New York City now 1,871 cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, with 11 deaths, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an interview with NY1 on Wednesday. He also clarified his stance on sheltering in place after telling New Yorkers Tuesday that they should be prepared to do so in order to stem the spread of the virus. “When I say shelter in place, there’s an understanding of that that means I’m referring to the model that is already happening in this country on the West Coast in the San Francisco area,” he said. “It’s quite a clear model, where people are directed to stay home, but there is also clear exceptions that have been made for essential services.” Earlier, Gov.

A Mako report at the beginning of the week said that about 100,000 Israelis are stranded around the world and the Foreign Ministry is making efforts to bring as many home as possible before all flights are canceled altogether. El Al is continuing to operate a few flights for this purpose and tourist companies are mobilizing to assist the stranded Israelis. The first plane will leave on Thursday. “It’s recommended that all Israeli citizens abroad who are planning to return to Israel to check with the airlines and travel agencies if their intended flight will take place and if necessary, to make sure to book an alternative flight through destinations that continue to operate flights to Israel,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated.

YWN has confirmed that multiple Lakewood residents have received results, testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. Many results are still pending. YWN notes that some of them seem to have attended large Purim parties, the type that YWN published warnings about – which fell on deaf ears, and instead labeled “fear-mongers”. It is unknown if they were carrying the virus at that point or not. In the Jewish communities of NY it is without question that Purim parties were a leading cause of the mass spread of the virus. The leading physician in Lakewood, Dr Shanik has urgently called on all playgroups and learning groups to be disbanded immediately. Sahnik says there should be no babysitting group or learning groups of ANY KIND.

The coronavirus is actively spreading in our community. There are a significant number of people affected, with many on ventilators in the ICU’s and critically ill. This number keeps growing very quickly. Hatzalah is on the front lines and seeing this first hand. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and can be deadly for the elderly, immunocompromised, or people with certain medical conditions. The virus can be spread by persons who do not exhibit any symptoms! That one person doesn’t seem to have symptoms does not mean he/she is not infecting others. People are unwittingly infecting others!

There are 433 Israelis diagnosed with the coronavirus as of Wednesday, a jump of 96 from Tuesday night, the Health Ministry announced.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that more than 14,000 people have been tested for coronavirus in the state of New York. There are 2,382 total cases of coronavirus in New York state with 1,008 new positive cases. “The numbers are going up. Hence the increased actions to reduce the spread, the density reduction,” Cuomo said. There are 549 people currently hospitalized in the city. Cuomo announced that the President Trump will be dispatching the USNS Comfort hospital ship to New York to assist with the health care capacity. Cuomo said it would be docked in New York City harbor. The President and Cuomo are also discussing the possibility of the federal government putting up mobile hospitals in New York to help with capacity, the governor said.

The IDF will enter war footing to combat the current global enemy – the spreading coronavirus, a Channel 13 News report said on Tuesday. The IDF reportedly believes that the current crisis will last for several months at least and possibly up to a year. Under Israeli law, if the government declares a state of emergency, the Defense Minister takes over as the head of the National Emergency Authority (NEMA) in the Defense Ministry and manages and coordinates all national authorities in responding to the emergency through the Home Front Command. Defense Minister Naftali Bennett ordered the mobilization of 2,500 IDF reservists on Tuesday to help combat the coronavirus crisis, in addition to the 2,000 Home Front Command reservists that were mobilized on Sunday.

An urgent phone meeting regarding the spread of the Coronavirus conducted by the Whitehouse concluded moments ago at which dozens of Admorim and Rabbonim participated. Leading the meeting was Avi Berkowitz and a council for the President. Despite rumors on Jewish social media stating he would participate, President Trump and VP Pence did not participate […]

The situation in our communities in the tri-State area is very serious, and many people are still not grasping the severity of what is unfolding. Here are the facts, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: YWN has learned that more than 100 cases have been confirmed overnight in Boro Park, and there are close to 1,000 tests that are still awaiting results. Crown Heights has HUNDREDS and possibly thousands of cases, with some people already placed on respirators. The Five Towns has around 100 confirmed cases and over 1,000 awaiting results. Williamsburg has lots of cases. Many people in Flatbush are being tested this morning, and some Shuls have already been closed. A senior Boro Park Hatzolah Paramedic sent out a public message pleading with people to take action before it’s too late.

A one-year-old baby boy was Niftar on Monday morning, and the Health Department is awaiting test results for COVID-19. The 1 and a half year-old-boy, was identified as Michael Kameo Z”L. His family is a member of the Sephardic Community in Flatbush. Sources tell YWN that he was in the hospital last week for an upper-respiratory infection, but had been released and was home when he was found unresponsive on Monday morning. He was rushed to the hospital where he was R”L Niftar. The Levaya was held on Monday in Flatbush, and the kevura was in New Jersey. Health officials are not taking any chances, and are awaiting test results to see if the child had Coronavirus.