HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein went to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak on Tuesday afternoon to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

A New York City health care worker suffered a “significant allergic reaction” to a COVID vaccine, the city Health Department said Wednesday. “With more than 30,000 COVID-19 vaccinations administered in New York City, we have received a single report of a serious adverse event in a health care worker. The health care worker, who had a significant allergic reaction, has been treated and is in stable condition,”, the NYC Health Department told YWN in a statement. “Vaccines do have side effects and allergic reactions – while uncommon – are known to occur.

A group of prominent Boro Park dayanim and Misaskim representatives had a face to face meeting with a senior El Al executive on Monday to discuss a serious problem that arose last week for kohanim and to ensure that concrete steps are being taken to prevent future recurrences. Misaskim arranged the meeting between El Al Vice President for North and Central America Yoram Elgrabli and the Karlsburger Rebbe, Rav Yechezkel Roth, the Debrecziner Rebbe, Rav Moshe Stern, Rav Herschel Ausch and Rav Moshe Roth in Boro Park in light of the December 16th discovery that aronos were no longer being placed in special boxes that prevented issues of tumah for kohanim on JFK flights.

This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time – due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic. Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019. U.S. deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15%, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are counted. That would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918, when tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers died in World War I and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in a flu pandemic.

Due to the fact that Israel’s current government could not get a budget passed, the Israeli Knesset has officially been dissolved and a new round of elections has begun in Israel, the fourth in less than two years. To kick off the election cycle properly, Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attacked the Blue and White party and it’s leader Benny Gantz in comments made on Tuesday night, just as soon as it was final that the country would go to elections. The comments were made at a press conference that was held on Tuesday evening after the deadline passed for the budget to be ratified. Netanyahu blamed Blue and White for forcing Israel into a new election cycle due to their unwillingness to allow the budget to pass.

President Trump slammed the recently passed $900 billion COVID-19 relief package as a “disgrace” on Tuesday evening, urging Congress amend the bill to increase the direct payments given to Americans. “I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple,” Trump said in a video posted to Twitter. In addition, Trump is demanding that lawmakers “get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items” from the legislation, “or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package” “Maybe that administration will be me,” Trump added. “And we will get it done.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

At least 6 people were treated for injuries after an FDNY Engine crashed into a storefront on Sunday night. It happened just before midnight, when FDNY Engine 254 was responding to reports of a structural fire on Bay Parkway when it struck a vehicle, according to authorities. The apparatus then struck a closed commercial building on Avenue U and East 4th Street, police told YWN. One civilian and five firefighters were taken to the hospital. FDNY EMS and Flatbush Hatzolah treated the victims. Thankfully, there were no life-threatening injuries reported. PHOTOS FOR YWN BY M.G. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie released a national TV ad Wednesday calling on all Americans to wear a mask to battle the coronavirus pandemic and avoid ending up “on the wrong side of history.” The 30-second spot comes about two months after Christie, a Republican and longtime ally of President Donald Trump, spent a week battling COVID-19 at Morristown Medical Center. “This message isn’t for everyone,” the 58-year-old former — and possibly future — presidential candidate says in the clip. “It’s for all those people who refuse to wear a mask.” “Lying in isolation in ICU for seven days, I thought about how wrong I was to remove my mask at the White House,” Christie continues.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu‏‏ stated on Sunday that Israel’s skies should be closed to all international flights in light of the new coronavirus mutations in the UK and South Africa, during a meeting of the coronavirus cabinet. Earlier on Sunday, Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority informed Israel’s airlines on Sunday that non-Israelis from the UK, Denmark and South Africa are banned from entering the country due to the discovery of a fast-moving new variant of the coronavirus in the UK that is more than 70% more transmissible than existing strains. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein has also called for Israel’s skies to be closed to all flights. “We must first and foremost protect Israel’s borders,” he said.

The FDNY responded to a working structure fire in Boro Park on Sunday morning. The fire started just before 12:00PM at 5108 Fort Hamilton Parkway near 51 Street. Firefighters found heavy fire blowing out the windows prior to their arrival at the scene. Occupants were seen being rescued by the FDNY. Boro Park Hatzolah was on the scene standing by in case they were needed. It was unknown if there were any injuries. JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group.