Israel’s coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash said earlier this week that he’s not expecting a fourth wave of the coronavirus but mask-wearing will continue to be mandatory for the time being. However, Ash added that health officials will be on the alert over the next few weeks due to fears that Pesach and then Ramadan will lead to an increase in the infection rate. He warned that everyone needs to be responsible and continue adhering to guidelines during these times. “Unfortunately, from what I have seen, people often fail to follow the regulations… and it’s a shame,” Ash said.

Can I take painkillers before or after a COVID-19 vaccine? Don’t take them before a shot to try to prevent symptoms, but if your doctor agrees, it’s OK to use them afterward if needed. The concern about painkillers is that they might curb the very immune system response that a vaccine aims to spur. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has a virus and mounting a defense against it. That may cause temporary arm soreness, fever, muscle aches or other symptoms of inflammation — signs the vaccine is doing its job. Some research suggests that certain painkillers including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands) might diminish the immune system’s response. A study on mice suggests these drugs might lower production of antibodies, which block the virus from infecting cells.

In the desert northeast of Las Vegas, residents living along the Nevada-Arizona border would gather on their front porches for bomb parties or ride horses into the fields to watch as the U.S. government conducted atomic tests during a Cold War-era race to build up the nation’s nuclear arsenal. About 100 of those tests were aboveground, and U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona testified during a congressional subcommittee hearing Wednesday that residents at the time marveled at the massive orange mushroom clouds billowing in the distance. “They had no idea. They were never told that they were being exposed to dangerous cancer-causing radiation,” Stanton said.

A team of international and Chinese scientists is poised to report on its joint search for the origins of the coronavirus that sparked a pandemic after it was first detected in China over a year ago — with four theories being considered, and one the clear frontrunner, according to experts. The lengthy report is being published after months of wrangling, notably between U.S. and Chinese governments, over how the outbreak emerged, while scientists try to keep their focus on a so-far fruitless search for the origin of a microbe that has killed over 2.7 million people and stifled economies worldwide. It wasn’t immediately clear when the report will be released after its publication was delayed earlier this month.

Israel’s Coronavirus National Information and Knowledge Center, a task force run by the IDF, said that preliminary reports show that the coronavirus vaccine may alleviate symptoms of “long-COVID.” “Preliminary reports indicate that those who suffer from persistent symptoms even after their recovery [from COVID-19] are reporting a significant improvement in their condition after receiving a vaccine dose,” the report stated. Israel’s Health Ministry has recommended that those who recovered from COVID-19 be vaccinated with a single dose.

UK Jews will not be legally allowed to celebrate Pesach Sedarim with extended family members this year, the second year in a row that Pesach will be celebrated during a lockdown. “It’s very painful for us,” Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis told the PA news agency. “It is very difficult.” People will be celebrating “in a pretty lonely way” for the second year in a row, Rabbi Mervis said. “But we respect the regulations that are given to us and preservation of life must be the top priority, and always acting in a legal way, respecting the Government’s wishes. This is our top priority.” Lockdown restrictions in the UK will begin to be lifted on March 29, the second day of Pesach, with two families or a group of six allowed to congregate outdoors. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The Senate confirmed a soft-spoken physician as President Joe Biden’s surgeon general Tuesday. While Dr. Vivek Murthy says ending the coronavirus pandemic is his top priority, he’s also raised concerns over a relapsing opioid overdose crisis. The vote on Murthy was 57-43, giving him bipartisan support. Biden’s coronavirus response can already count on plenty of star players, but Murthy has a particular niche. As a successful author he’s addressed issues of loneliness and isolation that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. For Murthy, this will be his second tour as America’s doctor, having previously served under former President Barack Obama. COVID-19 has taken the lives of several members of Murthy’s extended family.

As Israelis stream to the polls on Tuesday, the coronavirus situation in the country continues to dramatically improve, with the number of seriously ill patients falling below 500 for the first time since December. The Health Ministry confirmed 942 new coronavirus patients on Tuesday, with tests showing a positivity rate of only 1.6%. The basic reproduction or R number has decreased to 0.6. There are currently 499 seriously ill virus patients, including 255 in critical condition. The death toll has risen to 6,114. Over 5.1 Israelis have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine (55.80% of the population), and over 4.6 million have been fully vaccinated. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The number of Floridians eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine expanded on Monday as the state allowed anybody age 50 and up to get the shot, and the county that is home to the state’s biggest theme parks set the bar even lower by allowing anyone age 40 and up to get an injection. With the loosening of the statewide qualifications, more than a third of Floridians were now eligible to get a vaccine solely based on age at all vaccination sites in the state. Starting Monday, Orange County expanded the age eligibility a decade lower than the statewide requirement at its county-run facility at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Reservations were required for the drive-thru site at the convention center, and 7,000 appointments were filled within 13 minutes, officials said.

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection against sickness and eliminated hospitalizations and deaths from the disease across all age groups in a late-stage study in the United States, the company announced Monday. AstraZeneca said its experts did not identify any safety concerns related to the vaccine, including finding no increased risk of rare blood clots identified in Europe. Although AstraZeneca’s vaccine has been authorized in more than 50 countries, it has not yet been given the green light in the U.S. — and has struggled to gain public trust amid a troubled rollout. The study comprised more than 30,000 volunteers, of whom two-thirds were given the vaccine while the rest got dummy shots.