Netanyahu tells Israelis: Now it’s an order — you must stay at home

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-tells-israelis-now-its-an-order-you-must-stay-at-home/

The regulations permit people to leave their homes only for the following activities:

1. Going to work and coming back;

2. Stocking up on food, medicine, necessary products and to receive essential services;

3. Receiving medical treatment;

4. Donating blood;

5. Participating in demonstrations;

6. Unorganized sports activity in groups no larger than five people;

7. Brief walks for a short time and to a place close to the person’s residence, without coming close to people they don’t live with;

8. Going to a wedding, funeral or for prayer;

9. Helping a person who due to their age, medical conditions or a disability, requires assistance;

10. Going out for a vital need that hasn’t been specified in articles 1-9.

During all those activities, people should maintain a distance of two meters, or six feet, from anyone, as much as possible. People staying in the same household do not need to keep that distance from one another.

In addition, no more than two people will be allowed to be in a car at any time, unless they live in the same household. The restriction will not be relevant for driving a person to and from a vital workplace.

Stock futures add to declines despite stimulus measures

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/stock-futures-add-to-declines-despite-stimulus-measures

The markets closed a bit higher at the end of the day, but the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all ended in the red.

U.S. equity futures are pointing to more selling on Wall St. on Thursday.

The major futures indexes are indicating a decline of 1.3 percent when trading begins.

The losses follow a more than 1,300 point, or 6.3 percent, decline Wednesday in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has now lost nearly all of its gains since President Trump's inauguration. The Dow closed at 19,898.92.

 

Coronavirus Did Not Originate in a Lab—It Is the Product of Natural Evolution, Scientists Say

https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-did-not-originate-labit-product-natural-evolution-scientists-say-1492912

The new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, likely originated in nature according to the authors of a study questioning the idea it was manmade.

 

United Hatzalah founder hospitalized with suspected coronavirus

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277475

United Hatzalah founder and President Eli Beer, who was scheduled to return to Israel, stayed in the United States to raise money to provide for the significantly increased demand for Hatzalah's services in Israel during the coronavirus crisis. He attended a Purim event in Miami, where many people became stricken with Covid-19 coronavirus.

 

Chris Wallace calls out Trump for causing dangerous crowding at airports

'Total lockdown inevitable' says Erdan as coronavirus patients reaches 433

https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Gilad-Erdan-Total-lockdown-is-inevitable-security-forces-must-prepare-621396

 The goal is to "flatten the curve" and spread out cases over a longer period. Police would enforce required closures; Home Front Command would supply the public with essential products.

 

Ibuprofen exacerbates coronavirus disease

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277457

The World Health Organization has recommended that people suffering from the symptoms of the virus avoid taking ibuprofen drugs such as Advil. Instead, the organization suggests taking paracetamol, such as Acamol (Tylenol).

china accused of truth shaping by pompeo - : is he really criticizing his boss?

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/pompeo-coronavirus-presser/index.html

Iranian leaders have "lied about the Wuhan virus for weeks, the Iranian leadership is trying to avoid responsibility for their ... gross incompetence," Pompeo said, speaking to reporters at the State Department.

Pompeo has repeatedly made a point of avoiding the virus' formal name, choosing instead to refer to it as the "Wuhan coronavirus," in an apparent attempt to emphasize the pandemic's likely origins in China.

Speaking about Chinese leaders on Tuesday, Pompeo said, "the disinformation campaign that they are waging is designed to shift responsibility. Now is not the time for recrimination, now is the time to solve this global pandemic and work to take down risks to Americans and people all across the world."

4 arrested after ultra-Orthodox wedding violates coronavirus restrictions

https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-arrested-after-ultra-orthodox-wedding-violates-coronavirus-restrictions/

 Police arrested four people Tuesday night following an ultra-Orthodox wedding in the city of Beit Shemesh in which at least 150 people participated, violating Health Ministry guidelines limiting the number of people at gatherings to 10 and closing event halls and restaurants.

According to reports in ultra-Orthodox media sites, the four were the father of the groom, an American citizen, who arrived in Israel from the United States and was supposed to have been in quarantine; the father of the bride; the caterer; and a resident of Jerusalem who reportedly organized the wedding.

 

2020 Time Capsule #4: Trump Is Lying, Blatantly

https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2020/03/2020-time-capsule-4/608197/

During press questioning at the White House today, Donald Trump was asked whether his tone about the coronavirus challenge had suddenly changed. For weeks, he’d been mocking the virus threat—at rallies, in tweets, and in press remarks. But both yesterday and today, he’d suddenly shifted to warning that the public-health and economic problems were real, and would remain so for a long time.

What changed?

Trump denied there had been any shift in tone, and said (as you can see here):

“I have always known. This is a real pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic....
“I’ve always viewed it as very serious.”

This is a flat-out lie.

Trump finally had a competent press conference on the coronavirus

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/3/16/21182247/trump-coronavirus-covid-19-press-conference

On Monday, President Donald Trump finally held a press conference in which he didn’t contradict the advice of experts and gave solid advice to Americans on the coronavirus pandemic — after weeks of a public response that experts have described as unhelpful and disturbing.

At the top of the conference, Trump talked up new guidelines by the federal government about what individuals should do to slow the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

 

Trump finds his MAGA movement fracturing over coronavirus

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/16/trump-maga-coronavirus-movement-130831

Just two weeks after President Donald Trump rallied conservatives to focus on the threat of socialism, his followers are splitting over the coronavirus pandemic.

On one side are those like Bill Mitchell, who dismiss it as nothing worse than the flu, and the drive to eradicate it as “climate change 2.0” — as in, a media-lefty mass hysteria. On the other side are pro-Trump fixtures like Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller, who have been sounding alarms on the coronavirus since January, and are calling for harsher lockdowns and social distancing.

 

Don Lemon says Trump is gaslighting you and rolls the tape

Trump pretends he knew outbreak was serious all along in jaw-dropping moment

Trump dismissed coronavirus pandemic worry in January — now claims he long warned about it

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/trump-dissed-coronavirus-pandemic-worry-now-claims-he-warned-about-it.html

 President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday he has believed the coronavirus outbreak was “a pandemic, long before it was called a pandemic” — but in January, he explicitly played down concerns when asked about it.

Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations 'is working with police to prosecute child abuser'

https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/union-of-orthodox-hebrew-congregations-is-working-with-police-to-deal-with-child-abuser-1.498158

Speaking on behalf of the London Charedi umbrella organisation, solicitor Paula Jefferson disclosed the information on the opening day of an inquiry into abuse in religious communities on Monday. 

Answering claims that incidents of abuse were often kept within the Orthodox community, she said the Union was clear that “all allegations” should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

 

Trump and Beijing agree on the coronavirus crisis: It's someone else's fault

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/asia/trump-chinese-virus-tweet-intl-hnk/index.html

 

On Twitter, Zhao claimed -- without evidence -- that "it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan" and demanded the US "Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!" Zhao also retweeted another Twitter user claiming baselessly that Redfield's statement "supports the claims made by Japanese scientists that the virus originated from the US but was covered up."

Zhao and his Foreign Ministry colleagues have refused to provide evidence for their claims, but they don't need to in order to achieve their goal. Creating confusion or disagreement over the origin of the virus could help push the blame away from China for its initial handling of the outbreak, just as Trump and other US officials' blaming of China helps move the conversation away from their own, highly criticized, response.

Ironically, just as he was boosting conspiracy theories about the virus' origin, Zhao also tweeted perhaps the best advice for all government officials in all countries, quoting a Chinese saying: "Turn inward (and) examine yourself when you encounter difficulties."

Fox Business host Trish Regan on hiatus after coronavirus comments

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-03-13/fox-business-host-trish-regan-on-hiatus-after-virus-comments

The Fox Business show hosted by Trish Regan is going on hiatus after controversial comments she made on the air Monday about the coronavirus.

The hiatus also applies to another host, Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery, who has her own program on the Fox Corp.-owned network. That move was related to staffing needs.

 

One dangerous coronavirus 'self-check test' is circulating on social media. Here's why you should avoid it.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/us/coronavirus-myths-debunking-holding-breath-10-seconds-trnd/index.html

 Contrary to what some may think, not everything on social media is rooted in fact.

Case in point: A recent viral coronavirus "simple self-check test," which medical experts say is completely inaccurate.

Written on what appears to be the iPhone notes app, the three-part post falsely claims that people can find out whether they have coronavirus simply by holding their breath for more than 10 seconds. If they can hold their breath without coughing, the test claims they don't have the virus.

Public transportation to stop early every night, won’t operate on weekends

https://www.timesofisrael.com/public-transportation-to-stop-early-every-night-wont-operate-on-weekends/

The Transportation Ministry announced Tuesday it was reducing public transportation to combat the coronavirus following the new Health Ministry directive that all Israelis remain at home unless absolutely necessary.

Public transportation (buses, trains and light rail) will cease operating at 10 p.m. Tuesday before resuming at its usual time Wednesday morning. Starting on Wednesday, public transportation will stop at 8 p.m. each evening.

 

Lawrence: Trump Gave Republicans False Hope On Coronavirus | The Last Word | MSNBC

Dramatic Shift In Tone From The White House | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Health Ministry: Don't leave home for non-essential reasons

 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/277412

Israel's Health Ministry on Tuesday issued new guidelines which require Israelis to remain at home other than for necessary outings. These guidelines include:

1. Do not leave home, other than for situations which require it (work in accordance with the guidelines, purchasing food, medication, medical services, and other necessary services).

2. Do not leave home to visit parks, playgrounds, beaches, pools, libraries, museums, nature reserves and parks, or other public spaces, other than children leaving with their families only, or with pets (in an individual fashion).

3. Do not hold extracurricular activities, even with a minimum number of participants. This includes sports and gyms, as well as group activities publicly or privately provided. Unorganized exercise activities of up to five people are allowed, so long as participants can keep a distance of two meters from each other.

4. Keep in contact with friends via technology, and avoid hosting friends and family who do not live in your home.

5. Those who are at increased risk of complications, such as the elderly or those who suffer chronic illness or long-term respiratory issues, including: asthma, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders or diseases, cancer patients and patients who are immunocompromised, must avoid leaving their homes as much as possible, other than for necessary services. Instead, they should request the aid of family and friends in keeping their homes supplied with what they need.

6. The following tools should be used to limit outings:
1. Telecommuting, including video calls and conference calls
2. Each employer must be sure to provide a space of two meters between employees and ensure personal and environmental hygiene.
3. Deliveries will be placed outside the door.
4. Dentist appointments should be delayed as much as possible, and only crucial and emergency situations should be handled.

7. While leaving home due to situations which require it, contact between people should be limited, and a distance of two meters between people should be kept.

As coronavirus suspends life in America, Fox changes its tone

Why Fox's coverage is so important

Given that Republicans largely turn to Fox for their news, it's likely the network's previous dismissive coverage has affected how Republicans view the crisis. A Gallup poll published Monday found that "political party identification reflects the starkest differences in levels of worry about coronavirus exposure."

According to the poll, "Democrats (73%) are the most worried of any group, and their level of worry has increased the most out of any group. Meanwhile, less than half of Republicans (42%) report having this level of concern -- the lowest of any group Gallup measured." Hopefully things will change with the network's shift in tone...

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/media/fox-news-coronavirus-reliable-sources/index.html

Coronavirus: UK changes course amid death toll fears

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51915302

Change course or a quarter of a million people will die in a "catastrophic epidemic" of coronavirus - warnings do not come much starker than that.

 

Trump, finally, takes the coronavirus emergency seriously

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/white-house-donald-trump-coronavirus-emergency/index.html

This version of Donald Trump will save lives.

The President offered Americans something they have rarely seen from him in his latest and most somber press conference yet on the coronavirus pandemic on Monday.

He dispensed unimpeachable information based on fact. He called for national unity and seemed like he meant to help forge it. And he ditched his normal habit of hyping the best possible outcome to a situation with improbable superlatives -- instead communicating the gravity of a fast-worsening crisis.

Entire Dead Sea Scroll Fragment Collection at Washington, D.C.'s Museum of the Bible Is Fake, Investigation Reveals

https://www.newsweek.com/entire-dead-sea-scroll-fragment-collection-washington-dc-museum-bible-fake-1492470

"After an exhaustive review of all the imaging and scientific analysis results, it is evident that none of the textual fragments in Museum of the Bible's Dead Sea Scroll collection are authentic," Loll concluded in a report describing the findings of the investigation. "Moreover, each exhibits characteristics that suggest they are deliberate forgeries created in the twentieth century with the intent to mimic authentic Dead Sea Scroll fragments."

New White House Coronavirus Guidelines Tell Older People to Stay Home, All Ages to Avoid Groups of More Than 10

https://time.com/5804402/white-house-coronavirus-guidelines/

President Donald Trump, employing a newly somber tone about the crisis enveloping the globe, urged all older Americans to stay home and everyone to avoid crowds and eating out at restaurants. The president for the first time acknowledged that the pandemic may send the economy into a recession and suggested that the nation may be dealing with the virus until “July or August.”

 

The conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus, debunked

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/4/21156607/how-did-the-coronavirus-get-started-china-wuhan-lab

Meanwhile, on Fox News and social media, a dangerous conspiracy theory about the origin of the health crisis won’t die.

There are two main versions of the rumor, and they have one common thread: that the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a level 4 (the highest biosafety level) research laboratory in Wuhan.

In one version of the rumor, the virus was engineered in the lab by humans as a bioweapon. In another version, the virus was being studied in the lab (after being isolated from animals) and then “escaped” or “leaked” because of poor safety protocol.

 

The U.K.’s Coronavirus ‘Herd Immunity’ Debacle

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-pandemic-herd-immunity-uk-boris-johnson/608065/

There was a time when it seemed possible for the world to contain COVID-19—the disease caused by the new coronavirus. That time is over. What began as an outbreak in China has become a pandemic, and as a growing number of countries struggle to control the virus, talk of “flattening the curve” is increasing. That is, a lot of people are going to get sick, and delaying infections as much as possible is imperative, so that cases occur over a long period of time and health systems aren’t suddenly inundated. Almost every country is trying to achieve this goal through the standard arsenal of public health—testing people and tracing contacts—and through more restrictive measures that include instituting quarantines, closing public spaces, banning mass gatherings, and issuing strong advice about social distancing.

White House advises public to avoid groups of more than 10, asks people to stay away from bars and restaurants

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/white-house-guidelines-coronavirus/index.html

The guidelines -- and specifically the recommendation that people don't gather in groups of more than 10 -- marks a notable escalation from the guidance put out by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sunday recommending that no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks to slow the spread of the virus.

Striking a far more somber tone than previous press conferences, Trump acknowledged that the coronavirus is not under control in the US or internationally just one day after saying the virus is "something we have tremendous control of."

Asked by CNN to revisit that statement, Trump claimed he was "not referring to it" -- meaning the virus -- when he talked about the situation being under control.

"When I'm talking about control, I'm saying we are doing a very good job within the confines of what we're dealing with," Trump said, adding that the virus is "not under control for any place in the world."

The President also predicted the coronavirus outbreak could start to subside in July or August of this year, although he conceded that it could continue to be a threat even longer.

 

Trump claims coronavirus is under control -- contradicting reality and his own top expert

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/coronavirus-us-president-donald-trump-fauci-politics/index.html

 America's top infectious diseases expert is warning that hundreds of thousands of Americans could die unless every citizen joins an effort to blunt the coronavirus pandemic -- only to be contradicted by President Donald Trump, who insists the virus is under "tremendous" control.

The fresh sign of Trump's unwillingness to accept the full, sobering reality of the outbreak came as an anxious America knuckles down to its new self-isolating reality. The country is bracing for the full fury of the virus that is already escalating sharply and is set to subject the foundations of basic life — the nation's health care, economic and political systems — to a fateful test.

 

Dr. Siegel warns people not to go to bars and concerts as coronavirus spreads in US

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-siegel-bars-concerts-coronavirus-highly-contagious

https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-siegel-bars-concerts-coronavirus-highly-contagious

Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel said on Monday that it is important to cancel large social gatherings because the coronavirus is classified as “highly contagious.”

“For every person that has it, two or two-and-a-half more people get it,” Siegel told “Fox & Friends.”

“If you’re at a bar drinking with your buddies, which everybody is still doing, unfortunately — it’s a free-for-all. It’s going to spread from one person there who has it to two to three or more people,” Seigel said.

Rep. Nunes: China 'downplayed' the virus

Joe: Trump Was So Ill-Prepared On Airport Screenings | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Disconnect From Scientists, Trump On Coronavirus Continues | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Meet The Press Broadcast (Full) - March 15th, 2020 | Meet The Press | NBC News

Dr. W. Ian Lipkin Breaks Down Coronavirus | Amanpour and Company

Only 48 Percent of Americans Trust Donald Trump to Handle Coronavirus Crisis, Poll Says

https://www.newsweek.com/only-48-percent-americans-trust-donald-trump-handle-coronavirus-crisis-poll-says-1492397

When asked who they carried the most confidence in to handle the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, respondents put most confidence in their respective state government at 75 percent. Of those answers, 53 percent indicated a 'fair' amount of confidence; 22 percent a 'great deal of confidence'; 15 percent with 'not very much'; and 8 percent with none.

In comparison, those surveyed expressed 62 percent confidence in the federal government's response, while 48 percent were confident in Trump's response. For Trump, 35 percent said they have no confidence in his response to the pandemic; 25 percent said a great deal of confidence; 23 percent a fair amount; and 15 percent no confidence.

For the federal government, 62 percent said they felt a great or fair amount while 36 percent said 'not much' or no confidence in responses from Congress and federal agencies.

Netanyahu meets ultra-Orthodox leaders to persuade them to shutter yeshivas

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-meets-ultra-orthodox-leaders-to-persuade-them-to-shutter-yeshivas/

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the chief rabbis and other ultra-Orthodox representatives on Sunday evening to convince segments of the Haredi community to shutter their schools, in accordance with Health Ministry directives designed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Netanyahu last week announced that schools would be closed to stem the outbreak and on Saturday night expanded the order to include daycare centers, special education and boarding schools.

Zohar on marriage

Zohar (Bereishis 49a) AND G-d brought her to the MAN. From this we learn that it is incumbent on the father and mother of the bride to transfer her to the domain of the bridegroom; so we read ‘my daughter I have given to this man’ (Devarim 22:16).After she has been transferred to her husband, he needs to come to her because the house is now her  domain as we see in Bereishis (24;23)”and he came to her”i.e. and he came to Rachel”This is reinforced by the fact that regarding the parents it says “brought” but in reference to the husband it says “he came”. That shows that the husband now needs his wife’s permission. Similarly the verse says:”And he prayed in the place and stayed there for the night Bereishis 28:11) which means he sought permission first. From this we learn that if he wants intercourse with his wife he must persuade and placate her with words first. Otherwise he can not be with her because the relationship needs to be of mutual consent and desire without force. We also see that the Torah states “He stayed there because the sun had set” That means that intercourse is forbidden during the day.It also says “he took of the stones of the place and put it under his head”. From this we learn that even a king who has a bed of gold with expensive covers,if his wife prepares a bed of stone for him he must leave his own bed and sleep on the stone bed which she prepared. As it says “and he lay down in that place” Also see that it says here “and the man said “this time” that shows he spoke to her to coax and attract her to him in a friendly and affectionate manner. Look how tender his words were,”bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh”, to express that they were truly one entity and inherently inseperable. And then he began to sing her praises, “and this one shall be called woman” meaning she surpasses all others and is so perfect as if other woman were like monkeys compared to human beings. Only she is seen as the perfect woman. Every word is inspired by love  this is comparable to the verse in Shir HaShirim(31:29) “Many woman have done great  things but you surpass all of them .”therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh.” All this was to win her affection and attract her to him

'אין פה מקום ללמדנות; צריך לקיים את כל הוראות המדינה'

https://www.kikar.co.il/351250.html


 בדרשה שנשא בפני קהילתו ביקר ה'פוסק' הגרי"מ רובין את המצב הנוכחי בציבור החרדי, כאשר ישנם רבים המתעלמים ממילוי ההוראות שנועדו להילחם בהתפשטות הנגיף, ואף פירט תרחיש אימים

Trump’s Coronavirus Address, Blooper Reel Included | The Daily Show

Democrat DESTROYS Trump in MUST-WATCH speech over botched handling

Peter Thiel Makes a Nakedly Political Play in the New York Times

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/08/peter-thiel-is-complains-about-google.html

That Thiel makes no mention of the fact that he sits on the board of Facebook as he attacks its biggest competitor seems like a pretty big omission. The Times editors also clearly saw no issue with describing him simply as “an entrepreneur and investor.” Facebook is also heavily invested in developing artificial intelligence (it’s gonna use AI to fix all of society’s problems and build a global utopia lol) and has been trying to crack the Chinese market for years. Read in this light, Thiel’s op-ed feels like an indirect effort to force Google out of China, either through shame or indirectly spurring political intervention. It seems to me that Thiel thinks if Facebook can’t have China, Google can’t either.

Trump: Google should be probed over China treason claim

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49004002

President Trump has said his administration will look into alleged links between Google and China.

It follows a speech given by Peter Thiel in which the billionaire tech investor asked whether Google's senior management considered itself to have been infiltrated by Chinese spies.

Mr Thiel also questioned why Google had made "the seemingly treasonous decision to work with the Chinese military" but not that of the US.

Google has denied such ties.

Trump’s Outrageous Google Lie Proves U.S. Isn’t Prepared for Coronavirus

https://www.ccn.com/trumps-outrageous-google-lie-proves-u-s-isnt-prepared-for-coronavirus/

• Donald Trump blatantly lied about having Google’s assistance on a coronavirus website.
• His travel ban is little more than a facade as it doesn’t actually protect US borders from potentially infected travelers.
• Trump’s inability to put action before his appearance means his coronavirus response is effectively useless.

Donald Trump is trying to keep up with the public’s outcry as the coronavirus continues to spend. Unfortunately, his bumbling incompetence proves just how underprepared the US is for the rising tide of coronavirus cases.

UK Coronavirus Gamble Could Be Best Approach

But is feeding the panic really what we need right now? With closed borders, cancelled flights and school closures you have to wonder whether coronavirus is plunging us into economic turmoil or if we’re bringing it on ourselves.

The UK, for example, is taking a more measured approach. Instead of closing schools and encouraging panic, the nation is calling for its citizens to be responsible but maintain as normal a life as possible. According to the nation’s lawmakers that approach means there will be more resources available to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

The Moral Dilemma of Coronavirus Quarantines

https://time.com/5800379/coronavirus-quarantine-morality/

The novel coronavirus, of course, ticks both the contagion and scarcity boxes, which is one reason people are behaving badly. And when they do behave badly—like breaking quarantine—there’s a social reason too for the tongue-clucking and finger-wagging that follow. “There is a certain amount of social glory that comes from being the punisher,” says Pinker.

 

Police bid to convince rabbi to close yeshivas as his sect defies virus rules

https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-bid-to-convince-rabbi-to-close-yeshivas-as-his-sect-defies-virus-rules/

While Hasidic and national religious sectors follow Health Ministry restrictions, Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox leadership orders schools to remain open, violating regulations

 

Trump Passes COVID-19 Test, But Is Still Failing the Course

https://time.com/5803363/trump-test-coronavirus/

  But beyond Trump’s public pronouncements, there’s a deeper test of his leadership at work. As he takes credit for his decision to restrict travel from China in late January, which health experts around him have said slowed the progression of the virus to the U.S. and bought time to prepare for its inevitable arrival here, he’s sidestepped blame for any mistakes by his administration. Those include cutting personnel from pandemic preparedness, lack of adequate testing capacity for the COVID-19 outbreak, and a belated turn to mitigating its effects in the U.S., despite years of warnings.

“Yeah, no, I don’t take responsibility at all,” Trump said when asked on Friday if he takes responsibility for the limited number of COVID-19 tests available inside the U.S. He blamed the lag in testing on “rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time” that wasn’t designed for the volume of tests needed to respond to the crisis. Asked later if he took responsibility for the disbanding of the White House office responsible for overseeing the response to pandemics in 2018, Trump said, “I didn’t do it,” adding, “I don’t know anything about it.”