JERUSALEM (VINnews) — During the first stage of coronavirus in March and April, Sweden took a different approach to most of the world and did not initiate a total lockdown. Instead it adopted a number of rules, including a strict prohibition on visiting senior citizen’s homes and no gatherings of more than 50 people. Schools […]

KIGALI, RWANDA (VINnews) — Three-week-old Mendy Bar-Sela could not have imagined that within a month of his birth in Israel he would be flying for over 12 hours with two stops on the way to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. However Mendi’s parents, Chaim and Dina Bar-Sela are shluchim, Chabad emissaries to the remote Jewish […]

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has slammed the brakes on the country’s return to offices, saying people should work from home if possible, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Johnson on Tuesday announced a package of new restrictions, including a requirement for pubs, restaurants and other venues in England to […]

NEW YORK (AP) — The top U.S. public health agency stirred confusion by posting — and then taking down — an apparent change in its position on how easily the coronavirus can spread from person to person on small droplets in the air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the virus […]

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s top medical advisers warned the public Monday they must make further sacrifices to control the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying new coronavirus infections could increase tenfold to almost 50,000 a day next month if nothing is done now to stem the tide. In a briefing televised live to the […]

UMAN (VINnews) — Despite the fact that only a fraction of Breslov chasidim managed to pray in Uman on Rosh Hashana and many found themselves stranded in the neighboring countries of Belarus and Hungary, there was no lack of fervent prayers as well as the joyous dancing after Rosh Hashana which is a hallmark of […]

PETACH TIKVA (VINnews) — The new lockdown rules in Israel, which came into effect at 2 PM on the eve of Rosh Hashana, have left many people muddled. Technically people must stay within 500 meters of their houses but in practice they can go to work, to important purchases and to demonstrations even further away […]

JERUSALEM (Israel Hayom) — On Rosh Hashanah eve, as Israelis were bracing for a second nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Health Ministry on Friday morning said it had registered 5,238 new cases in the past 24 hours. The number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition rose to 577, the highest figure since […]

NEW YORK (AP) – A drug company said Friday that a medicine it sells to tamp down inflammation has helped prevent the need for breathing machines in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the first large study that primarily enrolled Hispanics and Blacks. Switzerland-based Roche reported the results for tocilizumab, sold now as Actemra and RoActemra for […]

JERUSALEM (JTA) — One quarter of Jewish Israelis, and more than one-third of Jews who voted for Benjamin Netanyahu, believes the coronavirus was sent by God as a punishment or to send a message, according to an annual survey. The survey, put out by Hiddush, which advocates for religious freedom and pluralism in Israel, also […]