaths of the US officer and SDF militants, according to Al Masdar news. The reported attack on the American convoy was denied by the international coalition spokesman.
SANA had claimed that two US soldiers were missing in action after their vehicle was attacked by unknown assailants on Monday near the al-Omar oil field in the Deir Ezzor area of eastern Syria . The agency reported that the vehicle was found completely destroyed and burned with no sign of the two soldiers.The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen news also reported the incident, even reporting names of the soldiers they claimed had been kidnapped.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--MKs Tamar Zandberg, Pnina Tamano-Shata forcibly removed from Knesset panel

MK Tamar Zandberg and MK Pnina Tamano-Shata were forcibly removed from a meeting of the special committee for the Basic Law to form a government by Knesset ushers in masks on Monday.The MKs were removed as intense arguments devolved into shouting matches between Blue and White and the parties of the left-wing bloc.
"שבע שנים לא חשבת שעלה לי". בדיון בוועדה המיוחדת לחוק יסוד: הממשלה (ממשלת חילופים), אמרה ח"כ @pnina_tamano_sh לח"כ @Elazar_stern: "אני פה בגלל הצביעות שלך". לח"כים מיש עתיד-תל"ם הנוכחים בוועדה, אמרה: "על אפכם ועל חמתכם לא תגררו את מדינת ישראל לבחירות"@YeshAtidParty pic.twitter.com/qEF4zqF5p2 — ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) April 27, 2020
"I'm here because of your hypocrisy," said Tamano-Shata to MK Eitan Ginzburg, the chairman of the committee.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Spain's daily coronavirus death toll picks up slightly

The number of daily fatalities from the novel coronavirus reported in Spain rose on Monday to 331, up from 288 the previous day, the health ministry said.The overall death toll caused by the disease rose to 23,521 from 23,190 the day before. The total number of diagnosed cases rose to 209,465 from 207,634 the day before.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Israel Prize host won't speak with rabbi who called LGBT people 'disabled'

The decision to give Ariel the prize has generated controversy due to comments made by Ariel in the past about the LGBTQ community .
During a conference in Ramle in 2016 , Rabbi Ariel referred to members of the LGBTQ community as `` disabled people suffering from a real problem that must be solved with psychological and pharmacological treatments , '' ynet reported .
In 2014 , he ruled that it was forbidden to rent an apartment to two lesbian women .
The High Court of Justice decided that Ariel could still receive the prize as his comments were protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report .
`` Rabbi Ariel 's statements are harsh , insulting and hurtful to an entire sector of the public , but it is not possible and not appropriate to limit the award of the Israel Prize to those who hold opinions rooted in the heart of public consensus , '' said the High Court in their ruling , adding that decisions made by the committee that chooses who 's awarded the prize can not be debated based on issues not related to the prize itself.Aaron Reich contributed to this @ @

The decision to give Ariel the prize has generated controversy due to comments made by Ariel in the past about the LGBTQ community.
During a conference in Ramle in 2016, Rabbi Ariel referred to members of the LGBTQ community as "disabled people suffering from a real problem that must be solved with psychological and pharmacological treatments," ynet reported.
In 2014, he ruled that it was forbidden to rent an apartment to two lesbian women.
The High Court of Justice decided that Ariel could still receive the prize as his comments were protected under free speech laws.
Aaron Reich contributed to this report. "Rabbi Ariel's statements are harsh, insulting and hurtful to an entire sector of the public, but it is not possible and not appropriate to limit the award of the Israel Prize to those who hold opinions rooted in the heart of public consensus," said the High Court in their ruling, adding that decisions made by the committee that chooses who's awarded the prize cannot be debated based on issues not related to the prize itself.Aaron Reich contributed to this report.
Sharon Kidon, the host of the Israel Prize ceremony, has agreed to host the ceremony on condition that she does not need to speak on stage with Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, who will be receiving the Israel Prize for Torah Literature for 2020.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Russia's coronavirus cases rise to 87,147, surpass China's

Russia overtook China in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday when its tally climbed above 87,000, as pressure rose on the government to consider easing lockdown restrictions for businesses to help shore up the rattled economy.Russia, the world's largest country by territory, has been on lockdown since President Vladimir Putin announced the closure of most public spaces on March 25. These measures are due to expire on April 30 and Putin has not yet said if he plans to extend them.Anna Popova, the head of Russia's safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, told state television on Monday that, in her view, restrictions should be in place until May 12.Earlier Prime Minister Mikhail Mishushin asked his government to submit proposals by Thursday to ease some of the restrictions on businesses. Many firms have warned that they risk going bankrupt if the lockdown continues, and thousands of jobs have been laid off."As soon as situation will be changing for good, we would need to consider a step-by-step cancellation of restrictions on certain companies... operations," Mishustin told an online government meeting.On Monday, the authorities reported 6,198 new cases of the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 87,147, with 794 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--No information to offer regarding North Korean leader Kim, says China

China's foreign ministry said on Monday it has no information to offer regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, amid conflicting reports and speculation about his whereabouts and medical condition.Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the comment during a daily briefing after being asked about reports of a Chinese delegation including medical experts being dispatched to North Korea, and whether they were sent to assist Kim Jong Un or help the country deal with COVID-19.Three people familiar with the situation told Reuters that a Chinese team was dispatched to North Korea on Thursday to advise on Kim, though it was not clear what this mean about the North Korean leader's health.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--China says it is a victim of COVID-19 disinformation, not an initiator

China said on Monday it is a victim of COVID-19 disinformation and not an instigator, responding to a question about a European Union report that alleged China was spreading disinformation about the outbreak.Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks during a daily press briefing.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Thailand reports nine new coronavirus cases, one new death

Thailand on Monday reported nine new coronavirus cases and one death, bringing the country's totals to 2,931 cases and 52 fatalities.It is the first time since the outbreak started in January that there have been no new local transmissions reported in Bangkok, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.Of the new cases, three were linked to previous cases, two are arrivals from overseas that have been under state quarantined, and four others were reported from the southern province of Yala, where the authorities are aggressively testing the population due to high infection rates.The latest death was of a 64-year-old Thai woman.Since the outbreak escalated in January 2,609 patients have recovered and gone home.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Hospitals, HMOs allowed to return elective procedures

Non-urgent surgeries will be allowed in hospitals as long as they have anesthetics and cardiological , gastroenterological , imaging and @ @ @ @ @ open as well .
Community medicine , institutes , clinics dentists and alternative medicine will @ @ @ @

Non-urgent surgeries will be allowed in hospitals as long as they have anesthetics and cardiological, gastroenterological, imaging and lung centers at hospitals will open as well.
Community medicine, institutes, clinics dentists and alternative medicine will reopen at HMOs.
Hospitals and clinics in Israel were given permission to return elective procedures on Monday after weeks during which they were banned due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to Channel 12 news.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Former MK Gideon Patt passes away at 87

Former MK Gideon Patt passes away at 87

After leaving politics in 1996 , Patt served as president of Israel Bonds and as president of The Council for @ @ @ @

After leaving politics in 1996, Patt served as president of Israel Bonds and as president of The Council for a Beautiful Israel.
Former MK Gideon Patt passed away on Monday at the age of 87, according to Maariv. Patt served as the Minister of Construction and Housing, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism and Minister of Science and Development.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Germany reports 1,018 new coronavirus cases, 110 more deaths

The number of Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 1,018 to 155,193, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Monday.The death toll rose by 110 to 5,750, according to the tally.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Saudi coalition calls for end to escalation in Yemen, return to agreement

The coalition said any steps that contradict the Riyadh agreement should be canceled , and it called for an end @ @ @ @ @ .
On Sunday , the United Arab Emirates-backed STC announced emergency rule in Aden and @ @ @ @ @ move which Yemen 's foreign minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami described as a `` resumption of its @ @ @ @ @ insurgency and rejection and complete withdrawal from the Riyadh agreement . ''

The coalition said any steps that contradict the Riyadh agreement should be canceled, and it called for an end to any escalation in Yemen.
On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates-backed STC announced emergency rule in Aden and all southern governorates, a move which Yemen's foreign minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami described as a "resumption of its (STC's) armed insurgency and rejection and complete withdrawal from the Riyadh agreement."
A Saudi Arabia-led coalition said on Monday all parties need to return to the status that existed before the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen declared an emergency in Aden, according to a statement published by the kingdom's state-run news agency.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--China reports 3 new mainland coronavirus cases on April 26, 2 imported

Of the new cases , two were imported , down from five imported cases on the previous day , the @ @ @ @ @ its daily bulletin .
There was one case of local infection in the northeastern border @ @ @ @ @ also reported 25 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases on the mainland on April 26 , compared @ @ @ @ @ .
Mainland China now has an accumulated total of 82,830 cases .
It also recorded @ @ @ @ @ as of the end of April 26 , including one more death in Beijing in @ @ @ @ @ unaccounted for .

Of the new cases, two were imported, down from five imported cases on the previous day, the National Health Commission said in its daily bulletin.
There was one case of local infection in the northeastern border province of Heilongjiang.
China also reported 25 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases on the mainland on April 26, compared to 30 a day earlier.
Mainland China now has an accumulated total of 82,830 cases. It also recorded a total of 4,633 deaths as of the end of April 26, including one more death in Beijing in the tally that was previously unaccounted for.
China reported three new confirmed coronavirus cases on April 26, down from 11 a day earlier, with no new deaths, the country's health authority said on Monday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--Mexico reports 852 new coronavirus cases, 83 deaths

Mexico's health ministry reported on Monday 852 new known coronavirus cases and 83 new deaths, bringing the total to 15,529 known cases and 1,434 deaths.The government has said the real number of infected people is significantly higher than the confirmed cases.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Trump says he knows how North Korea's Kim is doing; 'I hope he's fine'

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he knows how Kim Jong Un is doing and hopes he @ @ @ @ @ of speculation over the North Korean leader 's health .
`` I ca n't tell @ @ @ @ @ said when asked about Kim 's condition at a White House news conference .
`` @ @ @ @ @ a very good idea , but I ca n't talk about it now .
I @ @ @ @ @ '' `` I hope he 's fine .
I do know how he 's doing @ @ @ @ @ see - you 'll probably be hearing in the not too distant future , '' @ @ @

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he knows how Kim Jong Un is doing and hopes he is fine, after days of speculation over the North Korean leader's health.
"I can't tell you exactly," Trump said when asked about Kim's condition at a White House news conference. "Yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can't talk about it now. I just wish him well."
"I hope he's fine. I do know how he's doing relatively speaking. We will see - you'll probably be hearing in the not too distant future," Trump said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--US House of Representatives will be in session starting May 4

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives will return on May 4 , House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told fellow @ @ @ @ @ call on Monday , according to his office .
`` Mr. Hoyer just announced on @ @ @ @ @ that the House will be in session next week , beginning Monday , May 4th @ @ @ @ @ possible , '' his office said on Twitter .

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives will return on May 4, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told fellow Democratic lawmakers in a conference call on Monday, according to his office.
"Mr. Hoyer just announced on today's Caucus conference call that the House will be in session next week, beginning Monday, May 4th, and that votes are possible," his office said on Twitter.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Mexican top official tests positive for coronavirus

MEXICO CITY - The head of Mexico 's public administration ministry , which monitors federal employees , has tested positive @ @ @ @ @ in `` excellent health and without serious '' symptoms , the ministry said in a @ @ @ @ @ makes Irma Erendira Sandoval the highest ranking member of the Mexican government to test positive @ @ @ @ @ .
Sandoval tested positive on April 20 , has been self-isolating since her first symptoms @ @ @ @ @ supervision , the public ministry said .
She has continued to work remotely .
Mexico @ @ @ @ @ reported 835 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 46 additional fatalities , bringing the @ @ @ @ @ 14,677 cases and 1,351 deaths .

MEXICO CITY - The head of Mexico's public administration ministry, which monitors federal employees, has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in "excellent health and without serious" symptoms, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
That makes Irma Erendira Sandoval the highest ranking member of the Mexican government to test positive so far for the virus.
Sandoval tested positive on April 20, has been self-isolating since her first symptoms and is under constant medical supervision, the public ministry said.
She has continued to work remotely.
Mexico's health ministry on Sunday reported 835 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 46 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 14,677 cases and 1,351 deaths.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Coronavirus: 204 dead; 15,555 people infected - 126 serious

Schools and kindergartens will gradually reopen from Sunday in a combined format of in-class and remote learning, cabinet ministers decided on Monday as they move to return the economy to normal operations.The decision is conditional on the continued decline of infection rates, with full approval due on Friday.Giving the green light to plans presented by the Education Ministry at the meeting, the return of pupils to school will vary according to age group. Children up to the age of six will return to kindergarten in small groups and attend on different days.First- to third-graders will learn in school from Sunday through Thursday in groups limited to no more than 15 pupils. Break times will be staggered to ensure that groups do not meet each other.Pupils in 4th to 12th grade will continue learning remotely at this stage, the government decided. Children who are deemed at-risk or live with family members considered at-risk will not return to in-school learning.The decision to reopen schools follows a significant slowdown in new infections across the country. At last count, 208 Israelis had died from the coronavirus, with 15,589 cases had been confirmed. Currently, 117 patients are in serious condition, including 94 who require ventilation.At last count, 7,375 patients had recovered, with 8,006 cases still active.While the final details of the return to school have not been formally published, the government plans to recruit teacher trainees to increase the number of groups that can be taught in schools.The 11th- and 12th-graders studying for their bagrut (matriculation exam) will take their exams in June and July, according to a plan published by the Education Ministry. The tests will be carried out in groups of no larger than 15 pupils, with a supervisor present in every classroom.For students who require additional support ahead of the exams, including at-risk youth and new immigrants, special approval may be sought to hold “preparation marathons” in groups of up to 10 students.“The education system is ready to return gradually and carefully,” Education Minister Rafi Peretz said following the decision, emphasizing that his ministry has done significant work to adapt the education system to Health Ministry guidelines.“The fact that ministers and all professional bodies approve [our plan] speaks for itself,” he said. “We must be careful to ensure that educational institutions open carefully to avoid an outbreak.”Despite the government decision, a number of subsidized daycare centers announced they would not welcome children next week, protesting a lack of financial assistance from the government. These include daycare centers operated by WIZO, Emunah, Na’amat, Nashei Herut, the Israel Association of Community Centers, Naot Margalit and Bais Yaakov.Estimates published by the Bank of Israel last week showed that parents being absent from the workplace due to the closure of the education system costs the economy approximately NIS 2.6 billion per week.There are about 400,000 households in Israel in which an employed parent is required to stay at home to supervise children who would otherwise be at school or kindergarten, the central bank stated.The domestic tourism sector also is due to partially reopen next week. Ministers initially approved the opening of holiday homes (tzimmers) and ground-level hotels. Owners seeking to restore operations will be required to meet “purple badge” hygiene standards as defined by the Health Ministry.“I applaud the step taken today, which is great news for many thousands of tourism-industry business owners and employees,” Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said. “For the first time since the outbreak of the crisis, a date has been set for their return to action.”Tens of thousands of retail workers are expected to return to work after Independence Day. The Association of Fashion and Commerce Chains praised new government plans to allocate NIS 6 billion to help large retailers rehire employees currently on unpaid leave.The association, which represents many of Israel’s largest retailers, refused to reopen stores this week without promises of assistance in rehiring employees and compensation based on lost revenues. The details of the government’s plan, announced on Sunday, will be announced in the coming days.“The compensation announced [on Sunday] by the government is important and right, but it is incomplete,” the association said in a statement. “Despite that, we are opening our stores and returning to drive the economy forward and gradually bringing back our employees.”Histadrut labor federation chairman Arnon Bar-David on Sunday called on the government to restore national train services. As the economy gradually returns to its routine, efficient services are required for employees traveling long distances to and from work on a daily basis.Timetables for railway infrastructure work have been significantly shortened since all services were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the Transportation Ministry is reportedly eager to delay renewed services as it seeks to continue work on the tracks.“I am saddened that the transportation minister does not understand the basic necessity of the public needing rail services to return to regular work and earn a living, especially at this time,” Bar-David wrote in a letter. “There is no room to deepen the difficulties and the economic crisis affecting the Israeli economy in general and the public in particular.”In response to Bar-David, Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the letter was “populist and shallow” and accused the Histadrut head of demonstrating a “total failure of understanding” of railway operations.He said restoring train services would be dependent on several parameters: the number of infrastructure projects on each line and their importance to passenger welfare; infrastructure timetables; demand for each service; and options for alternative travel arrangements.The Courts Administration on Monday announced it would increase the number of hearings and operations it is handling by 20% next week. All persons in courtrooms would be required to don protective masks and abide by social-distancing regulations, it said in a statement.The situation would be continually reviewed to explore when and whether operations could be increased or would need to be decreased again, it said.The courts were exploring the possibility of canceling the traditional summer recess from mid-July to September in an effort to catch up with hearings that have been delayed since operations were reduced in mid-March.Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--IDF drone falls in Gaza Strip, no danger of leaked information

A drone belonging to the IDF fell within the Gaza Strip territory during a routine operation on Monday.The IDF said that the drone fell as a result of a technical malfunction which is being investigated, and added that there is no danger of leaked information.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--WHO: US federal coronavirus plan is clear and science-based

A top World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Monday that the United States seemed to have a "very clearly laid-out," science-based federal plan for fighting its coronavirus epidemics."The federal government and the system of governors are working together to move America and its people through this very difficult situation," Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergencies expert, told a virtual briefing in Geneva, adding that the federal system linking 50 states made the situation "complex."Ryan repeated an earlier WHO warning against easing restrictions too soon. Speaking specifically about US plans to ease confinement measures, he said: "We believe that the over-arching federal plan seems to be very much based on science.""We hope that the US government and its people can move through this plan, work through day-to-day how to do that and find a successful solution that reduces the impact on people's lives and livelihoods."


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Erdogan says Turkey will send medical gear to United States

President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will send medical gear including protective suits and masks to the United States on Tuesday to help its efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan also said a three-day lockdown would be imposed in 31 cities as of Friday, May 1, and that weekend lockdowns would continue until after Eid al-Fitr in late May. He said a schedule for returning to normal would be announced soon.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Government decides to formulate plan for return of open markets

Government officials have decided to formulate a plan for the gradual return of open markets, following a meeting held between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and open market officials on Monday evening.Markets will reopen providing they uphold the Health Ministry's coronavirus regulations.The agreement was made in coordination with the Agriculture Ministry, the Health Ministry, The National Security Council, and open market officials.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Trump slams cities, states seeking coronavirus relief as "poorly run"

US President Donald Trump on Monday slammed US cities and states seeking federal aid to offset huge losses amid the coronavirus pandemic, accusing them of being "poorly run" largely by Democrats.US governors are seeking $500 billion in US funding from Congress as lawmakers weigh another possible relief bill, saying the money is needed to cover the costs of responding to the outbreak as well as revenue lost while residents shelter in place."Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed, when most of the other states are not looking for bailout help? I am open to discussing anything, but just asking?" Trump, a Republican, tweeted.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--Lockdown cost Germay's tourism industry 24 billion euros

Lockdown has cost Germany's tourism industry 24 billion euros ($26.04 billion) in March and April alone, the sector's industry association said, calling in an interview with the RND media group for immediate state aid for the sector's smallest firms.The association's head, Reinhard Meyer, said he expected only a gradual return to normality. He added that a resumption of day trips would only be possible in late summer at the earliest, with strict rules likely to be necessary to stop domestic beaches from becoming overcrowded."We need a great deal of discipline," he said, warning holidaymakers that if they failed to do be disciplined when tourism restarted, it would endanger the future of the sector.


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--House Speaker Pelosi: US may look at guaranteed income

U.S. House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday U.S. lawmakers may need to think of different ways to put money in Americans' pockets if coronavirus aid allotted so far does not do enough, and may look at a guaranteed income for people."Let's see what works, what is operational and what needs attention," Pelosi said in an interview with MSNBC. "Others have suggested a minimum income, a guaranteed income for people. Is that worthy of attention now? Perhaps so. Because there are many more people than just in small business and hired by small business ... that may need some assistance as well."


jerusalempost--2020-04-27--IDF thwarts suspect crossing northern Gaza border with knife

IDF soldiers thwarted a suspect carrying a knife shortly after he crossed the northern border of Gaza in to Israeli territory on Monday.Following an interrogation, the suspect was returned back to the Gaza strip.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--Russia committed to diplomatic process in Libya after Haftar power grab

Haftar said his Libyan National Army ( LNA ) was accepting a `` popular mandate '' to rule over the country , apparently brushing aside the civilian authorities which nominally govern eastern Libya .
`` In Moscow , we remain convinced that the only possible resolution in Libya can be through political and diplomatic communication between all parties , above all those in conflict , '' said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said .
`` Russia remains in contact with all participants in the Libyan process .
We believe that there are no other ways to resolve the Libyan problem .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ between areas controlled by the internationally recognized Government of National Accord ( GNA ) in Tripoli and the northwest , and territory held by eastern-based forces in Benghazi .
Haftar is supported by Russia , the United Arab Emirates and Egypt .
The GNA is backed by Turkey .
The conflict escalated sharply this month , with fierce fighting on several different fronts in the west of the country despite urgent calls from the United Nations and aid agencies for a truce to tackle the coronavirus crisis .
Russia described Monday 's power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as `` surprising , '' state news agency RIA cited a foreign ministry source as saying .
Most important was for the military and political decisions reached at a conference in Berlin in January to be implemented by Libyans themselves , with the assistance of the international community , the source said .
The EU 's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Germany , France and Italy made a joint call on Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya , saying all sides must resume peace talks .

Haftar said his Libyan National Army (LNA) was accepting a "popular mandate" to rule over the country, apparently brushing aside the civilian authorities which nominally govern eastern Libya.
"In Moscow, we remain convinced that the only possible resolution in Libya can be through political and diplomatic communication between all parties, above all those in conflict," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Russia remains in contact with all participants in the Libyan process. We believe that there are no other ways to resolve the Libyan problem."
Libya has been split since 2014 between areas controlled by the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and the northwest, and territory held by eastern-based forces in Benghazi.
Haftar is supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The GNA is backed by Turkey.
The conflict escalated sharply this month, with fierce fighting on several different fronts in the west of the country despite urgent calls from the United Nations and aid agencies for a truce to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
Russia described Monday's power grab by Haftar, whom Moscow supports, as "surprising," state news agency RIA cited a foreign ministry source as saying.
Most important was for the military and political decisions reached at a conference in Berlin in January to be implemented by Libyans themselves, with the assistance of the international community, the source said.
The EU's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Italy made a joint call on Saturday for a humanitarian truce in Libya, saying all sides must resume peace talks.
Russia believes a political and diplomatic process is the only way to resolve the conflict in Libya, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, after Libya's eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar moved to seize control of the country on Monday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--WHO warns of supply disruptions in coronavirus crisis

Paul Molinaro , chief of WHO operations support and logistics , said global vaccine shipments were disrupted in April and if this continued into May there would be gaps in routine immunisations and campaigns against other disease outbreaks .
The UN 's World Food Programme has reported the first disruptions in some food supply chains that `` could bite deep , '' he said .
`` We saw the international air transport system on which we are quite dependent for movement of cargo gradually shut down .
So we are at the point now where we need to look for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a UN virtual news briefing in Geneva .
The United Arab Emirates has provided planes to collect supplies in China , which are then distributed via a Dubai hub , he said , adding that other states had made air assets available .
`` On commercial aircraft , we are always willing to take more offers .
We appeal constantly for more offers of assets , or extremely discounted air cargo , '' Molinaro said .
Demand has skyrocketed during the coronavirus crisis but the Geneva-based WHO has managed to acquire and distribute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further 1.5 million on the way , he said .
The WHO had benefited from some preferential pricing and aimed to secure 9 million tests through consortia .
Some 3.03 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus pandemic globally and 210,263 have died , according to the latest Reuters tally .
Panama will serve as a hub for regional distribution of personal protective equipment and other supplies in Latin America , after delays due to distance and other issues , he said .
`` We are aware that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latin America in the beginning , and at the time the caseload was n't high and we were concentrating on other areas , '' Molinaro said .
`` Certainly the situation has changed and we are in the process of now planning that the next acquisitions and batch volumes we get at least in PPE ( personal protective equipment ) will be making their way in that direction , and within the plan for tests there will be allocation there also . ''

Paul Molinaro, chief of WHO operations support and logistics, said global vaccine shipments were disrupted in April and if this continued into May there would be gaps in routine immunisations and campaigns against other disease outbreaks.
The UN's World Food Programme has reported the first disruptions in some food supply chains that "could bite deep," he said.
"We saw the international air transport system on which we are quite dependent for movement of cargo gradually shut down. So we are at the point now where we need to look for solutions to this," Molinaro told a UN virtual news briefing in Geneva.
The United Arab Emirates has provided planes to collect supplies in China, which are then distributed via a Dubai hub, he said, adding that other states had made air assets available.
"On commercial aircraft, we are always willing to take more offers. We appeal constantly for more offers of assets, or extremely discounted air cargo," Molinaro said.
Demand has skyrocketed during the coronavirus crisis but the Geneva-based WHO has managed to acquire and distribute 1.1 million diagnostic tests, with a further 1.5 million on the way, he said. The WHO had benefited from some preferential pricing and aimed to secure 9 million tests through consortia.
Some 3.03 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus pandemic globally and 210,263 have died, according to the latest Reuters tally.
Panama will serve as a hub for regional distribution of personal protective equipment and other supplies in Latin America, after delays due to distance and other issues, he said.
"We are aware that (there were) difficulties of supplying Latin America in the beginning, and at the time the caseload wasn't high and we were concentrating on other areas," Molinaro said.
"Certainly the situation has changed and we are in the process of now planning that the next acquisitions and batch volumes we get at least in PPE (personal protective equipment) will be making their way in that direction, and within the plan for tests there will be allocation there also."
The World Health Organization (WHO) appealed for more flight capacity on Tuesday to step up shipments of diagnostic tests and protective equipment to areas where COVID-19 is spreading, especially Latin America.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--Russia reports record daily rises in new coronavirus cases and deaths

Russia saw a record daily rise in new coronavirus cases and related deaths on Tuesday , its coronavirus crisis response center said , with data suggesting the world 's biggest country by territory has overtaken China and Iran in confirmed infections .
The number of new coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 6,411 on Tuesday , bringing its nationwide tally to 93,558 .
The number of deaths rose by 72 , also a daily record , taking the total number of fatalities to 867 .
The figures mean Russia now ranks eighth worldwide for the number of confirmed cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths than the other most affected countries , which include the United States , many European nations , Iran , China and Turkey .
Russia 's total population of 147 million is scattered across 11 time zones and 85 regions .
The coronavirus data includes the Crimea peninsula , which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014 .
The country has been on lockdown since late March , and President Vladimir Putin has yet to say whether this will be extended beyond the current expiry date of April 30 .
The lockdown is estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its gross domestic product every week .
Putin is due to deliver a speech later on Tuesday , the Kremlin said .
Russia enters two sets of long public holidays from Friday to May 11 , with only three working days in between which many usually prefer to take off as well and to spend nearly two weeks outside the big cities .
Yandex , Russia 's top search engine , has recently introduced a special self-isolation index which tracks people 's activity based on Yandex apps , including maps , taxi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it stood at 3 of the maximum 5 for Moscow , a city of nearly 13 million where the number of confirmed infections is close to 50,000 , meaning there are a lot of people on the streets .
Although Moscow 's index is better than an average in nearly 300 other Russian cities that Yandex tracks , it went down this week from early April , indicating that people are starting to disregard the lockdown restrictions .
Moscow , the epicenter of the pandemic in Russia , has introduced special barcodes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb people 's movements - a practice set to be extended to 21 other Russian regions .
Russia is rushing to turn regular hospitals into coronavirus-focused facilities , as well as building new medical spots and turning large public places into temporary hospitals .
Anna Popova , the head of Russia 's safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor , told state television on Monday that , in her view , restrictions should remain in place until May 12 .

Russia saw a record daily rise in new coronavirus cases and related deaths on Tuesday, its coronavirus crisis response center said, with data suggesting the world's biggest country by territory has overtaken China and Iran in confirmed infections.
The number of new coronavirus cases in Russia rose by 6,411 on Tuesday, bringing its nationwide tally to 93,558. The number of deaths rose by 72, also a daily record, taking the total number of fatalities to 867.
The figures mean Russia now ranks eighth worldwide for the number of confirmed cases, though it still has far fewer related deaths than the other most affected countries, which include the United States, many European nations, Iran, China and Turkey.
Russia's total population of 147 million is scattered across 11 time zones and 85 regions. The coronavirus data includes the Crimea peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The country has been on lockdown since late March, and President Vladimir Putin has yet to say whether this will be extended beyond the current expiry date of April 30. The lockdown is estimated to cost Russia 0.5 percentage points of its gross domestic product every week.
Putin is due to deliver a speech later on Tuesday, the Kremlin said.
Russia enters two sets of long public holidays from Friday to May 11, with only three working days in between which many usually prefer to take off as well and to spend nearly two weeks outside the big cities.
Yandex, Russia's top search engine, has recently introduced a special self-isolation index which tracks people's activity based on Yandex apps, including maps, taxi, food delivery and others.
On Tuesday it stood at 3 of the maximum 5 for Moscow, a city of nearly 13 million where the number of confirmed infections is close to 50,000, meaning there are a lot of people on the streets.
Although Moscow's index is better than an average in nearly 300 other Russian cities that Yandex tracks, it went down this week from early April, indicating that people are starting to disregard the lockdown restrictions.
Moscow, the epicenter of the pandemic in Russia, has introduced special barcodes for private cars and public transport since mid-April to curb people's movements - a practice set to be extended to 21 other Russian regions.
Russia is rushing to turn regular hospitals into coronavirus-focused facilities, as well as building new medical spots and turning large public places into temporary hospitals.
Anna Popova, the head of Russia's safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, told state television on Monday that, in her view, restrictions should remain in place until May 12.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--Israel's coronavirus death toll rises to 208, 8,006 active cases reported

Out of the current active cases , 94 patients are on ventilators and 117 are in serious condition .
7,375 @ @ @ @ @ Israel .

Out of the current active cases, 94 patients are on ventilators and 117 are in serious condition. 7,375 coronavirus patients have recovered in Israel.
Israel's Health Ministry reported 8,006 active cases on Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the outbreak to 15,589, as the country's death toll rose to 208.The number of active cases dropped by 145 patients overnight, as 34 new cases were reported, 175 people recovered and four people passed away.


jerusalempost--2020-04-28--Iran's coronavirus death toll rises by 71 to 5,877

The total number of diagnosed cases in Iran , one of the Middle Eastern countries hit hardest by the novel @ @ @ @ @ disease COVID-19 , has reached 92,584 , he said .

The total number of diagnosed cases in Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hit hardest by the novel coronavirus, which causes respiratory disease COVID-19, has reached 92,584, he said.
The death toll in Iran from the coronavirus pandemic rose by 71 in the past 24 hours to 5,877, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV on Tuesday.