JERUSALEM (JNS) – Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich announced on Tuesday the launch of an extensive operation to vaccinate Holocaust survivors around the world against COVID-19. The Israeli Cabinet minister directed Shalom Corps, the international youth service nonprofit, to convene and coordinate partners around this effort. This project will ensure that all Holocaust survivors around […]

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel has urged the world to emulate its rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Israeli government has already vaccinated more than 20% of the country’s population and vows to vaccinate all over-16’s by the end of March. Israeli health minister Yuli Edelstein has urged countries simply to “get out there” if […]

BEIJING (AP) — Millions of people lined in freezing temperatures Wednesday to receive a second round of coronavirus tests in a city south of Beijing that is at the heart of China’s most serious recent outbreak of COVID-19. The National Health Commission announced Wednesday that another 90 confirmed cases have been reported in Hebei province, […]

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s most populous province has imposed a stay-at-home order as coronavirus cases surge, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday. The order that takes effect Thursday grants exemptions for essential workers and activities such as health care or shopping for groceries. Police will be able to issue tickets for violations. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair […]

NEW YORK(JTA) — Now for some happy news. A Jewish couple in Florida is celebrating two hefty milestones together this year: 100 years of life, and 80 years of marriage. Lou and Edith Bluefeld, of Boca Raton, have known each other since they were 16. They ran a kosher catering business that served visiting U.S. […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Within a span of about 24 hours, three House Democrats have announced they tested positive for COVID-19, prompting concern that last week’s insurrection at the Capitol has also turned into a super-spreader event threatening the health of lawmakers and their staffs. Those who have tested positive were among the dozens of lawmakers […]

WASHINGTON (AP) – Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve had the virus? Yes. Regardless of previous infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should plan on getting vaccinated when it’s their turn. “It’s a pretty straightforward question,” said Johns Hopkins infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja. “Yes, you need […]

  JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli yeshiva students from religious Zionist and Chareidi backgrounds rarely have an opportunity to meet and study together, but the coronavirus has enabled many students from different denominations to meet and even study together at the special hotels which have been designated for students who tested positive for the virus. The […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is transforming baseball stadiums, fairgrounds and even a Disneyland Resort parking lot into mass vaccination sites as the coronavirus surge overwhelms hospitals and sets a deadly new record in the state. California’s COVID-19 death toll reached 30,000 on Monday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. It took six […]

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The right-wing Israeli political party led by Naftali Bennett, known as Yemina, has seen a split Monday after Betzalel Smotrich, the former transport minister, decided to leave and form a religious Zionist party of his own. Smotrich had demanded a number of spots on the Yemina list but negotiations with Bennett did […]