Data shows nearly 1/3rd of all virus cases centered in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak

https://www.timesofisrael.com/data-shows-nearly-1-3rd-of-all-virus-cases-centered-in-jerusalem-and-bnei-brak/

Defense Ministry-led research shows three-quarters of capital’s carriers live in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, recommends hardest-hit areas be isolated from other portions of city

Millions of eggs land in Israel to ease pre-Passover scramble

https://www.timesofisrael.com/millions-of-eggs-land-in-israel-to-ease-pre-passover-scramble/

Fragile cargo strapped into passenger seats on El Al planes in bid to relieve national shortage that has left supermarket shelves bare ahead of coming festival

The Problem with Telling Children They’re Better Than Others

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-problem-with-telling-children-theyre-better-than-others/

When parents ask, “What grade did you get?” there is a common follow-up question: “So who got the highest grade?” The practice of making such social comparisons is popular in all corners of the world, research shows. Many educators select and publicly announce the “best student” in a class or school. Adults praise children for outperforming others. Sports tournaments award those who surpass others. Last year the Scripps National Spelling Bee awarded winners with $50,000 cash prize and their own trophy—just for being better than others. Most social comparisons are so common in daily life that they are usually glossed over.

 

Rivka and Yitzchok: Torah Shleima Bereishis 24:64

can anyone explain the comments at #237

A Federal Report Found Coronavirus Test Shortages at U.S. Hospitals. Trump Attacked the Author

 https://time.com/5816134/covid-us-hospitals-patients/

President Donald Trump on Monday disputed the veracity of a federal survey that found hospitals faced severe shortages of coronavirus test supplies, questioning whether its conclusions were skewed by politics.

With coronavirus cases rocketing toward their expected peak, the nonpartisan Health and Human Services inspector general’s office reported Monday morning that a shortage of tests and long waits for results were at the root of mounting problems faced by hospitals.

“Hospitals reported that severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results limited (their) ability to monitor the health of patients and staff,” the report said.

Three out of 4 U.S. hospitals told the inspector general’s office they are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and they expect to be overwhelmed. The report did not criticize Trump administration actions.

Asked by a reporter about the survey’s finding on testing, Trump responded, “It is wrong.”

Hydroxychloroquine Questions Intensify as Journal Says Its Drug Study 'Did Not Meet Expected Standards'

https://www.newsweek.com/hydroxychloroquine-questions-intensify-journal-says-its-drug-study-did-not-meet-expected-1496459

In Monday's press briefing, President Trump would not allow his medical expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to answer a question about the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which has gotten a lot of attention recently as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

This particular question, posed by a CNN reporter, turns out to be especially pertinent: "What is the medical evidence?"

Three days before, on April 3, the publisher of the scientific paper that first brought the drug to the attention of public health experts--and President Trump—cast doubt on the reliability of the original research.

"The article does not meet the [publisher's] expected standard," said the International Journal of Anti-Microbial Agents in a statement. The journal, which published "Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of Covid-19: results of an open-label non-randomized clinical trial" on March 20 after an accelerated peer review, stopped short of retracting the article.

Jerusalem municipality to collect chametz for burning ahead of Passover

https://www.jerusalem.muni.il/he/residents/environment/sanitation/containers-for-pickling-chametz/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/jerusalem-municipality-to-collect-chametz-for-burning-ahead-of-passover/ 

The Jerusalem municipality says it will be collecting chametz, or leaven products, to burn ahead of Passover.

Special trash bins will be distributed in each neighborhood and collected by Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The city will oversee the burning, it says.

Sell your Chametz online

https://www.gov.il/en/service/chametz_sale

Use this service to sell your Chametz online n Israel or abroad through the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

 https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/sell_chometz_cdo/jewish/Sell-Your-Chametz-Online.htm

 Chabad.org facilitates this service here at no charge. Note: Halachic authorities have ruled that online authorizations are acceptable for this sale (though transacting the authorization personally with one's rabbi is normally preferable).

How a Ship’s Coronavirus Outbreak Became a Moral Crisis for the Military

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-navy-secretary-roosevelt-crozier.html

Like much in the Trump administration, what began as a seemingly straightforward challenge — the arrival of coronavirus onboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier — has now engulfed the military, leading to far-reaching questions of undue command influence and the demoralization of young men and women who promise to protect the country. At its heart, the crisis aboard the Theodore Roosevelt has become a window into what matters, and what does not, in an administration where remaining on the right side of a mercurial president is valued above all else.

Mr. Modly’s decision to remove Captain Crozier without first conducting an investigation went contrary to the wishes of both the Navy’s top admiral, Michael M. Gilday, the chief of naval operations, and the military’s top officer, Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I am appalled at the content of his address to the crew,” retired Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, said in a telephone interview, referring to Mr. Modly.

Mr. Modly, Admiral Mullen said, “has become a vehicle for the president. He basically has completely undermined, throughout the T.R. situation, the uniformed leadership of the Navy and the military leadership in general.”

 Several current and former Navy and national security officials said the Roosevelt episode illustrated how civilian leaders in this administration made questionable decisions based on what they feared Mr. Trump’s response would be.

NYT: January memo warned White House of pandemic risks

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman talks about her new report detailing a memo dated January 29 from White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro that warned of the risk of a pandemic hitting the US. Haberman says it is not known if President Donald Trump saw the memo.

Trump Demands Praise As Surgeon General Warns Of A 'Pearl Harbor Moment' | The 11th Hour | MSNBC

Government Watchdog: Hospitals Face Severe Shortages Of Medical Gear | Morning Joe | MSNBC

Coronavirus: Trump voices hope for ‘levelling-off’ in US hotspots

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52175746

Optimism from Dr Birx and Mr Trump contrasted with other leading US experts, including top advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, who earlier said the short-term outlook was "really bad".

 

How did coronavirus break out? Theories abound as researchers race to solve genetic detective story

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/06/us/coronavirus-scientists-debate-origin-theories-invs/index.html

A vacuum of knowledge about the origins of the new coronavirus ravaging the world has provided fertile ground for all manner of theories -- from the fantastic, to the dubious to the believable.

It was a bioweapon manufactured by the Chinese. The US Army brought the virus to Wuhan. It leaked -- like a genie out of a bottle -- from a lab in an accident. It took root at a wildlife market in Wuhan.

Scientists have banded together across international borders to condemn the nationalist-tinged conspiracy theories. And yet, they are divided on what was once widely thought the most likely culprit: a so-called wet market in Wuhan, where wild animals are kept in cages and sold as pets or food. It is believed that a bat-infected animal -- perhaps a pangolin -- infected the first human.