Rutgers University researchers have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak, the New Jersey university said Monday. The test initially will be available through hospitals and clinics affiliated with the school. The announcement comes as communities across the U.S. continue to struggle with testing to help track and contain the coronavirus. The current approach to screening for COVID-19 requires health care workers to take a swab from a patient’s nose or throat.

New Jersey and five other states will work together to reopen their economies once the coronavirus outbreak begins to subside, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. It’s not clear yet when the region would begin to reopen, and Murphy stressed that the public health crisis first has to be under control before the states begin relaxing stay-at-home and other orders. “The house is still on fire. We still have to put the fire out, but we do have to begin putting in the pieces of the puzzle that we know we’re going to need … to make sure this doesn’t reignite,” Murphy said. Murphy, a Democrat, announced the regional cooperation effort on a conference call with fellow Democratic Govs.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Naftali Gelman z”l of Montreal. He was Niftar on the second day of Yom Tov. Rav Naftali was originally from Lemberg, Ukraine. He was one of the founders of the yiddishe community post Iron Curtain in Lemberg. Rav Naftali is survived by his wife Mrs. Tanya Gelman and two daughters. Shiva will start motzei yom tov, Thursday night through Wednesday morning. Phone calls only please: Mrs. Tanya Gelman (438) 934-5219 Mrs. Rachel Basilyan (415) 370-1121 Mrs. Leah Shkolnik (514) 733-8235 Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York’s coronavirus death toll topped 10,000 only about a month after the state recorded its first fatality, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. The state tallied 671 new deaths on Sunday. It was the first time in a week the daily toll dipped below 700. But Cuomo said the count has been “basically flat at a horrific level of pain and grief and sorrow.” New York has now reported 10,056 deaths since early March, with more than half of them in the past week. The first reported fatality was an 82-year-old New York City woman with emphysema who died March 11. Officials initially said she died March 13, but the city’s health department on Monday confirmed that she died on the earlier date. “This virus is very good at what it does.

A member of the crew of the coronavirus-infected USS Theodore Roosevelt died Monday of complications related to the disease, 11 days after the aircraft carrier’s captain was fired for pressing his concern that the Navy had done too little to safeguard his crew. The sailor was the first active-duty military member to die of COVID-19. The sailor, whose name and other identifying information were not publicly released pending notification of relatives, had tested positive for coronavirus on March 30 and was taken off the ship and placed in “isolation housing” along with four other sailors at the U.S. Navy base on Guam. On April 9, he was found unresponsive during a medical check and was moved to a local hospital’s intensive care unit.

President Donald Trump asserted Monday that he is the ultimate decision-maker for determining how and when to relax the nation’s social distancing guidelines as he grows anxious to reopen the coronavirus-stricken country as soon as possible. Governors and local leaders, who have instituted mandatory restrictions that have the force of law, have expressed concern that Trump’s plan to restore normalcy will cost lives and extend the duration of the outbreak. Under the Constitution, public health and safety is primarily the domain of state and local officials and it was not clear what, if any, authorities Trump could use to overrule their decisions.

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hold arguments by teleconference in May in key cases, including President Donald Trump’s bid to shield his tax and other financial records. The court will make live audio of the arguments available for the first time. It had previously postponed courtroom arguments for March and April because of the coronavirus. The court will hear 10 cases in all between May 4 and May 13. In addition to fights over subpoenas for Trump’s financial records, they include two cases about whether presidential electors are required to cast their Electoral College ballots for the candidate who won their state. The justices and the lawyers arguing the cases all will participate remotely.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Morah Rochel (Felice) Blau A”H. Morah Blau, who helped found BYA elementary school, was an Ishah Chashuvah who always greeted everyone with a sever panim yafos, and שם ה’ היה שגור בפיה. In her capacity as principal, she used her talents as a songwriter (most notably of the well-known song about Sarah Schenirer), playwright, and artist. Her innovations have been implemented in schools throughout the Jewish community. Morah Blau A”H has been an icon in Chinuch Habonos in Brooklyn and beyond. There are Moros throughout the world today that have been trained by Morah Blau, widening her legacy. Generations of mothers have been taught by Morah Blau. And in BYA today, she was the much admired Principal of the current talmidos.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of R’ Yaakov Radin Z”L of Flatbush. He was Niftar on Sunday. His Levaya was held on Sunday and kevura was held with a “tnai”, since it was his wish to be buried in Eretz Yisroel. Yaakov was an active, outstanding member of Kehillas Young Israel of Avenue K / Congregation Ahavath Israel – for many, many years. He was a Member of the Va’ad Ha’Kohol of the SHul for over twenty years, and served for a number of years as one of the “Zayin Tuvei Ho’ir” / an Officer on the Executive of the Kehilla. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Chareidi soldiers are comforting Jews in mourning, both in Israel and the Diaspora, by saying  “Kaddish” prayer on their behalf for recently deceased family members. The soldiers, all of whom serve in the Netzach Yehuda unit, have taken this initiative in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Each of the soldiers are receiving specific names of those who have recently passed away and will be saying the kaddish prayer in their merit and in perhaps the last remaining minyan (formal quorum of prayer that includes at least 10 men) currently taking place in the entire world. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Israeli soldiers are staying at their respective bases of service without leave for over 30 days at a time.