HOUSTON — Senator Ted Cruz will remain home this week after coming in contact with a person who has tested positive for the Coronavirus. Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement: “Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19. That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake. “I have consulted with medical authorities from the Houston Health Department, the Harris County Public Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as my personal physician. I have also spoken with Vice President Pence, Leader McConnell, and Mark Meadows.

Dear Community Member, We are sure that you are all following recent news and events concerning COVID-19, a new strain of Coronavirus. There are increasing amounts of confirmed cases in the New York City area. We would like to advise the community of the recommendations from the CDC and other health experts. First, do not panic! Although this virus is contagious, it is usually not life-threatening in healthy people. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some people don’t have any symptoms at all. The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, fatigue, and dry cough. Some people also develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, or diarrhea.

Israel’s Health Ministry published the path taken by the 28th patient to be diagnosed with the Covid-19 Coronavirus in Israel on Sunday. The patient, who is a 60-year-old man from Yerushalayim, had direct contact with a tourist from France who was confirmed as being ill with the virus. The Yerushalmi man spent some time in the Geulah neighborhood on Malchei Yisrael Street on March 3rd and 4th between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and then again from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. He then returned to the store Optice Yonah Koren on March 5th between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. He was also at the mall in Ariel on March 5th from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. From the 6th of March and onwards, the sick man has been in isolation.

Prime Minister Netanyahu together with Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and Director General of the Health Ministry Moshe Bar-Siman-Tov held a press conference on Sunday and announced that they are weighing whether or not to force all travelers arriving in Israel into home isolation, regardless of where they are returning from. The move would effectively cut off tourism both coming into Israel as well as anyone leaving the country. The three said the final decision on whether to implement the measure will be taken on Monday after consultation with health experts. Netanyahu said during the press conference that “the decision is very difficult. There are questions about how to do it…. We are not talking about closing our borders, but only requiring quarantine from those arriving in Israel.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman listed five conditions on Sunday for his party to join a coalition, of which four out of five relate to matters of religion and state. Blue and White leader Benny Gantz quickly agreed to all the conditions. Liberman’s conditions are: 1. Stipends and income support for the elderly would be at least 70% of the minimum wage. 2. Public transportation and business activity on Shabbos will be controlled by local authorities rather than government ministries. 3. Legislation for increasing Chareidi enlistment in the IDF which was approved in the 20th Knesset will be passed. 4. Legislation for civil marriage in Israel will be passed. 5. Local rabbanim will be allowed to establish their own courts for giyur to ease the conversion process.

New City, NY, – Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert advises residents that two Rockland County residents who have been confirmed to have Coronavirus (COVID-19) potentially exposed others to the disease from February 28 to March 2. Anyone who visited the following locations in Rockland County may have been exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19): 150 Remsen Avenue, Monsey, NY Friday, February 28, 2020, between 11:00 am and 11:45 pm Saturday, February 29, 2020, between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm The Atrium Ballroom, 401 NY-59, Monsey, NY Monday, March 2, 2020, between 2:30 pm and 11:45 pm STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group.

The Israel Airports Authority has announced massive cutbacks in response to the coronavirus’ devastating effects on air travel. The authority said Sunday it is putting 70% of its temporary workforce on unpaid leave and overtime has been canceled for all employees. To protect those with families, it was decided that single employees would be put on leave first. Senior management has announced it is forfeiting 50% of its bonuses as well. Israel has confirmed 25 cases of the virus, including a 38-year-old man who was in serious condition on Sunday. Some 20,000 people have been ordered into 14-day home quarantine protectively. The local travel sector has taken a beating, as scores of flights in and out of the country have been canceled. (AP)

As all of you know, the Coronavirus crisis is hitting the United States just as one of the most important holidays falls out this week, Purim. The lessons that are being learned on how to best react and protect those most vulnerable must be learned early and implemented. The term “community spread” is particularly important in Jewish communities worldwide as we spend so much time together on a weekly basis. All infectious diseases are challenging to the orthodox Jewish community as we have large families, large institutions, and large gatherings. Avoiding rapid and widespread outbreak requires changing human behavior.

Israel’s Health Ministry announced that another Israeli was confirmed to be carrying the Coronavirus. The 21st confirmed patient is a man in his 30s in Haifa who had recently returned from Austria on March 3rd. The ill man has been admitted to isolation. The 20th confirmed person was identified as an Israeli who recently visited Madrid. The Health Ministry publicized the recent whereabouts of the 18th person who was diagnosed to be carrying the virus and the flight details of other patients. The bus driver who has been identified as carrying Corona and is hospitalized in Poriya hospital in Tevaria continues to be in serious condition. The IDF aided dozens of tourist groups in leaving the Palestinian Authority and transporting them to Ben Gurion Airport so that they could return home.

A 30-year-old man is on a respirator and in serious condition, with a possible case of Coronavirus. YWN has learned that the man is a member of the Sephardic community in Flatbush and resides on Ocean Parkway. Results have still not confirmed he has coronavirus, but are treating him as such. The man had just returned from Milan, Italy, from a vacation. Please say Tehillim for Yosef ben Esther. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group. A male in his 30s from Brooklyn is currently in the hospital in serious condition after returning from a trip to Italy. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 7, 2020 (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)