A study published in Forbes magazine analyzing the various steps implemented in countries around the world in the battle against the coronavirus ranked Israel as the safest country in the world during the COVID-19 era. Germany is in second place followed by South Korea, Australia, and China. Italy was ranked as the most dangerous country followed by the United States, United Kingdom, Spain and France. The Forbes study ranked 60 countries according to various factors such as safety, risk level, treatment efficiency and economic support for its citizens. Israel’s safety measures against the coronavirus were ranked as highly effective in slowing the rate of infections. However, it received a lower rating for the level of economic support the government provided its citizens.

The experimental COVID-19 treatment remdesivir is showing promise in a Chicago clinical trial, according to the health news site STAT. STAT reported that patients in the trial experienced rapid recoveries from fever and respiratory symptoms. Nearly all patients were discharged in less than a week, it said. The news sent shares of remdesivir developer Gilead Sciences surging more than 14 percent in after-hours trading. Some 125 people with COVID-19 – 113 with severe symptoms – were recruited by the University of Chicago Medicine into the two Gilead Phase 3 clinical trials, according to STAT. The news site obtained a recorded video discussion of the trial results.

New York planned for a long fight against the coronavirus outbreak amid hopeful hospitalization trends. Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended stay-at-home restrictions Thursday through mid-May and New York City is getting ready to use 11,000 empty hotel rooms for coronavirus quarantines. Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city is grappling with a projected $7.4 billion loss in tax revenue because of the crisis. Here are the latest coronavirus developments in New York: RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED New York state will extend its stay-at-home restrictions at least through May 15 amid signs the initial wave of the coronavirus outbreak is slowing down.

3rd day of Chol Hamoed 5780 We are living in troubled times, faced with the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic in our country and throughout the world. To our sorrow, our communities have seen thousands take ill, both young and old, and the hundreds of deaths, lo aleinu, from the pandemic. Medical direction as to how to deal with this pandemic has been evolving as new research and information develops. Leading experts believe it possible that someone who was sick with Coronavirus might still be able to infect others long after the person recovers. The top medical experts are unsure if one who is fully recovered develops immunity, or whether they might be at risk of repeated infection.

A dangerous virus has transformed New York as it has claimed the lives of 10,000 people, but one thing hasn’t changed: the contentious relationship between the state’s two most prominent politicians, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. A weekend dust-up over which of the two Democrats gets to say when New York City students can return to school was just the latest example of Cuomo tussling with de Blasio over who is in charge of the state’s and nation’s most populous city. De Blasio, who closed school buildings a month ago, announced Saturday that they wouldn’t reopen for the remainder of the school year, saying it was neither safe nor logistically possible.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Avrohom Pinter ZT”L. He was 70 and was Niftar from COVID-19. The Niftar was a tremendous Talmid Chochom and the head of the “Yesodei Hatorah” Mosdos in London, the largest Chareidi schools in London, with well over 1,000 students. He was the son of HaRav Shmuel Shmelke Pinter ZT”L, the Av Bais Din Bikvask, and the founder of the Yesodei Hatorah Mosdos. His passing is a tremendous blow to the Stamford Hill Kehillah, as the Niftar was involved in a multitude of Chinuch and Chesed organizations. As one community activist described the Niftar to YWN: “Rav Pinter one of the most influential members of the Kehilla, and was involved in literally every single decision made on behalf of the Tzibur.

The Admorim of Satmar had a phone conversation on Sunday night, to discuss the medical conditions of their family members who have the Coronavirus. Sources tell YWN that the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, HaRav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum called his older brother the Satmar Rebbe of Kirays Yoel, HaRav Aharon Teitelbaum on Sunday night. As YWN has reported, their brother, HaRav Lipa Teitelbaum, known as the Zenta Rov, has COVID-19 and is in critical condition on a respirator for nearly three weeks. Additionally, the wife of the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, Rebbitzen Sasha Teitelbaum is in a Manhattan Hospital with COVID -19. Her condition has Bichasdei Hashem been improving.

A total of 24 residents of the Ateret Avot nursing home in Bnei Brak were diagnosed with the coronavirus on Sunday. The coronavirus has been sweeping like wildfire in nursing homes throughout Israel and 34 of Israel’s fatalities from the coronavirus were residents of nursing homes. The 12th coronavirus patient from the Yokra assisted living facility in Yavne’el in northern Israel passed away overnight Sunday. A Be’er Sheva nursing home has recorded 13 deaths out of its 35 residents, the Migdal Nofim nursing has suffered 4 fatalities and a nursing home in Rishon L’Tzion suffered three fatalities.

Despite the positive drops in several key figures, New Yorkers continue to die at an alarming rate. Over the last 24 hours, a staggering 758 individuals lost their lives, marking the sixth day that the state death toll has been over 700. Cuomo said the death toll could go over 10,000 on Monday. However, he added that the total rate of hospitalizations is the best indicator that the state is flattening the curve, reiterating that in reality, the apex that had been spoken about so often, is actually a plateau. “The apex isn’t just an apex, it’s a plateau. You see that line flattening, and that’s what the experts were talking about, that it might have been a straight up and then rapid down, or it might be up to an apex, and the apex becomes a plateau,” Cuomo said.

THe attached videos are just some of the good news that is unfortunately drowned out in the avalanche of bad news. Bichasdei Hashem, many people have been released from the hospital, and many more are scheduled to be released. The following videos are just a sample of some of the good news. The first two videos were taken on Sunday of Mr. Harry Adjmi, one of the pillars of the Sephardic community in Flatbush. See the emotional reunion with his family after returning home after being on a respirator for two weeks. The following two videos are when Chicago Hatzalah member Hillel Shapiro R43 (Chicago Hatzolah) returned from the hospital. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)