A fiasco in the making? As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data

https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/17/a-fiasco-in-the-making-as-the-coronavirus-pandemic-takes-hold-we-are-making-decisions-without-reliable-data/

At a time when everyone needs better information, from disease modelers and governments to people quarantined or just social distancing, we lack reliable evidence on how many people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who continue to become infected. Better information is needed to guide decisions and actions of monumental significance and to monitor their impact.

Draconian countermeasures have been adopted in many countries. If the pandemic dissipates — either on its own or because of these measures — short-term extreme social distancing and lockdowns may be bearable. How long, though, should measures like these be continued if the pandemic churns across the globe unabated? How can policymakers tell if they are doing more good than harm?

Jerusalem Haredim attack medics coming to perform coronavirus test, injure 1

https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-haredim-attack-medics-coming-to-perform-coronavirus-test-injure-1/

Police crack down on violations of virus rules in ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood, arresting 4 , amid public outcry over perceived lack of enforcement

Haredi woman blames media for hatred of religous Jews

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277985

A haredi resident of central Tel Aviv said that last Saturday she saw dozens of people walking in the streets with their children contrary to Ministry of Health orders but that police were summoned only when haredim were reported to be holding a prayer service.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva, the woman said that during half an hour at the window, she observed a couple taking a walk with their kids, two girls conversing in violation of directives, two men taking a walk, and many similar cases. She said no one considered taking pictures of these events or calling police.

"But when my husband returned from morning prayers at the Belz synagogue in Tel Aviv, which was held according to all the rules provided by the Ministry of Health - ten people scattered in an open complex - he said that the neighbors repeatedly called police who arrived at the scene but [couldn't do anything] after one of the worshipers presented an official permit to pray in the specific open area according to the strict rules of the Ministry of Health."

"A day earlier," she says, "there was a small minyan in the open space according to all the rules. And again, police were called. They weren't aware that permission had already been granted to pray there - and worshipers fled in the middle of the prayer for fear of arrest."

 

נתונים דרמטיים: רוב הנדבקים ב'קורונה' בביה"ח - חרדים

https://www.kikar.co.il/353556.html

בבדיקה שנערכה בבתי החולים במרכז הארץ ובירושלים, עולה תמונה עגומה, מלבד החולים הנמצאים ב'מעייני הישועה', מתברר כי אחוזים גבוהים מהנדבקים ב'קורונה', משתייכים למגזר החרדי

 

Conservative Pastor: Spread of coronavirus in synagogues is divine punishment

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309929059139673041#editor/target=post;postID=3857840852310449591

Rick Wiles, the Florida pastor who claimed that the effort to impeach President Trump was a “Jew coup,” said the spread of coronavirus in synagogues is a punishment of the Jewish people.

Yemeni scholar: Jews, Israel and US made coronavirus to shut down Mecca

https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Yemeni-scholar-Jews-Israel-and-US-made-coronavirus-to-shut-down-Mecca-622765

In a video released by MEMRI, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ubeidi argues that Jewish people have plotted for centuries to take over the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

 

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn are fighting COVID-19 – and antisemitism

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Ultra-Orthodox-Jews-in-Brooklyn-are-fighting-COVID-19-and-antisemitism-622871

New York state has seen some 60,000 cases and nearly 1,000 deaths – the most in the US by far. "You could just lay in bed like you're almost dead for days and days – and there's nothing to do."

 

New Israeli research says COVID-19 is here to stay

https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/S1YN800vIU?utm_source=Taboola_internal&utm_medium=organic

Researchers suggest unlike SARS, MERS coronavirus strains which were successfully contained during 2004 and 2018 outbreaks respectively, COVID-19 may become perennial danger

רבני 'העדה החרדית': "חטא גדול לזלזל בהוראות הרופאים"

 https://www.kikar.co.il/353633.html

 

חברי בד"צ 'העדה החרדית', בראשות הגאב"ד והראב"ד, פרסמו תקנות והוראות בעקבות התפשטות מגיפת ה'קורונה' - הורו להישמע להנחיות משרד הבריאות ואפשרו אף תפילה ביחיד. ההנחיות (ארץ)

 

 

השוטרים עצרו מתפללים במאה שערים

https://www.kikar.co.il/353662.html

כוחות משטרה פשטו היום על שכונת מאה שערים בירושלים, רשמו עשרות דו"חות לאנשים שהפרו את ההנחיות, פיזרו את המתפללים בשטיבלאך ועצרו כמה מהם - ענודים בתפילין (חרדים)

Coronavirus NJ: Rabbis call for low-key Passover with no public celebrations, no travel

https://www.app.com/story/life/faith/2020/03/23/coronavirus-lakewood-rabbis-issue-new-guidelines-observe-passover/2900792001/

LAKEWOOD - Rabbinic leaders from different Jewish Orthodox organizations, spurred by coronavirus fears, are calling for a low-key Passover (Pesach) that is devoid of public celebrations and long on social distancing.

"We are urging our communities to remain at home and avoid, to the maximum extent feasible, any outside interactions," the religious leaders said in a statement. "Our responsibility is to refrain from any nonessential outside interactions, including

 

The statement was signed by Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, executive vice president, Agudath Israel of America; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznick, executive vice president, (Igud HaRabbanim) Rabbinical Alliance of America; Rabbi Shmuel Blech, chairman, and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Weisberg, co-chair, The Lakewood Vaad, among others.

U.S. Coronavirus Cases Top 100,000 As Trump Demands Praise From Governors | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Governors In Need Learn How To Handle The President | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Israel must turn to herd immunity to combat coronavirus

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1BMnA6UL

Opinion: The elderly and those with health problems must be isolated while the young, who will likely experience only mild symptoms, should be back at work even if they were infected with COVID-19 in order to make the population immune to the virus