Strict measures barring travel and congregating affect some 60 million people across the country; synagogues in Milan and Venice are closed; Jewish life frozen for now

In using charged word that it had previously shied away from, UN health agency intent on shaking more lethargic countries into taking more aggressive steps against contagion

A self-taught computer maven from Seattle, Avi Schiffmann uses web scraping technology to accurately report on developing pandemic, while fighting misinformation and panic

Health Ministry's Asher Shalmon says situation around the world points to an emerging 'full-blown international event,' says vaccine a year away despite claims

Some experts believe the easing of the crisis in the illness's epicenter suggests it is possible to limit the spread of the pathogen

'The job of the Jewish people is to pray for the good of the entire world,' says Safed chief rabbi, as overall death toll from China’s epidemic jumps to 1,665

President says he gave instructions on fighting the virus as early as January 7, but was not until later in month that officials announced it can spread between humans

More than 1,300 people have died from coronavirus and nearly 60,000 are infected since the outbreak began two months ago

Disease has killed 170 people in China and spread to more than 15 countries; 'We must all act together now to limit further spread,' says head of world health body

China has imposed a lockdown on 17 cities with more than 50 million people, in the most far-reaching disease-control measures ever imposed