jerusalempost--2020-03-25--France reports 231 more coronavirus deaths, bringing total to 1,331

PARIS - French health authorities reported 231 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday , taking the total to 1,331 .
@ @ @ @ @ of deaths represents a daily increase of 21 % , a slight slowing from the @ @ @ @ @ country now in its second week of lockdown .
This daily government tally only accounts @ @ @ @ @ but authorities said they would soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement @ @ @ @ @ to result in a big increase in registered fatalities .
During a press conference , @ @ @ @ @ , added that the number of cases had risen to 25,233 , a rise of @ @ @ @ @ hours .
Salomon said 2,827 people were in a serious condition needing life support , @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday and meaning that more than one third of France 's 8,000 beds equipped with @ @ @ @ @

PARIS - French health authorities reported 231 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the total to 1,331.
The rise in the number of deaths represents a daily increase of 21%, a slight slowing from the previous two days with the country now in its second week of lockdown.
This daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities said they would soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities.
During a press conference, health agency director Jerome Salomon, added that the number of cases had risen to 25,233, a rise of about 13% in 24 hours.
Salomon said 2,827 people were in a serious condition needing life support, up 12% compared to Tuesday and meaning that more than one third of France's 8,000 beds equipped with ventilation gear are occupied.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Person who lives in papal residence tests positive for coronavirus

VATICAN CITY - A person who lives in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has tested positive for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ an Italian hospital , the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero reported on Wednesday .
The Vatican @ @ @ @ @ the report .
Francis , who has canceled public appearances and is conducting his general @ @ @ @ @ internet , lives in the Santa Marta guesthouse .
There are currently about 75 people @ @ @ @ @ a Vatican source .
The newspaper said the person works in the Vatican 's Secretariat @ @ @ @ @ source said he is believed to be a priest .
The Vatican said on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ far tested positive inside the city-state but those it listed do not reside in the @ @ @ @ @ lives .

VATICAN CITY - A person who lives in the same Vatican residence as Pope Francis has tested positive for coronavirus and is being treated in an Italian hospital, the Rome newspaper Il Messaggero reported on Wednesday.
The Vatican had no immediate comment on the report.
Francis, who has canceled public appearances and is conducting his general audiences via television and the internet, lives in the Santa Marta guesthouse.
There are currently about 75 people residing there, according to a Vatican source.
The newspaper said the person works in the Vatican's Secretariat of State and a Vatican source said he is believed to be a priest.
The Vatican said on Tuesday that four people had so far tested positive inside the city-state but those it listed do not reside in the guesthouse where the 83-year-old pope lives.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--2,369 Israelis have coronavirus - Health Ministry

“ Therefore , I am already telling you , ” he continued , “ that if we do not see an immediate improvement in the trend , there will be no alternative but to impose a complete lockdown , except for essential needs such as food and medicines .
This is a matter of a few days .
We are making all of the requisite preparations – logistical and legal . ''
The prime minister 's speech came only four hours after a new round of stricter regulations to contain the coronavirus outbreak came into effect at 5 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that two more Israelis died overnight , bringing the total to five .
Netanyahu added that the Defense Ministry and the Mossad are working together to procure necessary medical equipment from abroad , as well as considering ways to have such equipment manufactured in Israel .
He added that a plan to ease the economic strain on the Israeli public and businesses would be rolled out in the coming days .
The government-approved state-of-emergency restrictions drastically reduce freedom of movement .
For the next seven days at least , people will only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 meters of their homes .
Additional restrictions : Public transport will be drastically reduced ; attending weddings or other religious ceremonies is allowed , if 10-participant and two-meter rules are followed ; going to the mikvah is allowed , as long as arrangements have been made in advance ; only two people may travel in a car at one time and they may only be traveling to or from an approved place of work or to the grocery store , pharmacy or a medical appointment ; private taxis will be available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be in the car at a time .
No deliveries can be made except for approved items including newspapers , and essential products and appliances , such as for medical needs .
All businesses must be closed , including from within one 's residence , except for various food stores and pharmacies , and those selling optical , hygiene or telecommunications products , electrical appliances or medical accessories .
Online sale with shipping is allowed for all types of products : when delivered to private homes , the shipment will be placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain open , including supermarkets , pharmacies , gas stations and banks , which will operate as normal .
However , stores must mark a two 2-meter distance between people at checkout lines and ensure that no more than four people are waiting to check out at a time .
People can go to work as long as the guidelines are followed , but employers must check the temperature of all those arriving and anyone with a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius or above must be refused .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protest , so long as they do it in accordance with the Health Ministry 's rules : no more than 10 people and a space of two meters between people .
In addition , children of divorced parents can continue to travel between the two houses .
Breaking the regulations constitutes a criminal offense and those who transgress them will face fines between NIS 500 and NIS 5,000 or a suspended jail sentence .
Police reported on Wednesday that it had so far opened 135 investigations against individuals who broke quarantine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings .
Back to the victims , a 76-year-old man , Hillel Moshe from Yehud , was named as Israel 's fourth victim .
He had been hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , since last Monday and had significant pre-existing medical conditions .
Moshe 's wife is also hospitalized in Sheba with the virus .
The fifth victim is Reuven Ben-Moshe , 87 , from Petah Tikva .
He had been hospitalized in Bnei Brak .
He also had pre-existing conditions .
The name of the third person who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 , who had been a resident in the Nofim Geriatric Center in Jerusalem .
He had been hospitalized at Hadassah University Medical Center , in Jerusalem 's Ein Kerem .
Of the 2,369 infected people reported by the Health Ministry , 39 were in serious condition , 64 in moderate condition and 2,197 had mild symptoms .
Among those in serious condition is a 45-year-old patient who , according to Channel 12 , had no preexisting medical conditions .
More than 1,000 Israelis with the virus are being treated at home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` coronavirus hotels '' that were set up by the Defense Ministry , while almost 400 are hospitalized .
Netanyahu said that more than 5,000 tests for coronavirus had been conducted on Wednesday , pushing the total number of tests conducted to around 37,000 - which means around 6 % of those tested for the virus have been diagnosed as positive .
Boaz Toporovsky ( Blue and White ) and Sondos Saleh ( Joint List ) became the latest MKs to enter home quarantine on Tuesday , bringing up the number to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministers , ended their quarantine on Wednesday .
In addition , late Tuesday night , State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman and other senior comptroller officials announced that they would go into 10 days of quarantine after a senior official in the office tested positive for the coronavirus .
Englman has no symptoms , but took the measure as a matter of standard precautions directed by the Health Ministry , and will continue to carry out his duties .
The quarantine announcement came only days after Englman issued the first report of his term , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing already in the fall of 2019 that it is not properly prepared for the breakout of a pandemic .
Late Wednesday , in an impassioned speech , President Reuven Rivlin asked the public to `` learn the art of obedience : '' My fellow Israeli citizens , once I was a young man and now I am old , '' the president said .
`` As a child I personally experienced the siege of Jerusalem .
As a people and as a nation , we have known the most severe moments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I have no doubt in my heart that today , too , if we hold fast to public and personal responsibility and to the mutual obligations we have to each other , we can beat this . ''
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Gil Hoffman contributed to this report .

Israel will have no choice but to implement a full closure even within the next few days unless there is an immediate improvement in the trend of the number of people infected with coronavirus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Wednesday, minutes after the number of sick Israelis climbed to 2,369, according to the Health Ministry.
"The steps that we have taken here in Israel are being taken all over the world; however, they are not enough because the number of patients is doubling every three days,” the prime minister said. “In two weeks we are liable to find ourselves with thousands of patients many of whom will be in danger of death
“Therefore, I am already telling you,” he continued, “that if we do not see an immediate improvement in the trend, there will be no alternative but to impose a complete lockdown, except for essential needs such as food and medicines. This is a matter of a few days. We are making all of the requisite preparations – logistical and legal."
The prime minister's speech came only four hours after a new round of stricter regulations to contain the coronavirus outbreak came into effect at 5 p.m., and on the backdrop of the news that two more Israelis died overnight, bringing the total to five.
Netanyahu added that the Defense Ministry and the Mossad are working together to procure necessary medical equipment from abroad, as well as considering ways to have such equipment manufactured in Israel. He added that a plan to ease the economic strain on the Israeli public and businesses would be rolled out in the coming days.
The government-approved state-of-emergency restrictions drastically reduce freedom of movement. For the next seven days at least, people will only be allowed to go on short walks within 100 meters of their homes.
Additional restrictions: Public transport will be drastically reduced; attending weddings or other religious ceremonies is allowed, if 10-participant and two-meter rules are followed; going to the mikvah is allowed, as long as arrangements have been made in advance; only two people may travel in a car at one time and they may only be traveling to or from an approved place of work or to the grocery store, pharmacy or a medical appointment; private taxis will be available, but only one passenger and the driver can be in the car at a time.
No deliveries can be made except for approved items including newspapers, and essential products and appliances, such as for medical needs.
All businesses must be closed, including from within one's residence, except for various food stores and pharmacies, and those selling optical, hygiene or telecommunications products, electrical appliances or medical accessories. Online sale with shipping is allowed for all types of products: when delivered to private homes, the shipment will be placed outside the residence.
Essential services will remain open, including supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and banks, which will operate as normal. However, stores must mark a two 2-meter distance between people at checkout lines and ensure that no more than four people are waiting to check out at a time.
People can go to work as long as the guidelines are followed, but employers must check the temperature of all those arriving and anyone with a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius or above must be refused.
In addition, the government has approved Israeli's right to protest, so long as they do it in accordance with the Health Ministry's rules: no more than 10 people and a space of two meters between people.
In addition, children of divorced parents can continue to travel between the two houses.
Breaking the regulations constitutes a criminal offense and those who transgress them will face fines between NIS 500 and NIS 5,000 or a suspended jail sentence.
Police reported on Wednesday that it had so far opened 135 investigations against individuals who broke quarantine and 163 cases against those who held illegal gatherings.
Back to the victims, a 76-year-old man, Hillel Moshe from Yehud, was named as Israel's fourth victim. He had been hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, since last Monday and had significant pre-existing medical conditions. Moshe's wife is also hospitalized in Sheba with the virus.
The fifth victim is Reuven Ben-Moshe, 87, from Petah Tikva. He had been hospitalized in Bnei Brak. He also had pre-existing conditions.
The name of the third person who died was released Wednesday: Moshe Ornstein, 87, who had been a resident in the Nofim Geriatric Center in Jerusalem. He had been hospitalized at Hadassah University Medical Center, in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem.
Of the 2,369 infected people reported by the Health Ministry, 39 were in serious condition, 64 in moderate condition and 2,197 had mild symptoms. Among those in serious condition is a 45-year-old patient who, according to Channel 12, had no preexisting medical conditions.
More than 1,000 Israelis with the virus are being treated at home. Another 281 are recovering in one of the "coronavirus hotels" that were set up by the Defense Ministry, while almost 400 are hospitalized.
Netanyahu said that more than 5,000 tests for coronavirus had been conducted on Wednesday, pushing the total number of tests conducted to around 37,000 - which means around 6% of those tested for the virus have been diagnosed as positive.
Boaz Toporovsky (Blue and White) and Sondos Saleh (Joint List) became the latest MKs to enter home quarantine on Tuesday, bringing up the number to 10. Five MKs, including two ministers, ended their quarantine on Wednesday.
In addition, late Tuesday night, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman and other senior comptroller officials announced that they would go into 10 days of quarantine after a senior official in the office tested positive for the coronavirus. Englman has no symptoms, but took the measure as a matter of standard precautions directed by the Health Ministry, and will continue to carry out his duties.
The quarantine announcement came only days after Englman issued the first report of his term, which included a key chapter about Israel knowing already in the fall of 2019 that it is not properly prepared for the breakout of a pandemic.
Late Wednesday, in an impassioned speech, President Reuven Rivlin asked the public to "learn the art of obedience:
"My fellow Israeli citizens, once I was a young man and now I am old," the president said. "As a child I personally experienced the siege of Jerusalem. As a people and as a nation, we have known the most severe moments of existential threat, and we beat them. I have no doubt in my heart that today, too, if we hold fast to public and personal responsibility and to the mutual obligations we have to each other, we can beat this."
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Syria adds night curfew to coronavirus curbs

AMMAN - Syria on Wednesday began a nationwide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. as lockdown measures to counter the spread of coronavirus were extended , residents and state media said .
The government had already ordered the closure of shops , markets and public transport , allowing only pharmacies to open and limited deliveries of bread to prevent crowding near bakeries .
The Health Ministry said on Wednesday confirmed cases had risen to five after it reported its first case on Sunday .
Medics and experts are skeptical of the figures , saying the authorities are covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
`` The curfew is serious and any violator will be detained and face legal measures , '' Interior Minister Mohamad al Rahmoun was quoted as saying on state television .
State media showed the main squares in the capital Damascus empty of cars and people .
Medics say the country is at high risk of a major outbreak because of a fragile health system devastated by a nine-year war and lack of sufficient equipment to detect the virus .
Opposition figures and independent politicians point to Damascus ' strong ties with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , as a source of possible contagion .
They say the virus is coming from some of members of Iranian-backed militias who are fighting alongside the Syrian army .
Iran has a huge presence in Syria with thousands of militiamen who control large areas and towns .
Syria says it has suspended its incoming and outgoing passenger flights as part of measures to curb the virus .
Western intelligence sources say Iranian-backed forces continue to fly into Syria and cross from the Albukamal border crossing , near Iraq .
Iran has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak in the country , including travel restrictions .

AMMAN - Syria on Wednesday began a nationwide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. as lockdown measures to counter the spread of coronavirus were extended, residents and state media said.
The government had already ordered the closure of shops, markets and public transport, allowing only pharmacies to open and limited deliveries of bread to prevent crowding near bakeries.
The Health Ministry said on Wednesday confirmed cases had risen to five after it reported its first case on Sunday. Medics and experts are skeptical of the figures, saying the authorities are covering up many more cases. The authorities deny this.
"The curfew is serious and any violator will be detained and face legal measures," Interior Minister Mohamad al Rahmoun was quoted as saying on state television.
State media showed the main squares in the capital Damascus empty of cars and people.
Medics say the country is at high risk of a major outbreak because of a fragile health system devastated by a nine-year war and lack of sufficient equipment to detect the virus.
Opposition figures and independent politicians point to Damascus' strong ties with Iran, the worst affected country in the region, as a source of possible contagion.
They say the virus is coming from some of members of Iranian-backed militias who are fighting alongside the Syrian army. Iran has a huge presence in Syria with thousands of militiamen who control large areas and towns.
Syria says it has suspended its incoming and outgoing passenger flights as part of measures to curb the virus.
Western intelligence sources say Iranian-backed forces continue to fly into Syria and cross from the Albukamal border crossing, near Iraq.
Iran has imposed social distancing measures to combat the outbreak in the country, including travel restrictions.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Netanyahu: We might end up having to decide who gets saved

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his ministers on Wednesday that if the current infection rate will continue in 15 days @ @ @ @ @ might end up having to decide who gets access to a respiratory machine and who @ @ @ @ @ 12 reported .
It is expected Netanyahu will instruct a nation-wide quarantine to prevent that @ @ @ @

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his ministers on Wednesday that if the current infection rate will continue in 15 days “it is possible we might end up having to decide who gets access to a respiratory machine and who does not,” Channel 12 reported.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--UK Diplomat dies of coronavirus in Budapest

Britain 's deputy head of mission at the embassy in Budapest , Steven Dick , 37 , died in Hungary @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus , Sky News reporter Deborah Haynes tweeted on Wednesday .
Prince Charles and the @ @ @ @ @ in home quarantine after it was reported the prince was infected with the virus .

Britain's deputy head of mission at the embassy in Budapest, Steven Dick, 37, died in Hungary on Tuesday night after contracting Coronavirus, Sky News reporter Deborah Haynes tweeted on Wednesday.
Prince Charles and the Queen of England are currently in home quarantine after it was reported the prince was infected with the virus.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Moscow mulls shutting restaurants, cafes to prevent coronavirus spread

MOSCOW - Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said all entertainment venues in the capital should remain closed next week to contain @ @ @ @ @ but concrete measures would be announced on Thursday , Russian news agencies reported .
The @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and cafes should remain shut and restrictions imposed on shopping malls and parks , @ @ @ @ @ Earlier on Wednesday , President Vladimir Putin unveiled new measures designed to slow the tranmission @ @ @ @ @ week a non-working week for many Russians and urging people to stay at home .

MOSCOW - Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said all entertainment venues in the capital should remain closed next week to contain the spread of coronavirus, but concrete measures would be announced on Thursday, Russian news agencies reported.
The mayor said he believed all restaurants and cafes should remain shut and restrictions imposed on shopping malls and parks, the news agencies reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin unveiled new measures designed to slow the tranmission of coronavirus, declaring next week a non-working week for many Russians and urging people to stay at home.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Italy coronavirus deaths rise by 683 in a day

ROME - The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 683 to 7,503 , the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday , a decline in the daily tally of fatalities following a spike the day before .
On Tuesday 743 people died .
That followed 602 deaths on Monday , 650 on Sunday and a record of 793 on Saturday -- the highest daily figure since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21 .
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 74,386 from a previous 69,176 , the Civil Protection Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Angelo Borrelli , was not present at the customary news conference to illustrate the data because he came down with a fever on Wednesday and was himself being tested for coronavirus .
Of those originally infected nationwide , 9,362 had fully recovered on Wednesday compared to 8,326 the day before .
There were 3,489 people in intensive care against a previous 3,396 .
The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy reported a sharp fall in the number of deaths compared with the day before , but remained in a critical situation , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .

ROME - The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has grown by 683 to 7,503, the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday, a decline in the daily tally of fatalities following a spike the day before.
On Tuesday 743 people died. That followed 602 deaths on Monday, 650 on Sunday and a record of 793 on Saturday -- the highest daily figure since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21.
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 74,386 from a previous 69,176, the Civil Protection Agency said.
The head of the agency, Angelo Borrelli, was not present at the customary news conference to illustrate the data because he came down with a fever on Wednesday and was himself being tested for coronavirus.
Of those originally infected nationwide, 9,362 had fully recovered on Wednesday compared to 8,326 the day before. There were 3,489 people in intensive care against a previous 3,396.
The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy reported a sharp fall in the number of deaths compared with the day before, but remained in a critical situation, with a total of 4,474 deaths and 32,346 cases.
That compared with 4,178 deaths and 30,703 cases reported up to Tuesday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Citing Muslim action, Jewish activists rage against Temple Mount closing

A public letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , signed on by Jewish activists for the renewal of prayer on @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday why is it that Jewish access to the site is to be halted as @ @ @ @ @ to the Western Wall is still allowed .
The letter states that it is not @ @ @ @ @ the site , where the Temple of King Solomon once stood , will be restricted @ @ @ @ @ ” and warned that Jewish heritage on the site might be tempered with once the @ @ @ @ @ a singular chance to do so .

A public letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signed on by Jewish activists for the renewal of prayer on Temple Mount, asked on Wednesday why is it that Jewish access to the site is to be halted as of next week if access to the Western Wall is still allowed.
The letter states that it is not reasonable that Jewish access to the site, where the Temple of King Solomon once stood, will be restricted “without a time limit” and warned that Jewish heritage on the site might be tempered with once the Waqf authority realize they enjoy a singular chance to do so.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Netanya Mayor: Health Ministry is ‘sentencing to death’ elderly people

Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg raged against the recent decision by the Health Ministry to order the removal of 50 elderly @ @ @ @ @ in her city in order to turn that center into a place devoted to the @ @ @ @ @ .
Feirberg said that the decision is unreasonable as the 50 people are not of @ @ @ @ @ have a hard time adjusting to the new place imposed on them .
She mentioned @ @ @ @ @ holocaust survivors and asked why their removal was so needed and if they could not @ @ @ @ @ as it is being changed to look after other types of patients as well .
@ @ @ @ @ she said , the Health Ministry is “ sentencing these people to their deaths.
” @ @ @ @ @ emergency powers , the Ministry of Health does not require her consent to carry out @ @ @

Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg raged against the recent decision by the Health Ministry to order the removal of 50 elderly people from Dorot Medical Center in her city in order to turn that center into a place devoted to the care of coronavirus infected patients.
Feirberg said that the decision is unreasonable as the 50 people are not of sound mental health and will have a hard time adjusting to the new place imposed on them.
She mentioned that some of them are holocaust survivors and asked why their removal was so needed and if they could not have stayed at the center as it is being changed to look after other types of patients as well.
In the worst-case scenario, she said, the Health Ministry is “sentencing these people to their deaths.”
Because the state currently activated emergency powers, the Ministry of Health does not require her consent to carry out this step.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Spain's Deputy PM Carmen Calvo tests positive for coronavirus

MADRID - Spain 's Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo has tested positive for coronavirus , the Spanish government said on @ @ @ @ @ for the virus in a test performed on Tuesday after previously testing negative , but @ @ @ @ @ because the last one proved inconclusive , the government said in a statement .

MADRID - Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo has tested positive for coronavirus, the Spanish government said on Wednesday.
Calvo tested positive for the virus in a test performed on Tuesday after previously testing negative, but one more test was performed because the last one proved inconclusive, the government said in a statement.
It added that Calvo, who was born in 1957, was doing well and receiving medical treatment.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--US CDC reports 54,453 coronavirus cases, 737 deaths

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) on Wednesday reported 54,453 coronavirus cases , an increase @ @ @ @ @ previous count , and said the death toll had risen by 193 to 737 .
@ @ @ @ @ of cases of the respiratory illness , COVID-19 , caused by a new coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ ET on March 24 compared to its tally a day earlier .
( https : @ @ @ @ @ have been reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia .
The total @ @ @ @ @ among repatriated citizens from Wuhan , China and Japan .

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday reported 54,453 coronavirus cases, an increase of 10,270 cases from its previous count, and said the death toll had risen by 193 to 737.
The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness, COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. ET on March 24 compared to its tally a day earlier. (https://bit.ly/2IVY1JT).
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The total count does not include cases among repatriated citizens from Wuhan, China and Japan.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Coronavirus death toll in Italy's Lombardy rises by around 296 in a day

ROME - The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy , which has borne @ @ @ @ @ contagion , has risen by around 296 in a day to some 4,474 , a @ @ @ @ @ said on Wednesday .
The figure is down sharply compared to some 402 deaths on @ @ @ @ @ it will be the lowest daily death toll in Lombardy since March 19 .
The @ @ @ @ @ region , which includes Italy 's financial capital Milan , increased by some 1,643 to @ @ @ @ @ said .
The nationwide tally will be released around 6.00 p.m. ( 1700 GMT ) @ @ @ @ @ national death toll stood at 6,820 , the highest in the world .

ROME - The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy's contagion, has risen by around 296 in a day to some 4,474, a source familiar with the data said on Wednesday.
The figure is down sharply compared to some 402 deaths on Tuesday. If confirmed, it will be the lowest daily death toll in Lombardy since March 19.
The number of cases in the region, which includes Italy's financial capital Milan, increased by some 1,643 to roughly 32,346, the source said.
The nationwide tally will be released around 6.00 p.m. (1700 GMT). On Tuesday, the national death toll stood at 6,820, the highest in the world.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Arab MK Sondos Saleh has coronavirus

Arab MK Sondos Saleh has coronavirus


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Germany's Merkel, China's Xi agree close cooperation on coronavirus

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the coronavirus crisis in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on @ @ @ @ @ stay in close contact regarding the coronavirus pandemic , the German government said in a @ @

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the coronavirus crisis in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday and they agreed to stay in close contact regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the German government said in a statement.
"They agreed that the current crisis can only be resolved through close international cooperation," the statement read


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Minister Deri in quarantine: Torah scroll will protect from COVID-19

Interior Minister Arye Deri , currently in home quarantine , released a social media message in which he explained he @ @ @ @ @ Torah scroll meant to “ protect the people of Israel from the coronavirus.
” The @ @ @ @ @ or more , is common practice among Jewish people as Torah scrolls are written by @ @ @ @ @ a portion of the scroll being written .
The minister called on others to buy @ @ @ @ @ that when the virus is no longer a health risk the scroll will be placed @ @ @ @ @ Some Jewish scholars argue that , ideally , each Jewish person should write his own @ @ @ @ @ the divine law .
This was one of the ideal requirements of the kings of @ @ @ @ @ in Mecca and Rome , two cities which are very important to Islam and the @ @ @ @ @ been halted due to COVID-19 .

Interior Minister Arye Deri, currently in home quarantine, released a social media message in which he explained he bought a letter in a Torah scroll meant to “protect the people of Israel from the coronavirus.”
The purchase of a letter, or more, is common practice among Jewish people as Torah scrolls are written by scribes so one may finance a portion of the scroll being written.
The minister called on others to buy letters as well, promising that when the virus is no longer a health risk the scroll will be placed in the Western Wall.
Some Jewish scholars argue that, ideally, each Jewish person should write his own Torah scroll to better understand the divine law. This was one of the ideal requirements of the kings of the nation.
Mass prayer in Mecca and Rome, two cities which are very important to Islam and the Catholic faith respectively, had been halted due to COVID-19.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--High Court asks Arrangements C'tee to schedule vote for Knesset Speaker

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday ordered the Knesset Legal Adviser Eyal Yinon to give his view by 5:00 @ @ @ @ @ Arrangements Committee could schedule a vote for a new Knesset Speaker in light of Yulu @ @ @ @ @ without holding such a vote .

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday ordered the Knesset Legal Adviser Eyal Yinon to give his view by 5:00 p.m. about whether the Knesset Arrangements Committee could schedule a vote for a new Knesset Speaker in light of Yulu Edelstein's decision to resign without holding such a vote.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--MK Touma-Silman elected to head Welfare, Social Services committee

Joint List MK Aida Touma-Silman was elected on Wednesday to head the Knesset special committee concerning Welfare and Social Services @ @ @ @ @ in her favor .
“ Despite the novel coronavirus and ( Prime Minister Benjamin ) @ @ @ @ @ , “ we are working.
” Netanyahu had often slammed her and her party for @ @ @ @ @ against the Jewish character of Israeli democracy .
She reported on social media that on @ @ @ @ @ two sessions about the massive wave of unemployment currently hitting the country because of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ have one million unemployed people in the space of weeks .

Joint List MK Aida Touma-Silman was elected on Wednesday to head the Knesset special committee concerning Welfare and Social Services. The votes were unanimous in her favor.
“Despite the novel coronavirus and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu,” she said, “we are working.”
Netanyahu had often slammed her and her party for allegedly supporting terror and working against the Jewish character of Israeli democracy.
She reported on social media that on Monday her committee will hold two sessions about the massive wave of unemployment currently hitting the country because of COVID-19. Some predict Israel will have one million unemployed people in the space of weeks.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Edelstein slams Court: Entering a political zone it knows nothing of

Former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein , who resigned on Wednesday , slammed the Supreme Court for entering a political discussion @ @ @ @ @ not a party and its insides it is not familiar with.
” The court ruled @ @ @ @ @ about who the next speaker will be despite a law saying that a new speaker @ @ @ @ @ Knesset once a government is sworn in .
The law is a recent one , @ @ @ @ @ Knesset had the oldest member serving as the speaker until a new one was appointed @ @ @ @ @ had been serving as speaker for the past two years despite the failures of Prime @ @ @ @ @ a government , the current one being a care-taker government .
Edelstein warned that the @ @ @ @ @ the political paralysis in the country ” and resigned rather than holding the vote , @ @ @ @ @ say , a violation of the boundaries between the Knesset and the court .

Former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who resigned on Wednesday, slammed the Supreme Court for entering a political discussion “to which it is not a party and its insides it is not familiar with.”
The court ruled Edelstein must hold a vote about who the next speaker will be despite a law saying that a new speaker will be appointed by the Knesset once a government is sworn in.
The law is a recent one, and before it each new Knesset had the oldest member serving as the speaker until a new one was appointed by the government. Edelstein had been serving as speaker for the past two years despite the failures of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government, the current one being a care-taker government.
Edelstein warned that the “court ruling might prolong the political paralysis in the country” and resigned rather than holding the vote, which would be, some say, a violation of the boundaries between the Knesset and the court.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Singapore reports 73 new coronavirus cases in biggest daily jump

SINGAPORE - Singapore reported 73 new cases of coronavirus cases on Wednesday , the city-state 's biggest daily jump , @ @ @ @ @ total of 631 infections .

SINGAPORE - Singapore reported 73 new cases of coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the city-state's biggest daily jump, taking its tally to a total of 631 infections.


jerusalempost--2020-03-25--Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 852 to 6,412, spread may be slowing

AMSTERDAM - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 852 to 6,412 on Wednesday , health @ @ @ @ @ they see signs that the rate of increase of the virus 's spread in the @ @ @ @ @ rose by 80 to 356 , the National Institute of Health ( RIVM ) said @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak .

AMSTERDAM - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 852 to 6,412 on Wednesday, health authorities said, adding that they see signs that the rate of increase of the virus's spread in the country is slowing.
Deaths rose by 80 to 356, the National Institute of Health (RIVM) said in its daily update on the outbreak.
"The number of new patients received at hospital had been on an upward curve recently," the RIVM said. "At this moment that seems to be leveling. That may point to a small reduction of the rate at which the virus is spreading."


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Saudi Arabia releases 250 immigration offenders amid coronavirus outbreak

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Saudi Arabia has released 250 foreign detainees held on non-violent immigration and residency offenses as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, the state-backed Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday."Releasing them for eventual repatriation will help decrease the threat for inmates of the detention centers without compromising public security in any way," HRC President Awwad al-Awwad said in a statement, adding that more releases were expected.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Iran's coronavirus death toll climbs to 2,234

DUBAI - Iran reported 157 new coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours , Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur @ @ @ @ @ , taking the death toll to 2,234 in the Islamic Republic with 29,406 infected people @ @ @ @ @ new infected cases was 2,389 in the past 24 hours , '' Jahanpur said , @ @ @ @ @ at home .

DUBAI - Iran reported 157 new coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state TV on Thursday, taking the death toll to 2,234 in the Islamic Republic with 29,406 infected people.
"The number of new infected cases was 2,389 in the past 24 hours," Jahanpur said, calling on Iranians to stay at home.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Coronavirus causes Spain to authorize two more weeks of lockdown

Spain 's coronavirus lockdown was extended on Thursday to last until at least April 12 as Europe 's second-worst hit @ @ @ @ @ fast increase in the death toll .
Parliament voted in the early hours of Thursday @ @ @ @ @ including the state of lockdown that has seen people confined to their homes except for @ @ @ @ @ medicine and work .
Confirmed cases in Spain have jumped 10-fold since the state of @ @ @ @ @ 14 , while its death toll exceeded China 's on Wednesday , with 738 lives @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is not easy to extend the state of emergency , '' Prime @ @ @ @ @ Parliament .
`` I am convinced the only efficient option against the virus is social @ @ @

Spain's coronavirus lockdown was extended on Thursday to last until at least April 12 as Europe's second-worst hit country struggled to tackle a fast increase in the death toll.
MADRID -
Parliament voted in the early hours of Thursday to extend emergency measures - including the state of lockdown that has seen people confined to their homes except for essential trips for food, medicine and work.
Confirmed cases in Spain have jumped 10-fold since the state of emergency was imposed on March 14, while its death toll exceeded China's on Wednesday, with 738 lives lost in a single day.
"It is not easy to extend the state of emergency," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in Parliament. "I am convinced the only efficient option against the virus is social isolation."


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Lebanon's defense council urges 2 week extension of shutdown - report

Lebanon's supreme defense council has advised the government to extend by two weeks a countrywide shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Voice of Lebanon radio reported after the council met on Thursday.A two-week extension would keep the country closed until April 12. Lebanon has recorded 333 cases of coronavirus and six deaths. A decision was expected to be taken at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Right-wing bloc to participate in discussions of the Knesset committees

Members of the right-wing bloc have decided to go back on their decision to boycott Knesset committee discussions and will now participate in all discussions held in the Knesset.A decision has yet to be made on the participation in the vote to elect a new Knesset speaker, due to take place later on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--UK health minister says 560,000 volunteers sign up to help NHS

Britain's health Minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday that 560,000 people had volunteered to help the National Health Service during the coronavirus crisis, more than double the number he had hoped to recruit.Britain had on Tuesday issued a call for 250,000 volunteers to sign up to help the NHS and vulnerable people hit by the coronavirus crisis.Writing on Twitter, Hancock called the news "fantastic."


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Iran starts intercity travel ban amid fears of second wave of coronavirus

Iran started an intercity travel ban on Thursday , an Iranian official said in a televised news conference , amid @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus infections in the Middle East 's worst-hit country .
`` Those who have @ @ @ @ @ Year holidays should immediately return to their cities without making any stop in the cities @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Hossein Zolfaghari , a member of Iran 's national headquarters for fighting @ @ @ @ @ closure of universities and schools as well as suspension of gatherings has been extended , @ @ @ @ @ that violators of the measures will face legal consequences .

Iran started an intercity travel ban on Thursday, an Iranian official said in a televised news conference, amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections in the Middle East's worst-hit country.
DUBAI-
"Those who have traveled for the Iranian New Year holidays should immediately return to their cities without making any stop in the cities on their way back home," said Hossein Zolfaghari, a member of Iran's national headquarters for fighting the coronavirus.
"The closure of universities and schools as well as suspension of gatherings has been extended," he said, adding that violators of the measures will face legal consequences.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Germany's coronavirus cases reach 36,508

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has risen to 36,508, and the number of deaths to 198.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Number of coronavirus cases in Germany rises to 36,508 - RKI

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany has risen to 36,508 and 198 people have died of the disease, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Thursday.Cases rose by 4,995 compared with the previous day while the death toll climbed by 50, the tally showed.


jerusalempost--2020-03-26--Two rockets fall near US embassy in Baghdad

According to Al Hadath , no material damage or casualties were reported .
Multiple rocket attacks have targeted sites connected @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
On March 11 , two US troops and a British national @ @ @ @ @ attack on the Camp Taji training base .

According to Al Hadath, no material damage or casualties were reported. Multiple rocket attacks have targeted sites connected with the US in Iraq in recent weeks. On March 11, two US troops and a British national were killed by a rocket attack on the Camp Taji training base.
Two Katyusha rockets were fired towards the Green Zone in Baghdad where the US embassy is located, according to Al-Arabiya news.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Likud, Blue and White to "continue talks" - statement

Talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Likud and former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz 's Blue and White @ @ @ @ @ said in a joint statement Friday morning , Ynet reported .
According to the statement @ @ @ @ @ meeting between the parties ' representatives , negotiations will continue on Friday in order to @ @ @ @ @ .

Talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz's Blue and White will continue, the parties said in a joint statement Friday morning, Ynet reported.
According to the statement, published following a Thursday meeting between the parties' representatives, negotiations will continue on Friday in order to reach a national unity government.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Albania to impose 2-8 year jail terms on coronavirus quarantine-breakers

Albania amended its penal code on Thursday to punish anyone breaking coronavirus quarantine and self-isolation rules and infecting others with up to eight years in jail as it slowly prepares to restart sections of its economy.Critics of the tougher measure said fines were proving effective but Prime Minister Edi Rama defended the new penalty as necessary for successfully relaxing the lockdown.Rama said the government believed about 2,800 people would have died if lockdown rules had not been imposed. As of Thursday, 26 people have died and 518 have been infected with the new coronavirus among Albania's 2.8 million people. The number is low compared to other countries, leading some to break the rules. Police have fined more than 7,000 people and suspended 1,800 driving licences.According to the new law, anyone infected with the coronavirus who broke self-isolation or quarantine rules and infected others, wilfully or not, would face from two to eight years in jail if his or her action caused grave harm, including death."These measures are being taken because we are going to relax (lockdown rules). We are winning the battle on the health front. And we shall win it on the economy front," Rama said.In asking parliamentarians to vote for the tougher law, Rama described quarantine rule-breakers as similar to carrying a bomb, in this case the new coronavirus."A bomb does nothing else but kill people," Rama said.Poorer than most in Europe, Albania enforced a tough isolation soon after its first case was detected on March 9 in a man coming from Italy, one of the worst-hit countries, because it feared its spread might overwhelm its weak health system.Since Monday, Albania has enforced a weekday lockdown from 5:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next day and allows one person per family to shop for 90 minutes. Some industries keep working.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Russia, Saudi Arabia ready to take actions on oil markets if necessary

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, held a phone talk on Thursday and said in a joint statement they were ready to take measures with other OPEC+ members on the oil market if necessary.They also said both Russia and Saudi Arabia were committed to the global oil cuts deal.OPEC and other large oil producers led by Russia, a group widely know as OPEC+, have agreed to reduce their combined oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day in May and June.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Saudi Arabia pledges $500 million to combat coronavirus

Saudi Arabia, the current G20 chair, said on Thursday it has pledged $500 million to support global efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and urged other countries and organizations to help bridge an $8 billion financing gap.Riyadh said it would allocate $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, $150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, and $200 million to other health organizations and programs.In a statement, it called on all countries, non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and the private sector to help close a financing gap estimated at over $8 billion to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Economic market re-opening must comply with coronavirus restrictions

The ministerial debate with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted on Thursday an offer presented by Defense Minister Naftali Bennett to re-open the economic marketplace in compliance with regulations and restrictions set forth to prevent the further spread of the novel COVID-19.These rules, which are expected to include regulations and disinfection, physical distancing and the like, will be decided on by the end of the Sabbath.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Brazil President Bolsonaro fires Health Minister Mandetta

Oncologist Nelson Teich will be appointed to replace Mandetta , a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on @ @ @ @

Oncologist Nelson Teich will be appointed to replace Mandetta, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
BRAZIL - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fired Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta on Thursday, Mandetta said on Twitter, after the two had clashed for weeks about how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--New York coronavirus hospitalizations keep falling, shutdown extended

The number of people hospitalized for the novel coronavirus and related deaths in New York fell to their lowest levels in more than a week , adding to evidence that the hardest-hit state was controlling its spread , Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday .
Cuomo also extended an order closing businesses and schools by two weeks until at least May 15 in coordination with other states in the region , and added details to mask requirements , saying New Yorkers should wear them on buses , taxis and trains .
Cuomo , who has emerged as a leading national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improvement in key metrics reflected social distancing efforts which had brought the state 's infection rate low enough to control the outbreak .
The governor said that a total of 17,735 people were hospitalized across New York because of COVID-19 , the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus , down from 18,335 a day earlier and the lowest since April 6 .
Intubations and admissions to intensive care units also declined , he said .
`` The good news is it means we can control the virus .
We can control the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And we did not know for sure that we could do that . ''
But Cuomo noted that about 2,000 infected people were newly admitted to hospitals on Wednesday and that while deaths declined to 606 , marking the lowest daily count in more than a week , the toll on his state was still significant .

The number of people hospitalized for the novel coronavirus and related deaths in New York fell to their lowest levels in more than a week, adding to evidence that the hardest-hit state was controlling its spread, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday.
Cuomo also extended an order closing businesses and schools by two weeks until at least May 15 in coordination with other states in the region, and added details to mask requirements, saying New Yorkers should wear them on buses, taxis and trains.
Cuomo, who has emerged as a leading national voice on the pandemic, said the improvement in key metrics reflected social distancing efforts which had brought the state's infection rate low enough to control the outbreak.
The governor said that a total of 17,735 people were hospitalized across New York because of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, down from 18,335 a day earlier and the lowest since April 6. Intubations and admissions to intensive care units also declined, he said.
"The good news is it means we can control the virus. We can control the spread," Cuomo told a daily briefing. "And we did not know for sure that we could do that."
But Cuomo noted that about 2,000 infected people were newly admitted to hospitals on Wednesday and that while deaths declined to 606, marking the lowest daily count in more than a week, the toll on his state was still significant.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Paris, with one third of France's coronvirus cases, sees fall in numbers

Senior Paris health officials said on Thursday there was reason for optimism in the fight against the new coronavirus in the worst-hit French region after the number of hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care units had begun to fall .
Paris and its suburbs account for more than a third of more than 31,700 confirmed infections in French hospitals .
Its healthcare facilities , including intensive care units , have been under severe pressure with officials scrambling to find more beds , ventilators and staff , and to spread the load of patients across the capital and its wider suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,600 hospital deaths have been in the region and some 2,500 people remain in intensive care .
However , since the country was put into lockdown on March 17 , the indications are that the situation is improving .
`` The deaths continue , but in the medical sector the deceleration is extremely clear , '' Bertrand Godeau , internal medicine chief at the Mondor hospital , told reporters in a conference call on Thursday .
`` This is a positive message .
We have to continue the confinement until mid-May because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The national Public Health Authority on Wednesday recorded for the first time a drop in hospital admissions due to the COVID-19 disease .

Senior Paris health officials said on Thursday there was reason for optimism in the fight against the new coronavirus in the worst-hit French region after the number of hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care units had begun to fall.
Paris and its suburbs account for more than a third of more than 31,700 confirmed infections in French hospitals.
Its healthcare facilities, including intensive care units, have been under severe pressure with officials scrambling to find more beds, ventilators and staff, and to spread the load of patients across the capital and its wider suburbs.
Almost 40% of France's 10,600 hospital deaths have been in the region and some 2,500 people remain in intensive care. However, since the country was put into lockdown on March 17, the indications are that the situation is improving.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--French police shoot dead a knife attacker in north of Paris

The attack took place around 1430pm GMT when police officers were on bike patrol , the source said .
The @ @ @ @ @ the knife attacker 's motives .

The attack took place around 1430pm GMT when police officers were on bike patrol, the source said.
The source could not elaborate on the knife attacker's motives.
French police shot and killed on Wednesday a man who attacked police officers with a knife in the city of La Courneuve in a northern suburb of Paris, a police source said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Hundreds protest in Tel Aviv against ‘crime minister’ Benjamin Netanyahu

Hundreds of people gathered near Habima National Theater in Tel Aviv on Thursday in what is known as a `` @ @ @ @ @ voice their concern about Israeli democracy and speak out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whom @ @ @ @ @ crime minister.
” The protesters wore masks and kept a two-meter distance from one another @ @ @ @ @ instructions .
Among the signs featured in the protest were some saying that “ coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ dictatorship ” and “ we do not believe you anymore .
”

Hundreds of people gathered near Habima National Theater in Tel Aviv on Thursday in what is known as a "Black Flag" protest to voice their concern about Israeli democracy and speak out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whom they refer to as “crime minister.”
The protesters wore masks and kept a two-meter distance from one another in accordance with Health Ministry instructions.
Among the signs featured in the protest were some saying that “coronavirus is used in service of dictatorship” and “we do not believe you anymore.”


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--82-year-old with background illnesses dies of coronavirus

An 82-year-old patient treated in the Padeh-Poriyah Medical Center with background illnesses died of coronavirus on Thursday evening.The woman had been unconscious and with an oxygen tank since the previous Friday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Africa may have millions of coronavirus cases, WHO forecast shows

But Michel Yao , head of emergency operations for WHO Africa , said that was a tentative projection which could @ @ @ @ @ for the Ebola outbreak had not come true because people changed behaviour in time .
@ @ @ @ @ be fine-tuned , '' he told a media teleconference .
`` It 's difficult to @ @ @ @ @ the context changes too much and also public health measures when they are fully implemented @ @ @ @ @ an impact . ''
The world 's poorest continent has seen more than 17,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ and about 900 deaths so far - relatively little compared to some other regions .
@ @ @ @ @ could balloon and overwhelm shaky health services .
`` We are concerned that the virus @ @ @ @ @ within countries , '' said Matshidiso Moeti , director for WHO 's Africa region , @ @ @ @ @ and Algeria .
`` The numbers continue to increase every day . ''

But Michel Yao, head of emergency operations for WHO Africa, said that was a tentative projection which could change and noted worst-case predictions for the Ebola outbreak had not come true because people changed behaviour in time.
"This is still to be fine-tuned," he told a media teleconference. "It's difficult to make a long-term estimation because the context changes too much and also public health measures when they are fully implemented, they can actually have an impact."
The world's poorest continent has seen more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease and about 900 deaths so far - relatively little compared to some other regions.
But there are fears that could balloon and overwhelm shaky health services.
"We are concerned that the virus continues to spread geographically, within countries," said Matshidiso Moeti, director for WHO's Africa region, which comprises 46 sub-Saharan nations and Algeria.
"The numbers continue to increase every day."
Coronavirus cases in Africa could shoot up from thousands now to 10 million within three to six months according to very provisional modelling, a regional World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--US coronavirus shutdown causes Mexican border wall effort to gain steam

In the past 12 months , the administration opened 41 cases in federal court to seize land to build a @ @ @ @ @ of Texas .
Nearly half of those cases – 16 , or 39 percent - @ @ @ @ @ two months .
The bulk of the new filings came in March , when the @ @ @ @ @ the most in any month under Trump , a Reuters review of federal filings found @ @ @ @ @ possession , bypassing traditional procedural steps and forcing landowners to move more swiftly , records @ @ @ @ @ landowners say the administration is choosing a bad time to get more aggressive , forcing @ @ @ @ @ their home to fight the case or lose their property .
Also , a successful @ @ @ @ @ requiring paid experts , lawyers and other professionals at a time the U.S. economy is @ @ @ @ @ jobs .

In the past 12 months, the administration opened 41 cases in federal court to seize land to build a wall along the southern border of Texas. Nearly half of those cases – 16, or 39 percent - were filed in the past two months.
The bulk of the new filings came in March, when the administration opened 12 cases, the most in any month under Trump, a Reuters review of federal filings found. The administration wants immediate possession, bypassing traditional procedural steps and forcing landowners to move more swiftly, records show.
Advocates for the landowners say the administration is choosing a bad time to get more aggressive, forcing landowners to choose between leaving their home to fight the case or lose their property. Also, a successful defense can be expensive, requiring paid experts, lawyers and other professionals at a time the U.S. economy is shedding a record number of jobs.
While most of the U.S. has been slowed by the coronavirus crisis - which has infected more than 635,000 people and killed at least 31,000 more - Trump’s efforts to construct a southern border wall has only gained steam.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Liberman slams Litzman: Only Haredi people continue to receive funds

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman slammed Health Minister Ya'acov Litzman on Thursday on social media after the ministry resisted lifting @ @ @ @ @ to curb the spread of coronavirus .
Liberman reminded Litzman that “ hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ unable to work and may not have a job to get back to once the @ @ @ @ @ added that people who paid income tax and Bituah Leumi ( national social security ) @ @ @ @ @ ” are now without income and are unable to gain state help due to bureaucracy @ @ @ @ @ do not face such hardships and continue to get state support , Liberman added , @ @ @ @ @ yeshivot ( religious schools ) .

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman slammed Health Minister Ya'acov Litzman on Thursday on social media after the ministry resisted lifting the curfew imposed on Israelis to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Liberman reminded Litzman that “hundreds of thousands of citizens” are currently unable to work and may not have a job to get back to once the outbreak is over.
He added that people who paid income tax and Bituah Leumi (national social security) payments “all their lives” are now without income and are unable to gain state help due to bureaucracy.
The only people who do not face such hardships and continue to get state support, Liberman added, are haredi men who attend yeshivot (religious schools).


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--UN Yemen envoy expects warring parties to agree truce

NEW YORK - United Nations Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said on Thursday he expects the warring parties to formally adopt @ @ @ @ @ '' agreements on a nationwide ceasefire , key economic and humanitarian measures and a resumption @ @ @ @ @ said he has been negotiating with the parties on the texts for the past two @ @ @ @ @ them to agree on and formally adopt these agreements in the immediate future , '' @ @ @ @ @ Council .

NEW YORK - United Nations Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said on Thursday he expects the warring parties to formally adopt "in the immediate future" agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, key economic and humanitarian measures and a resumption of political talks.
Griffiths said he has been negotiating with the parties on the texts for the past two weeks. "We expect them to agree on and formally adopt these agreements in the immediate future," he told the UN Security Council.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Nigerian security forces killed 18 people during coronavirus lockdowns

Nigeria , sub-Saharan Africa 's most populous country and biggest energy producer , has recorded 407 confirmed cases of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ highly contagious lung disease .
Lockdowns initially slated to last 14 days were put in @ @ @ @ @ the southern commercial hub Lagos , neighbouring Ogun state and the capital Abuja .
They @ @ @ @ @ two weeks and other states , such as the northern economic hub Kano , have @ @ @ @ @ NHRC , an independent body , said in a statement dated April 15 that there @ @ @ @ @ incidents of extrajudicial killings leading to 18 deaths '' between March 30 and April 13 @ @ @ @ @ were carried out by the Nigerian Correctional Service , the police force and army .
@ @ @ @ @ for the Nigerian Correctional Service said four inmates had died after violence broke out and @ @ @ @ @ and staff hospitalised .
The rights commission report alleged eight deaths .

Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa's most populous country and biggest energy producer, has recorded 407 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths from the highly contagious lung disease.
Lockdowns initially slated to last 14 days were put in place on March 30 in the southern commercial hub Lagos, neighbouring Ogun state and the capital Abuja. They were extended on Sunday by two weeks and other states, such as the northern economic hub Kano, have also imposed restrictions.
The NHRC, an independent body, said in a statement dated April 15 that there had been "eight documented incidents of extrajudicial killings leading to 18 deaths" between March 30 and April 13. It said the killings were carried out by the Nigerian Correctional Service, the police force and army.
In response, a spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service said four inmates had died after violence broke out and left a number of prisoners and staff hospitalised. The rights commission report alleged eight deaths.
Nigerian security forces killed 18 people in two weeks while enforcing lockdowns imposed to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--UK hospital coronavirus death toll rises 861 to 13,729

LONDON - The United Kingdom 's death toll from COVID-19 in hospitals rose 861 to 13,729 , as of 1600 @ @ @ @ @ the health ministry said .
It was the biggest daily rise in five days .
@ @ @ @ @ tested of which 103,093 tested positive , '' the health ministry said .
Deaths in @ @ @ @ @ to 12,396 , the national health service said .
`` 40 of the 740 patients @ @ @ @ @ 93 years old ) had no known underlying health condition , '' the health service @ @ @ @ @ was 11,656 .

LONDON - The United Kingdom's death toll from COVID-19 in hospitals rose 861 to 13,729, as of 1600 GMT on April 15, the health ministry said.
It was the biggest daily rise in five days.
"327,608 people have been tested of which 103,093 tested positive," the health ministry said.
Deaths in English hospitals rose by 740 to 12,396, the national health service said.
"40 of the 740 patients (aged between 45 and 93 years old) had no known underlying health condition," the health service said. The previous toll was 11,656.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Swiss coronavirus death toll tops 1,000 as government eases curbs

The Swiss death toll from the novel coronavirus has reached 1,017 people , the country 's public health agency said @ @ @ @ @ 973 on Wednesday .
The number of people showing positive tests for the disease increased @ @ @ @ @ it said .
The government said measures to curb spread of the pandemic were working @ @ @ @ @ easing restrictions from April 27 .

The Swiss death toll from the novel coronavirus has reached 1,017 people, the country's public health agency said on Thursday, rising from 973 on Wednesday.
The number of people showing positive tests for the disease increased to 26,732 from 26,336, it said. The government said measures to curb spread of the pandemic were working and announced its timetable for easing restrictions from April 27.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Spain's coronavirus death-toll nears 20,000

The number of people infected also rose , although health emergency chief Fernando Simon said this was due to increased testing and that most concerned people with mild or no symptoms .
Spain has been one of the countries worst hit by the global epidemic but it has tentatively started to ease a lockdown imposed on March 14 .
The health ministry said on Thursday the total number of fatalities rose to 19,130 over the past 24 hours as 551 people died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , up from 523 the previous day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose to 182,816 , from 177,633 on Wednesday .
`` The increase in the number of tests has led to an increase in the number of cases , '' Simon said at the government 's daily news conference .
However , Catalonia 's health department announced late on Wednesday an additional 3,242 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic , nearly doubling its previous tally to 7,097 for the region .
The addition was due to a methodology change , with data from funerary services on suspected and confirmed coronavirus deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time .
Until now , the Catalan health department was only reporting coronavirus deaths in hospitals and confirmed by tests .

The number of people infected also rose, although health emergency chief Fernando Simon said this was due to increased testing and that most concerned people with mild or no symptoms.
Spain has been one of the countries worst hit by the global epidemic but it has tentatively started to ease a lockdown imposed on March 14.
The health ministry said on Thursday the total number of fatalities rose to 19,130 over the past 24 hours as 551 people died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, up from 523 the previous day. The overall number of cases of those infected rose to 182,816, from 177,633 on Wednesday.
"The increase in the number of tests has led to an increase in the number of cases," Simon said at the government's daily news conference.
However, Catalonia's health department announced late on Wednesday an additional 3,242 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic, nearly doubling its previous tally to 7,097 for the region.
The addition was due to a methodology change, with data from funerary services on suspected and confirmed coronavirus deaths in nursing homes and private homes included for the first time.
Until now, the Catalan health department was only reporting coronavirus deaths in hospitals and confirmed by tests.
Spain on Thursday reported a rise in its national toll of deaths from the coronavirus in the past day, but figures from the region of Catalonia indicated the real total so far could be several thousand more.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--MK Suleiman: Finance Ministry is ignoring parents' needs

Head of the Knesset Welfare Committee MK Aida Touma-Suleiman ended a debate concerning day care centers during the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ the Finance Ministry is avoiding giving concrete information on how and when they will return @ @ @ @ @ Finance Ministry is not taking the issue seriously and is ignoring [ it ] , @ @ @ @ @ [ The ministry ] is not giving us real answers.
” Due to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ currently not working .
Parents were informed they don ’ t need to pay the @ @ @ @ @ children are at home and as a result the centers are currently lacking funds .
@ @ @ @ @ reach into its pocket and compensate the centers or else their ( the centers ) @ @ @ @ @ our children will be hurt , ” Touma-Suleiman said .

Head of the Knesset Welfare Committee MK Aida Touma-Suleiman ended a debate concerning day care centers during the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, claiming that the Finance Ministry is avoiding giving concrete information on how and when they will return to work.
“The Finance Ministry is not taking the issue seriously and is ignoring [it],” she said. “[The ministry] is not giving us real answers.”
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, daycare centers are currently not working. Parents were informed they don’t need to pay the centers during the weeks their children are at home and as a result the centers are currently lacking funds.
“The Finance Ministry must reach into its pocket and compensate the centers or else their (the centers) standards will go down and our children will be hurt,” Touma-Suleiman said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Erdan: Ramadan is our greatest challenge in fighting coronavirus

Interior Minister Gilad Erdan held a remote-video conference on Thursday with heads of various security branches and asked them to @ @ @ @ @ ’ s regulations during the upcoming month of Ramadan a “ top priority.
” Among @ @ @ @ @ vital was reaching out to the Arab-Israeli community and informing them of the guidelines as @ @ @ @ @ local leaders .
He instructed that all of the branches must adjust their work to @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavrus ” and that any hate crimes be met with fierce prosecution by @ @ @ @ @ agencies .

Interior Minister Gilad Erdan held a remote-video conference on Thursday with heads of various security branches and asked them to make enforcing the Health Ministry’s regulations during the upcoming month of Ramadan a “top priority.”
Among the things he listed as vital was reaching out to the Arab-Israeli community and informing them of the guidelines as well as holding meetings with local leaders.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Iran's coronavirus death toll rises to 4,869, reports say could be higher

Iran 's official death toll from the new coronavirus rose by 92 to reach 4,869 on Thursday but a parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ could be much higher .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur , speaking on state television @ @ @ @ @ number of cases of people infected with the coronavirus has reached 77,995 .
However , @ @ @ @ @ parliament 's research center suggested that the coronavirus tolls might be almost twice as many @ @ @ @ @ health ministry .
`` The assessment is that the actual mortality which has not been @ @ @ @ @ the official figures .
The number of infected cases could be 8 to 10 times @ @ @ @ @ the report said .

Iran's official death toll from the new coronavirus rose by 92 to reach 4,869 on Thursday but a parliamentary report said the actual number could be much higher.
Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur, speaking on state television, also said the total number of cases of people infected with the coronavirus has reached 77,995.
However, a report by the Iranian parliament's research center suggested that the coronavirus tolls might be almost twice as many as those announced by the health ministry.
"The assessment is that the actual mortality which has not been accounted for is 0.8 times the official figures. The number of infected cases could be 8 to 10 times the official figures," the report said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--US Pentagon chief criticizes China on coronavirus handling

Continuing the Trump administration 's criticism of China 's handling of the virus outbreak , Esper told NBC 's `` @ @ @ @ @ it difficult to believe information from the Chinese Communist Party .
`` They 've been @ @ @ @ @ been opaque if you will from the early days of this virus .
So I @ @ @ @ @ that they 're even being truthful with us now , '' he said .

Continuing the Trump administration's criticism of China's handling of the virus outbreak, Esper told NBC's "Today" show he finds it difficult to believe information from the Chinese Communist Party.
"They've been misleading us, they've been opaque if you will from the early days of this virus. So I don't have much faith that they're even being truthful with us now," he said.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday he believes China's leaders have been misleading and opaque about the coronavirus outbreak that originated there and does not trust that they are being truthful even now.


jerusalempost--2020-04-16--Earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes Myanmar-India border region

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Myanmar-India border region on Thursday , the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre ( @ @ @ @ @ quake 's epicentre was 35 km south east of Myanmar and 168 km south east @ @ @ @ @ and was 10 km below the earth 's surface , EMSC said .

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Myanmar-India border region on Thursday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake's epicentre was 35 km south east of Myanmar and 168 km south east of Aizawl in India, and was 10 km below the earth's surface, EMSC said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Multiple coronavirus tests return false positives

An official source called the mistaken tests a `` scandal , '' according to KAN. `` Intubated geriatric patients were @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital and exposed to bacteria and possibly also to the coronavirus , '' @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry responded to the incident , adding that the patients tested positive at the @ @ @ @ @ but then tested negative at the hospital .
`` The issue is currently being investigated @ @ @ @ @ the Ministry .
The affected patients are currently in quarantine and a new location is @ @ @

An official source called the mistaken tests a "scandal," according to KAN. "Intubated geriatric patients were moved from a set place to a hospital and exposed to bacteria and possibly also to the coronavirus," said the official.
The Health Ministry responded to the incident, adding that the patients tested positive at the geriatric hospital in Ashdod, but then tested negative at the hospital. "The issue is currently being investigated in depth," said the Ministry. The affected patients are currently in quarantine and a new location is being considered.
Seven out of eight intubated patients at the Beit Hadar Ashdod geriatric hospital who tested positive as having coronavirus, were not, in fact, infected, according to KAN news. Mistakes in other tests likely happened as well.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Iran's death toll reaches 4,958

The total number of cases of infection reached 79,494 , of which 3,563 were in critical condition , he said @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week said the coronavirus death toll might be almost double the figures announced @ @ @ @ @ and the number of infections eight to 10 times more .

Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus rose by 89 in the past 24 hours to reach 4,958 on Friday, health ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV.
The total number of cases of infection reached 79,494, of which 3,563 were in critical condition, he said.
A parliamentary report released earlier this week said the coronavirus death toll might be almost double the figures announced by the health ministry, and the number of infections eight to 10 times more.
Iran is the Middle Eastern country worst-affected by the COVID-19 respiratory disease and has one of the world's highest death tolls.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Spain confirms 5,252 new cases, for 188,068 cases total

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The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Spain rose to 188,068 on Friday, the country's head of health emergencies Fernando Simon said at a news conference.Health authorities identified 5,252 new cases of the virus between Thursday and Friday, which represents a 2.9% increase.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Indonesia reports highest number of cases in Southeast Asia

Indonesia reported on Friday 407 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of cases to 5,923 and surpassing the Philippines as the country with the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto also reported 24 new deaths attributed to the disease, taking the total to 420, and said Indonesia has performed 42,000 tests for the virus.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--China denies any cover-up of the coronavirus outbreak

Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing that the revision of the case toll in Wuhan , where the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ , was the result of a statistical verification to ensure accuracy and that revision is @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan 's health authority earlier on Thursday revised up its cumulative death toll by 50 @ @ @ @ @ what it called incorrect reporting , delays and omissions .

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Friday there has never been a cover-up of the coronavirus outbreak in China and the government does not allow any cover-ups.
Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing that the revision of the case toll in Wuhan, where the epidemic first emerged in late 2019, was the result of a statistical verification to ensure accuracy and that revision is a common international practice.
Wuhan's health authority earlier on Thursday revised up its cumulative death toll by 50% to 3,869 to rectify what it called incorrect reporting, delays and omissions.
Some, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have openly questioned the accuracy of China's disclosures regarding the scale of the epidemic in the country.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: As Trump plans to re-open US economy, European shares rise

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 2.5 % at 0712 GMT , shrugging off data showing China suffered its @ @ @ @ @ three decades as the pandemic crushed business activity .
All the major European sub-sectors were @ @ @ @ @ stocks surging 4.1 % on the back of higher commodity prices .
The benchmark STOXX @ @ @ @ @ 24 % since hitting an eight-year low in March , powered by a raft of @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic was peaking in the worst hit parts of the continent .
Lifting the @ @ @ @ @ a report detailed encouraging partial data from trials of U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc 's @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 patients .
Nokia jumped 4 % on a report that it was working with @ @ @ @ @ itself from a hostile takeover .

European shares jumped on Friday, clawing back weekly declines as financial markets globally drew comfort from U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for a gradual re-opening of the U.S. economy and reports of a potential drug to treat COVID-19.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 2.5% at 0712 GMT, shrugging off data showing China suffered its worst economic contraction in almost three decades as the pandemic crushed business activity.
All the major European sub-sectors were trading higher, with mining stocks surging 4.1% on the back of higher commodity prices.
The benchmark STOXX 600 has now recovered about 24% since hitting an eight-year low in March, powered by a raft of global stimulus and tentative signs the pandemic was peaking in the worst hit parts of the continent.
Lifting the mood further on Friday, a report detailed encouraging partial data from trials of U.S. drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental drug remdesivir in severe COVID-19 patients.
Nokia jumped 4% on a report that it was working with an investment bank to defend itself from a hostile takeover.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Swiss drugmaker Roche to join race for antibody tests

The Basel-based company said on Friday it wants to make the antibody test available by early May in countries that accept European CE regulatory standards , and is seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization for its use in the United States .
It plans by June to boost test production to `` high double-digit millions '' per month , said Thomas Schinecker , Roche 's diagnostics head .
Roche joins a global race in which U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories and Becton Dickinson and Co , Italy 's DiaSorin and others hope to sell tests that demonstrate people 's immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus .
While it is not yet known for sure if those who have been infected develop immunity to the new virus as with many other illnesses , accurate antibody tests are seen as essential to help nations craft strategies to end business and travel shutdowns that have battered economies around the globe .
`` This is the working assumption : If you test and find people that have developed these antibodies , then at least for a certain period of time they will have gained immunity , '' Schinecker told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night on this , over weekends , to make sure we can help as many patients as possible . ''
Roche 's test , which differs from the PCR assays it also makes that use a nose swab to identify active infections , will run on more than 40,000 of its cobas e testing machines installed worldwide .
Roche 's new test will identify immunoglobulin M ( IgM ) and immunoglobulin G ( IgG ) antibodies .
The body quickly produces IgM antibodies for the initial fight against infection .
IgG antibodies remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity .
Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus , and identify those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms , or none at all .
Finland , Germany , Britain and other countries have antibody testing plans .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to use them to study community-wide transmission .
In Roche 's home country , Switzerland , officials are examining tests , but warn excitement may be premature given positive tests may say little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't say , and that 's this idea that 's going around , is that if I have the antibodies , then I know if I 'm immune or not , '' said Patrick Mathys , the Swiss health ministry 's crisis management head .
That will take more research .
Even tests with high accuracy have weaknesses , potentially producing many false negative and false positive results .
False positives could lead someone to believe they have immunity when in fact they had not been infected .
Roche 's tests have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Schinecker said , though it is not yet releasing final figures .
`` We put our best scientists on this , '' he said .
`` What we see is that the way we 've designed the assay , it 's extremely specific . ''

Swiss drugmaker Roche aims by next month to offer blood tests to identify those who had been infected with the coronavirus , potentially helping inform locked-down nations of who might have some immunity and be able to resume work or contact with the public.
The Basel-based company said on Friday it wants to make the antibody test available by early May in countries that accept European CE regulatory standards, and is seeking US Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization for its use in the United States.
It plans by June to boost test production to "high double-digit millions" per month, said Thomas Schinecker, Roche's diagnostics head.
"Gamidor Diagnostics, Roche's sole representative in Israel, said the new test could work on Roche's systems that are nationwide deployed in most Israeli hospitals and laboratories and are capable of conducting over 10,000 tests per hour. The company is preparing to receive the test with the expectation for the beginning of the tests as early as May," the company wrote in a press release.
Roche joins a global race in which US-based Abbott Laboratories and Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy's DiaSorin and others hope to sell tests that demonstrate people's immune systems have developed antibodies in response to the new coronavirus.
While it is not yet known for sure if those who have been infected develop immunity to the new virus as with many other illnesses, accurate antibody tests are seen as essential to help nations craft strategies to end business and travel shutdowns that have battered economies around the globe.
"This is the working assumption: If you test and find people that have developed these antibodies, then at least for a certain period of time they will have gained immunity," Schinecker told Reuters. "We worked day and night on this, over weekends, to make sure we can help as many patients as possible."
Roche's test, which differs from the PCR assays it also makes that use a nose swab to identify active infections, will run on more than 40,000 of its cobas e testing machines installed worldwide.
Roche's new test will identify immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. The body quickly produces IgM antibodies for the initial fight against infection. IgG antibodies remain longer in the body, suggesting possible immunity.
Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus, and identify those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all.
Finland, Germany, Britain and other countries have antibody testing plans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to use them to study community-wide transmission.
In Roche's home country, Switzerland, officials are examining tests, but warn excitement may be premature given positive tests may say little about actual immunity.
"What you can't say, and that's this idea that's going around, is that if I have the antibodies, then I know if I'm immune or not," said Patrick Mathys, the Swiss health ministry's crisis management head. That will take more research.
Even tests with high accuracy have weaknesses, potentially producing many false negative and false positive results. False positives could lead someone to believe they have immunity when in fact they had not been infected.
Roche's tests have met the company's own accuracy expectations, Schinecker said, though it is not yet releasing final figures.
"We put our best scientists on this," he said. "What we see is that the way we've designed the assay, it's extremely specific."


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Australia may keep coronavirus restrictions for a year

Australian public life could be constrained for another year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned on Friday, as the country's most populous state mulled sending children to school in shifts.Australia has so far avoided the high numbers of coronavirus casualties reported around the world after closing its borders and imposing strict "social distancing" measures for the past month.Restaurants, bars and other "non-essential" businesses have closed and public gatherings of more than two people are banned under the threat of fines and even prison, measures that are expected to double the unemployment rate by mid-year.In response, the daily growth rate of reported new infections has steadied in the low percentage single digits, from about 25% several weeks ago, for a total of about 6,500 infections, including 63 deaths.Prime Minister Scott Morrison said some measures, like the rule requiring people to stand at least 1.5 metres apart, would likely remain for several months, given there was no guarantee a vaccine would be developed in that time."Social distancing is something we should get very used to," Morrison told radio station 3AW. "It could be a year, but I'm not speculating about that."


jerusalempost--2020-04-18--Mexico registers 578 new cases of coronavirus, 60 new deaths

Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said on Thursday the country might have nearly 56,000 people infected with the fast-spreading coronavirus @

Mexican health officials reported on Friday 578 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 60 new deaths, bringing the country's total to 6,875 cases and 546 deaths.
Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said on Thursday the country might have nearly 56,000 people infected with the fast-spreading coronavirus.
Citing government models, Lopez-Gatell has said many who are infected likely did not have symptoms or were not diagnosed.


jerusalempost--2020-04-18--Trump says some states have been 'too tough' on stay-at-home orders

Asked if certain states - Michigan , Minnesota and Virginia - should lift their stay-at-home orders , Trump said : @ @ @ @ @ think elements of what they 've done are too much . ''

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday criticized the handling of some states' coronavirus mitigation measures, saying he found the stay-at-home orders of governors such as Virginia "too tough."
Asked if certain states - Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia - should lift their stay-at-home orders, Trump said: "No, but I think elements of what they've done are too much."


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--US states have enough coronavirus tests to follow guidelines to reopen

Pence 's remarks , delivered at a White House briefing , came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled new guidelines for U.S. states to emerge from the shutdown in a staggered , three-stage approach that relies on robust testing capabilities .
`` Our best scientists and health experts assess that states today have enough tests to implement the criteria of Phase One if they choose to do so , '' Pence said at a daily briefing on the administration 's response to the pandemic .
According to the guidelines , states must have `` robust testing '' programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening , a burden which U.S. President Donald Trump has said the states must bear .
`` The States have to step up their TESTING ! ''
Trump wrote on Twitter earlier on Friday .
But governors and lawmakers have pushed back , arguing that testing should be more widespread and that the federal government should continue to pitch in , before reopening .
Anthony Fauci , the top U.S. infectious diseases expert , said on Friday that Senate Democrats asked a lot of reasonable questions in a call earlier in the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go through this first phase .

Experts believe states currently have enough tests to meet guidelines to begin reopening their economies after a shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday, despite pushback from governors.
Pence's remarks, delivered at a White House briefing, came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled new guidelines for U.S. states to emerge from the shutdown in a staggered, three-stage approach that relies on robust testing capabilities.
"Our best scientists and health experts assess that states today have enough tests to implement the criteria of Phase One if they choose to do so," Pence said at a daily briefing on the administration's response to the pandemic.
According to the guidelines, states must have "robust testing" programs in place for at-risk healthcare workers before reopening, a burden which U.S. President Donald Trump has said the states must bear.
"The States have to step up their TESTING!" Trump wrote on Twitter earlier on Friday.
But governors and lawmakers have pushed back, arguing that testing should be more widespread and that the federal government should continue to pitch in, before reopening.
Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious diseases expert, said on Friday that Senate Democrats asked a lot of reasonable questions in a call earlier in the day including whether there were enough tests to go through this first phase.
Fauci acknowledged there are still areas to improve on testing, but a lot of the issues have been corrected or will be corrected. "We have to figure out how do we close that gap," he said.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--Trump says US farmers to receive $19 billion for coronavirus mitigation

`` These are great people , great Americans , never complain , never complain - they just do what they @ @ @ @ @ Trump said while announcing the farm aid program , which he said will have $ @ @ @ @ @ .

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a $19 billion relief program to help farmers cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic through a package that will include direct payment and mass purchases of produce, meat and other products.
"These are great people, great Americans, never complain, never complain - they just do what they have to do," Trump said while announcing the farm aid program, which he said will have $16 billion in direct payments.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--IDF units discover Lebanese border fence torn at three locations

IDF soldiers discovered openings at three different locations along the border fence shared with Lebanon on Friday evening.The event follows @ @ @ @ @ the IDF was called in , fired flares , and secured the area , according @ @ @ @ @ Unit .

The event follows an earlier incident in which the IDF was called in, fired flares, and secured the area, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. IDF soldiers discovered openings at three different locations along the border fence shared with Lebanon on Friday evening.The event follows an earlier incident in which the IDF was called in, fired flares, and secured the area, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
No infiltration from Lebanon is suspected and the openings were repaired at the time of this report.


jerusalempost--2020-04-17--US CDC reports 661,712 coronavirus cases, 33,049 deaths

The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19 , caused by a new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ ET on April 16 , compared with its count a day earlier .

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported 661,712 cases of new coronavirus, an increase of 29,164 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 1,978 to 33,049.
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 16, compared with its count a day earlier.
The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.