31-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 4,322 compared to 4,875 yesterday; deaths were 171 compared to 127 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,130 compared to 1,149 yesterday. The infection rate was 20%
31-Dec-2020 COVID-19 infections worldwide have exceeded 82 million. Deaths are 1.8 million. The U.S. has seen a slight decline in daily cases with the latest figure at 180,362 which still represents about 30% of the global daily total.
31-Dec-2020 Governments worldwide are looking at Israel, which is roaring ahead with an ambitious inoculation drive. By the end of this week, the country of 9 million is expected to have injected more than 10% of its population with vaccines, a far higher fraction than other states including the UK, which began vaccinating almost two weeks earlier.
31-Dec-2020 In sharp contrast with Israel and other nations, the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine rollout moved slower than expected this month, stoking fears that the federal government was mishandling the effort and that people would have to wait months longer than expected to get their shot.
31-Dec-2020 California set a new record for COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, and got more bad news when it joined Colorado in reporting a case of the new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus. The new variant was first reported in the United Kingdom and has since been identified in a number of countries.
30-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 4,875 compared to 4,637 yesterday; deaths were 127 compared to 135 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,149 compared to 1,162 yesterday. The infection rate was 19.6%
30-Dec-2020 The US has reported its first case of the highly infectious Covid-19 variant that emerged in the UK. The case was detected in the state of Colorado. The patient, a man in his 20s with no recent travel history, is currently in isolation.
30-Dec-2020 The British drugmaker AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate has received regulatory approval in the United Kingdom. The vaccine is considered vital for vaccination efforts in developing countries because it is cheaper to make and easier to store for long periods of time as it only requires normal refrigeration temperature to remain viable.
30-Dec-2020 Thew U. S. is rapdily approaching the 20 million mark of confirmed cases. Cases in California continue to surge, and stay-at-home orders have been extended. Some hospitals in the state are facing shortages of oxygen.
30-Dec-2020 A 45-year-old nurse in California tested positive for COVID-19 more than a week after receiving Pfizer Inc’s coronavirus vaccine, an ABC News affiliate reported on Tuesday.
29-Dec-2020 A strong 6.4 earthquake has struck Croatia. Brother Miro reports extensive damage in his area. The two earthquakes yesterday were evidently preliminary, with today’s tremor being the main one.
29-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 4,637 compared to 2,620 yesterday; deaths were 135 compared to 104 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,162 compared to 1,197 yesterday. The infection rate was 18.9%
29-Dec-2020 Russia said on Monday that its coronavirus death toll was more than three times higher than it had previously reported, making it the country with the third-largest number of fatalities.
29-Dec-2020 The director general of Israel’s Health Ministry said Monday that an elderly man who suffered from a background illness died a few hours after receiving a coronavirus vaccination and the ministry is investigating to see if there is a connection to receiving the vaccine.
29-Dec-2020 Novavax has begun a large late-stage study of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, the drug developer said on Monday, after delaying the trial twice due to issues in scaling up the manufacturing process. If it proves effective, Novavax’s formula would have an advantage because it doesn’t require specialized freezers.
29-Dec-2020 World Health Organization experts have warned that even though the coronavirus pandemic has been very severe, it is (1) “not necessarily the big one”, and (2) that the world will have to learn to live with Covid-19 as it will likely become endemic, like the seasonal flu.
29-Dec-2020 Nearly half a million residents in the Chinese city where the novel coronavirus first emerged may have been infected with Covid-19 — almost 10 times its official number of confirmed cases, according to a study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
29-Dec-2020 On Monday, a record 41,385 Covid cases and 357 deaths were reported in the UK. Monday’s figure for new cases is the highest daily number reported by the UK government, and the first time the daily total has surpassed 40,000.
29-Dec-2020 India has become the latest country to detect the new, more transmissible virus variant first indentified in the UK.
28-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 2,620 compared to 2,049 yesterday; deaths were 104 compared to 111 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,197 compared to 1,206 yesterday. The infection rate was 32.8%
28-Dec-2020 Two 5.2 earthquakes hit central Croatia near Sisak (home of our Brother Miro) early Monday, within an hour of each other, triggering panic and damaging some buildings. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
28-Dec-2020 Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus in Israel has vastly exceeded program targets. Since beginning vaccinations a week before Sunday’s European Union roll-out, Israel’s centralised health system has administered 280,000 shots, the world’s fastest rate. More than 50% of the total population could be vaccinated by the end of January.
28-Dec-2020 Germany’s coronavirus vaccination campaign faced delays in several cities on Sunday after temperature trackers showed that about 1,000 of the shots made by BioNTech and Pfizer may not have been kept cold enough during transit.
27-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 2,049 compared to 1,387 yesterday; deaths were 111 compared to 85 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,206 compared to 1,210 yesterday. The infection rate was 26.3%
27-Dec-2020 Cases of the more contagious variant of Covid-19 identified in the UK have been confirmed in several other European countries as a vaccine is being rolled out across the continent. The infections, linked to people who had come from the UK, were reported in France, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
26-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 1,387 compared to 3,812 yesterday; deaths were 85 compared to 111 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,210 compared to 1,233 yesterday. The infection rate was 31.9% which is very high. The lower number of new cases was due to far fewer tests.
26-Dec-2020 Scientists are eyeing a potential culprit causing the allergic reactions to Covid-19 vaccines: the compound polyethylene glycol, also known as PEG. Several severe allergic reactions to the vaccine have been reported in the U.S. and at least two cases of anaphylaxis have also occurred in the U.K.
26-Dec-2020 Global confirmed cases of the coronavirus have exceeded 80 million, with nearly 700,00 new cases in the past 24 hours. The U.S. continues to be responsible for nearly one-third of the daily total.
25-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 3,812 compared to 4,310 yesterday; deaths were 111 compared to 146 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,233 compared to 1,234 yesterday. The infection rate was 22.6%
25-Dec-2020 More than one million people have been vaccinated in the U.S. against COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci has estimated that it will be toward the end of next summer before a “return to some form of normality”
25-Dec-2020 A new variant of the coronavirus, which appears to be more transmissible, has been discovered in South Africa and is being blamed for a new surge in COVID-19 cases there.
25-Dec-2020 Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria, Africa’s top public health official said Thursday, but he added that further investigation was needed. “It’s a separate lineage from the U.K. and South Africa,” the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, told reporters.
24-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 4,310 compared to 5,459 yesterday; deaths were 146 compared to 130 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,234 compared to 1,251 yesterday. The infection rate was 15.6%, which is the lowest since October 31st.
24-Dec-2020 Israel’s government on Wednesday ordered a third national lockdown as coronavirus infections continued to surge and hospital wards filled with patients. The closure will start this coming Sunday at 5:00 p.m. and continue for at least 25 days, said a joint statement by the Prime Minister’s office and the Health Ministry.
24-Dec-2020 An outbreak of the virus among Brethren in Uganda is under control, with no serious cases at this time. However, some scheduled events may need to be cancelled or postponed.
24-Dec-2020 The British government on Wednesday said huge swathes of England would be placed under its strictest COVID-19 restrictions as a highly infectious virus variant sweeps the country, pushing the number of cases to a record level of nearly 40,000 in a 24-hour period. Another new strain of Covid-19 has been detected in the U.K., originating from travellers from South Africa. The development is “highly concerning” because the new variant is more transmissible and appears to have mutated further.
24-Dec-2020 France has reopened its borders to travelers and truck drivers from the United Kingdom who show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours.
24-Dec-2020 Canada’s health regulator has approved Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, making it the second country to give the drug the green light. Because Moderna’s vaccine requires less intensive cold storage, it is seen as an ideal candidate for use in remote indigenous communities and Canada’s sparsely-populated northern territories.
24-Dec-2020 California has seen more than 2 million Covid-19 cases, becoming the first state to do so late Wednesday. More than 2,015,960 cases have been confirmed and more than 23,600 people have died across the state since the pandemic began this year. California currently has the fasting growing Covid-19 case count in the nation, according to that count.
23-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,459 compared to 5,009 yesterday; deaths were 130 compared to 155 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,251 compared to 1,252 yesterday. The infection rate was 21%.
23-Dec-2020 The number of confirmed cases globally has surpassed 77 million, and continues to grow at more than half a million a day. The U.S. is responsible for more than one-third of the current daily total, and more than 18 million overall.
23-Dec-2020 For the fourth time in two years, Israel will be going to general elections as the fragile coalition government collapsed. The 23rd Knesset was dissolved after a failure to approve the 2020 budget. The law mandates new elections within 90 days.
23-Dec-2020 A new strain of the coronavirus that’s been spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom may already be in the United States, doctors are warning. The variant in the U.K. has spurred at least 40 countries to close their borders to the island nation.
22-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,009 compared to 2,489 yesterday; deaths were 155 compared to 87 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,252 compared to 1,255 yesterday. The infection rate was 21%.
22-Dec-2020 Antarctica, once the only continent not to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, has reportedly recorded its first cases. The 36 new infections are among people stationed at a Chilean research base and include 26 members of the Chilean army and 10 maintenance workers.
22-Dec-2020 The United Kingdom is engaged in urgent talks to unblock its international isolation after more than 40 countries suspended travel links, alarmed by a new coronavirus variant. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new strain of the virus is reported to be more infectious, but there’s no evidence it is more deadly.
22-Dec-2020 This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic.
21-Dec-2020 A growing list of countries have either closed their borders or have stepped up restrictions on travel to and from the UK after it reported a more infectious coronavirus variant. Boris Johnson is schedule to hold a press conference on the crisis.
21-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 2,489 compared to 3,350 yesterday; deaths were 87 compared to 98 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,255 compared to 1,267 yesterday. The infection rate was 35%. The total who have recovered is now more than half a million.
21-Dec-2020 U.S. congressional leaders reached agreement on Sunday on a $900 billion package to provide the first new aid in months to an economy and individuals battered by the surging coronavirus pandemic, with votes likely on Monday.
21-Dec-2020 A hospital north of Chicago says it plans to resume coronavirus vaccinations for its staff Sunday, following a temporary pause after four employees experienced adverse reactions to the Pfizer treatment. The employees’ symptoms included tingling and elevated heart rates, FOX 32 of Chicago reported Friday after the shots were administered a day earlier.
20-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 3,350 compared to 5,158 yesterday; deaths were 98 compared to 139 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,267 compared to 1,274 yesterday. The infection rate was 27.4% Today is the first time since November 8th that the number of deaths was less than 100.
20-Dec-2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed an effective lockdown on over 16 million people in England and reversed plans to ease curbs over Christmas, saying Britain was dealing with a new coronavirus strain up to 70% more transmissible than the original.
20-Dec-2020 Newly disclosed data reveal that nearly 900 out of 938 metropolitan areas and more than 2,000 out of 3,270 counties qualify as “sustained hotspots,” meaning they have “potentially higher risk for experiencing healthcare resource limitations.” It also showed that more than a dozen metro areas and nearly 50 counties saw a 500% or greater increase in deaths from the previous week.
20-Dec-2020 Los Angeles County has recorded more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases since Dec. 11, public health officials announced on Saturday. New cases are accelerating at a faster rate than at any previous point during the pandemic.
20-Dec-2020 High vaccine rates, in combination with face masks, social distancing, school closures, stay-at-home orders and a lack of international travel, have led to a record low number of seasonal flu cases in the U. S.
19-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,158 compared to 5,340 yesterday; deaths were 139 compared to 188 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,274 compared to 1,270 yesterday.
19-Dec-2020 Global COVID_19 cases have surpassed the 75 million mark. Daily totals are now more than 700,000 new cases every 24 hours, with nearly a third of those in the United States.
19-Dec-2020 Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine on Friday became the second to receive emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, welcome news to a nation with a staggering COVID-19 death toll of over 307,000 lives lost.
19-Dec-2020 India exceeded 10 million infections of the new coronavirus on Saturday, much later than predicted only a month ago as the pace of infections slows.
19-Dec-2020 Here is an interesting in-depth personal article that left most readers scratching their heads, especially the author. It highlights the confusion and uncertainty connected with both the virus and the tests intended to detect it.
19-Dec-2020 Italy has ordered a nationwide lockdown over much of the Christmas and New Year period in an effort to combat a rise in coronavirus cases. The country will be under “red-zone” restrictions over the public holidays, with non-essential shops, restaurants and bars closed, and Italians only allowed to travel for work, health and emergency reasons.
18-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,340; deaths were 188 compared to 107 yesterday; and the number in ICU is 1,270 compared to 1,297 yesterday.
18-Dec-2020 Roughly a year into the Pandemic it is clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times higher among COVID-19 patients.
18-Dec-2020 Federal advisers in the U.S. voted overwhelmingly Thursday to recommend the Moderna vaccine for people over the age of 18, clearing a path for government authorization on what would become the nation’s second vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Moderna has never had a product win FDA approval. And it only has one factory registered with the FDA — and the registration occurred just this week.
18-Dec-2020 The United States on Thursday surpassed a total of 17 million coronavirus cases, with infections rising by more than a million a week during the early winter surge – while at the start of the year it took three months for the U.S. to accumulate its first million cases. Records for deaths and new cases are being broken almost every day.
18-Dec-2020 Millions of people throughout the U.K. face living under the strictest coronavirus restrictions until at least February as ministers scramble to contain the latest surge in cases, and as a growing number of hospitals run short of beds. The crisis was highlighted as the country recorded its highest number of daily infections of the virus so far – 35,383 on Thursday.
18-Dec-2020 France will probably not return to a “normal” post COVID-19 life before autumn 2021, a senior government scientific adviser said on Friday.
18-Dec-2020 The head of the World Health Organization’s regional office for Europe has appealed to people to stay at home over Christmas, insisting it is “not worth the risk” or catching COVID-19.
18-Dec-2020 The “positivity rate” is the percentage of people tested who are confirmed to have the virus. Israel has a rate of 3.6% while Romania has been over 20% every day since the beginning of November, going as high as 43.8% at the peak.
17-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,697 deaths were 107 and the number in ICU is 1,297 compared to 1,267 yesterday.
17-Dec-2020 French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19 the Élysée Palace has announced. It said the president took a test “as soon as the first symptoms appeared”. The brief statement did not say what symptoms Macron experienced.
17-Dec-2020 The U.S. on Wednesday reported the highest number of new cases of the coronavirus and the most COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began. The total number of confirmed cases have surpassed 17 million.
17-Dec-2020 Health officials in Alaska reported a health care worker had a severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine within 10 minutes of receiving a shot. U.S. health authorities warned doctors to be on the lookout for rare allergic reactions when they rolled out the first vaccine, made by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. Unlike several British cases, the Alaska woman had no history of allergic reactions.
16-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,991; deaths were 164 and the number in ICU is 1,267 compared to 1,255 yesterday.
16-Dec-2020 The U. S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. was “highly effective,” setting the stage for an emergency authorization later this week that would add a second vaccine to the arsenal against the pandemic.
16-Dec-2020 An adviser to Italy’s health ministry has called for coronavirus restrictions to be drastically tightened to avoid a “national tragedy” after the national statistics bureau ISTAT said deaths this year would be the highest since World War Two.
16-Dec-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s senior official for infectious diseases, predicts the United States could begin to achieve early stages of herd immunity against the deadly coronavirus by late spring or summer.
16-Dec-2020 California has purchased thousands of body bags and has dozens of refrigerated storage units on standby as it prepares to deal with a growing death toll from Covid-19.
15-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 6,171; deaths were almost double yesterday’s figure at 208 and the number in ICU is 1,255 compared to 1,289 yesterday. The decrease in ICU is due in part to the high number of deaths.
15-Dec-2020 India reported 22,065 new coronavirus infections, taking its total to 9.9 million, data from the health ministry showed on Tuesday, making it the lowest daily rise since July 4. India has recorded the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, after the United States, but daily infections have declined since hitting a peak in September.
14-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 3,252; deaths were 109 and the number in ICU is 1,289 compared to 1,289 yesterday.
14-Dec-2020 Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany’s 16 states agreed Sunday to step up the country’s lockdown measures beginning Wednesday and lasting until January 10 to stop the country’s exponential rise of COVID-19 cases.
14-Dec-2020 The COVID virus continues “out of control” in the U. S. where the death toll will surpass 300,000 later today.
14-Dec-2020 During the Bubonic Plague of the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton fled to the family estate for safety. It was while sitting in the large garden there, with many fruit trees, that a single apple falling from a tree led him to his theory of Gravity. If he had stayed in his cramped Cambridge apartment, the timing of that discovery would have been much different.
13-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 4,435; deaths were 121 and the number in ICU is 1,289 compared to 1,288 yesterday.
13-Dec-2020 The U.S. surpassed 16 million cases of Covid-19, according to data released Saturday by Johns Hopkins University, just four days after reaching 15 million cases. More than 231,700 new coronavirus cases were reported for Friday, topping a previous record set earlier this month.
13-Dec-2020 Israel and Bhutan announced Saturday the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries. The agreement will “open the path to greater cooperation and further strengthen relations” between Israel and the South Asian kingdom, according to a joint statement.
12-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 6,333; deaths were 148 and the number in ICU is 1,288 compared to 1,299 yesterday.
12-Dec-2020 Global COVID-19 cases surpassed the 70 million mark on Saturday. Daily totals are nearly 700,000. The United States continues to have the highest numbers, representing more than a quarter of the worldwide total.
12-Dec-2020 The U. S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, kicking off a massive effort to initially deliver nearly 3 million doses of the vaccine to more than 600 sites nationwide. As many as 20 million health-care professionals and long-term care residents could receive the vaccine by the end of the year.
12-Dec-2020 Germany is facing calls for a second lockdown before Christmas after recording 585 deaths and 29,875 new infections in one day – the highest numbers since the pandemic began. “We have to act urgently. We have to do more than was previously planned,” warned Economy Minister Peter Altmaier.
12-Dec-2020 Stockholm’s intensive care units hit 99% capacity as Sweden proposed a spring “pandemic law” to potentially force closures of certain public spaces. France said its lockdown would not be eased as planned after daily case numbers rose on Thursday compared with last week. Russia and Ukraine reported record numbers of fatalities on Friday. The latest excess death statistics in Russia have cast doubt on the numbers announced in official government updates.
12-Dec-2020 Why some people with coronavirus have no symptoms and others get extremely ill is one of the pandemic’s biggest puzzles. A study in Nature Research Journal of more than 2,200 intensive care patients has identified five genes involving two molecular processes. They make some people more susceptible to severe Covid-19 symptoms.
12-Dec-2020 Nursing homes accounted for as much as 40% of the more than 290,000 U.S. deaths during the pandemic. Nearly 4,000 residents of long-term care facilities around the U.S. died of coronavirus-related causes during the week of Nov. 29.
12-Dec-2020 The World Health Organization has been accused of conspiring with the Italian health ministry to remove a report revealing the country’s mismanagement at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic – the publication of which was intended to prevent future deaths.
11-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 6,460; deaths were 168 and the number in ICU is a new record of 1,299 compared to 1,288 yesterday.
11-Dec-2020 Jewish and pro-Israel groups reacted positively to Morocco’s announcement on Thursday of its intention to normalize ties with Israel. It’s the fourth normalization deal in the past four months between Israel and Arab countries, after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. These nations follow in the wake of Egypt and Jordan, which made peace with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively.
11-Dec-2020 A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended approval of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, clearing the way for the FDA to grant emergency authorization of the vaccine as early as Friday.
11-Dec-2020 The Australian government has terminated its agreement with Australian biotech company CSL Limited to supply 51 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Queensland after vaccine trial participants returned false positive test results for HIV.
10-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 7,067; deaths were 127 and the number in ICU is 1,288 compared to 1,271 yesterday. Romania is at a plateau.
10-Dec-2020 The coronavirus pandemic pushed the U.S. past another dire milestone Wednesday, the highest daily death toll to date. The Covid Tracking Project, which tracks state-level coronavirus data, reported 3,054 COVID-19 related deaths. In the past week, the U.S. has averaged 205,601 cases per day and 2,260 deaths per day. That’s up from 158,396 cases and 1,176 deaths per day four weeks ago.
10-Dec-2020 Regulators in the United Kingdom are warning people with a history of severe allergies not to get the new coronavirus vaccine. The advisory comes after two National Health Services employees, both with a history of severe allergies, had bad reactions after receiving the new Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine Tuesday, the first day of the U.K.’s nationwide immunization campaign.
10-Dec-2020 Canadian health officials have authorized use of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. Health Canada announced the move Wednesday, saying a “thorough, independent review of the evidence” determined that the vaccine meets the “stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada.”
10-Dec-2020 Civil rights were found to have deteriorated in almost every country in the world during Covid-19. A number of governments have used the pandemic as an excuse to curtail rights such as free speech, peaceful assembly and freedom of association, according to Civicus Monitor, an alliance of civil society groups which assessed 196 countries.
09-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 7,365; deaths were 161 and the number in ICU is 1,271 compared to 1,276 yesterday.
09-Dec-2020 According to a report in Israel Hayom, Jordan has relayed messages to Israel stating its desire to restart the Dead Sea renewal project in which the Red Sea would be connected to the salt-water basin.
09-Dec-2020 Nine out of 10 people in 70 low-income countries are unlikely to be vaccinated against Covid-19 next year because the majority of the most promising vaccines coming on-stream have been bought up by the west.
09-Dec-2020 Moldova’s Prime Minister Ion Chicu has contracted the novel coronavirus, his adviser Boris Harea wrote on Facebook late on Tuesday.
09-Dec-2020 Record cases in at least three states – Arizona, Alabama and Ohio – pushed the cumulative case load to over 15 million, according to a Reuters tally of state and county data.
08-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 7,439; deaths were a record at 213 and the number in ICU is 1,276 compared to 1,280 yesterday.
08-Dec-2020 The UK will begin mass vaccination today of more than 800,000 beginning with the elderly, health workers, and carers. More than 70 hospital “hubs” are being used in the program.
08-Dec-2020 More than 85% of California’s 40 million residents are under a strict new lockdown, as COVID-19 cases surge across the State. The new rules will last for at least three weeks, covering the Christmas holiday period.
08-Dec-2020 Russia launched a mass-vaccination program against COVID-19 over the weekend, a risky procedure using a Russian-made vaccine before final human trial data is available.
07-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 3,660; deaths were 127 and the number in ICU is 1,280 compared to 1,289 yesterday.
07-Dec-2020 Sweden’s Covid-19 experiment is over. After a late autumn surge in infections led to rising hospitalizations and deaths, the government has abandoned its attempt — unique among Western nations — to combat the pandemic through voluntary measures.
07-Dec-2020 Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), warned Sunday it’s likely the pandemic will continue to worsen in the coming weeks and predicted the U.S. could reach nearly 4,000 deaths per day in January.
07-Dec-2020 In a surprise development in Romanian national elections, the far-right AUR party went from practically zero to nearly 9% of the vote. For the first time they will enter Parliament.
06-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 5,231; deaths were 134 and the number in ICU is 1,289, another new record, compared to 1,280 yesterday.
06-Dec-2020 Pfizer Inc. has applied for emergency use authorisation of its coronavirus vaccine in India, media said on Sunday, the first to do so in a country with the world’s second-highest number of infections.
06-Dec-2020 On all fronts — cases, hospitalizations and deaths — the U.S. toppled records this week. “What we’re seeing now is less of a curve and more of a vertical climb,” says Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s really an extraordinary acceleration.”
05-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 8,072; deaths were 134 and the number in ICU is 1,280, another new record, compared to 1,275 yesterday.
05-Dec-2020 Winter offers perfect conditions for Covid-19 to Spread, studies show. Research provides strong evidence that coronavirus survives longer in cold weather and inside dry, heated homes.
05-Dec-2020 Many scientists and global health experts are warning that vaccines, with limited initial supplies and roll-out to selected groups, although protecting vulnerable groups and front-line health workers, are unlikely to transport us back to our old way of living anytime soon.
05-Dec-2020 As COVID-19 infections continue to surge, coronavirus was ranked as the leading cause of death in the U.S. this week, with 11,820, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. That’s more than the number of Americans who died from ischemic heart disease (10,724), tracheal, bronchus and lung cancer (3,965), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3,766). More than 213,830 new cases of Covid-19 and 2,861 deaths were reported overnight. The figures set a new single-day record.
05-Dec-2020 Biotech company Moderna has shared findings that its coronavirus vaccine offered trial participants immunity up to three months after the second injection.
05-Dec-2020 A breakthrough in the three-and-a-half-year dispute between Qatar and its neighbouring Gulf states appears to have been achieved following what were described as “fruitful” talks to resolve the conflict. The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said “significant progress” had been reached in the last few days and he was optimistic all countries were close to finalising a resolution.
05-Dec-2020 Bats in the frontier regions of south and south-west China harbour other coronaviruses that already have the capacity to cross over to humans, a prominent Chinese scientist has said. Dr Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology said these viruses, including close relatives of Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, were likely to be circulating in nature beyond China.
05-Dec-2020 Political pressures are thinning the ranks of local public health officials across the U.S. Many are leaving because they’ve been physically threatened or “politically scapegoated” for doing their jobs, Lori Freeman, chief executive of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told NPR.
05-Dec-2020 The U.K. will administer its first doses of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, government and health officials say, raising hopes that the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech could help them tame the coronavirus.
04-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: A grim milestone today as Romania exceeded half a million confirmed cases. The number of new infections was 8,062; deaths were 175 and the number in ICU is 1,275, another new record, compared to 1,252 yesterday.
04-Dec-2020 Pfizer and Germany-based partner BioNTech SE had hoped to roll out 100 million vaccines world-wide by the end of this year, a plan that has now been reduced to 50 million.
04-Dec-2020 Covid-19-related deaths reported in a single day hit a record in the U.S. as hospitalizations surpassed 100,000 for the first time, leaving hospitals in some regions of the country without enough beds in intensive-care units to meet their patients’ needs. New cases and deaths also hit new records on Thursday. All numbers in the U. S. have been steadily rising for several weeks.
04-Dec-2020 Covid-19 vaccines awaiting regulatory approval will require ultracold temperatures for shipping and storage, and makers of dry ice are bracing for a surge in demand. Demand for dry ice has already soared during the pandemic as consumers order more goods online requiring refrigeration and producers introduce or expand home delivery, executives said.
03-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections was 7,661; deaths were a new record of 211 and the number in ICU is 1,252 compared to 1,260 yesterday. In context, the trend of new infections is downward, but the positive test percentage (23.9%) remains very high. As long as ICU occupancy remains at near-record levels, the number of deaths will also be at near-record levels.
03-Dec-2020 Record-high Covid infections and hospitalisations have been reported in the US. The number of people in hospital passed 100,000 for the first time, a figure that has doubled since early November. New cases rose by 200,007 on Wednesday, and the daily death toll of 3,157 was a new high.
03-Dec-2020 Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday that Germany will extend its coronavirus lockdown into 2021. The partial lockdown, which has been in effect since November 2, will now be in effect until January 10.
03-Dec-2020 President Vladimir Putin ordered a large-scale voluntary vaccination programme against COVID-19 to begin next week across Russia, saying teachers and doctors should be first in line to get the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine. Russia recorded a record 28,145 new cases today.
03-Dec-2020 The global death toll is approaching 1.5 million, with over 64 million confirmed cases. There are currently more than half a million new cases per day, and more than 8,000 deaths per day.
02-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections continues a downward trend, with 4,916 new cases reported today. Deaths were 135 and the number in ICU is 1,260, another new record, compared to 1,259 yesterday. Due to the perceived improvement in virus numbers, the markets that were closed for several weeks will be allowed to reopen on Friday. However, the lower number of cases is likely due to fewer tests being performed during the recent holiday.
02-Dec-2020 In a letter sent to the Department of Health and Human Services, the American Ambulance Association said “the 911 emergency medical system throughout the United States is at a breaking point. Without additional relief, it seems likely to break, even as we enter the third surge of the virus in the Mid-West and the West.”
02-Dec-2020 Florida on Tuesday became the third U.S. state to surpass 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
02-Dec-2020 India has the second highest number of Covid cases in the world. November was the deadliest month for the capital Delhi, which has been struggling to contain the virus, with more than 100 deaths on some days. Cases are starting to fall, but doctors warn that if people don’t take care, the situation could get worse again.
02-Dec-2020 Six Israeli products were included on TIME magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2020: 100 Innovations Changing How We Live” and were cited as inventions “making the world better, smarter and even a bit more fun.”
01-Dec-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections continues a downward trend, with 4,272 new cases reported today. Deaths were higher at 199 and the number in ICU is 1,259, another new record, compared to 1,251 yesterday.
01-Dec-2020 Moderna is seeking approval for its Covid-19 vaccine after it was shown to be 94% effective, keeping the shot on track for use in the U.S. by year’s end, alongside Pfizer and BioNTech. A major difference with other vaccines is the ability to be stored in a normal refrigerator, and even at room temperature for extended periods.
01-Dec-2020 The head of the Israel Biological Institute told the Knesset’s Science and Technology Committee on Monday that the coronavirus vaccine being developed in Israel is expected to be ready during the summer of 2021. “We have the intention and ability to produce 15 million vaccines for the benefit of the citizens of the State of Israel and also for the benefit of neighbors close to us,” said Prof. Shmuel Shapira.
01-Dec-2020 Israeli and Emirati business people took part in a series of roundtable discussions on various ways to cooperate. Participants from the biggest investment companies in Dubai that are interested in investments and in cooperating with Israeli companies also joined the talks.
01-Dec-2020 COVID-19 infected people in the U.S. already in mid-December 2019, a few weeks before it was officially identified in China and about a month earlier than public health authorities found the first U.S. case, according to a new CDC analysis of blood donations. The findings significantly strengthen evidence suggesting the virus was spreading around the world well before public health authorities and researchers became aware.
30-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections continues lower on the weekend, with 3,826 new cases reported today. However, deaths at 138 and the number in ICU is 1,251, another new record, compared to 1,250 yesterday. New cases in Maramures for the month of November were 4,149 compared to 2,384 in October.
30-Nov-2020 The first batch of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on a United Airlines flight from Brussels, Belgium, on Sunday.
30-Nov-2020 Covid infections in England have fallen by 30% as a result of the recent lockdown, according to a major study.
30-Nov-2020 The United States passed 13 million total cases, and four million cases in November as of Saturday, more than double the record 1.9 million cases set in October. Now experts have warned Americans to expect that sharp rise in cases to continue, due in part to the Thanksgiving holiday – potentially worsening heading into the December holiday season.
29-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections is always much lower on the weekend, with 5,554 new cases today. However, deaths remain high at 148 and the number in ICU is 1,250, another new record, compared to 1,249 yesterday.
28-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections continues going down slowly, with 8,134 new cases today. However, deaths remain high at 161 and the number in ICU is now 1,249 which is another record compared to 1,226 yesterday.
27-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: The number of new infections is going down, with less than 8,500 new cases today. However, deaths remain high at 172 and the number in ICU has stayed at 1,226 which is equal to the record high of yesterday.
27-Nov-2020 Russia has reported another record high of 27,543 new coronavirus infections, including 7,918 in the capital Moscow, bringing the national tally to 2,215,533.
27-Nov-2020 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus could hit 321,000 by mid-December. By then, hospitals could be overflowing with patients in many parts of the country — and some are already preparing.
27-Nov-2020 Germany hit another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic on Friday, being the latest country to have more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19.
27-Nov-2020 AstraZeneca and Oxford University on Wednesday acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine that some experts say could hinder its chances of getting speedy U.S. and E.U. regulatory approval.
26-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,005 new cases for a total of 449,349; 171 deaths for a total of 10,712; 1,226 in ICU compared to 1,205 yesterday. There are currently only 1,306 ICU beds in the entire country. Maramures had 114 new cases for a total of 8,133 and Cluj had 551 new cases for a total of 20,520.
26-Nov-2020 Scientists from around the world have warned that relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas and New Year could lead to a third wave of the pandemic, with increased transmission and unnecessary deaths.
26-Nov-2020 As Americans enter a period of peak travel among their states starting with Thanksgiving, new discoveries about how Europe’s second coronavirus wave spread provide an object lesson. Many European regions had made such gains against Covid-19 as to be cited as models. Those gains proved fragile.
26-Nov-2020 Global totals of confirmed COVID-19 infections surpassed 60 million. More than half a million new cases are being added every day. Deaths are nearing 1.5 million.
26-Nov-2020 A severe cyclone slammed into India’s southern coast early on Thursday, killing at least five people and uprooting trees and power lines. Many of the Brethren in India live in this region. So far there are no reports of serious injury or propery damage amongst the Brethren.
26-Nov-2020 People trying to kill the coronavirus with ultraviolet UVC germicidal lamps may risk painful eye injuries if they aren’t careful, a recent study finds. The clear part of the surface of the eye happens to be very susceptible to the wavelength of the light from these lamps.
25-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,739 new cases for a total of 440,344; 168 deaths for a total of 10,541; 1,205 in ICU compared to 1,204 yesterday. There are currently only 1,306 ICU beds in the entire country. Maramures had 219 new cases for a total of 8,019 and Cluj had 495 new cases for a total of 19,969.
25-Nov-2020 France is to begin easing restrictions from this weekend after President Emmanuel Macron said the peak of the second wave of virus infections had passed.
25-Nov-2020 The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the body representing airlines globally, announced Monday that a digital health pass, which could include passengers’ COVID-19 testing and vaccine information, is in its final development phase and it is set to be available in early 2021.
25-Nov-2020 A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than 1,000 hospitals across the country are now critically short on staff. More than 85,000 Americans are hospitalized with the coronavirus, setting a new record for the 14th consecutive day. Deaths in the U. S. increased 27% from a week ago.
25-Nov-2020 Hospitalizations in California due to confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus have risen more than 81% in the last two weeks.
25-Nov-2020 The CDC is finalizing a recommendation to shorten COVID-19 quarantines from 14 days down to 7 days. An official spokesman stated that: “The probability of going on and developing an infection after that is pretty low.”
25-Nov-2020 Colorado could see the number of Covid-19 deaths more than double by the end of the year if nothing changes with the measures people take to prevent transmission of the virus, the state epidemiologist warned Tuesday.
25-Nov-2020 A network of 13 African countries has joined forces with global researchers to launch the largest clinical trial of potential Covid-19 treatments on the continent. Uganda is on the list of participating countries.
25-Nov-2020 Russia’s deputy prime minister, Tatiana Golikova, said on Tuesday the country’s coronavirus situation was becoming “more complicated” with the onset of autumn and winter. Russia recorded a record 25,173 new daily infections on Monday.
24-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 7,753 new cases for a total of 430,605; 196 deaths for a total of 10,373; 1,204 in ICU compared to 1,160 yesterday. Maramures had 94 new cases for a total of 7,800 and Cluj had 393 new cases for a total of 19,474.
24-Nov-2020 Every year Oxford Languages chooses a “word of the year” that attracted special attention. In 2019 it was the phrase: “climate emergency”, and “toxic” was the word of the year for 2018. But 2020 was “unprecedented”, and the committee did not consider it appropriate to choose a single word or phrase. A detailed 38-page report released on Monday contains dozens of words and phrases that warranted special consideration.
24-Nov-2020 Italy, the first European country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic, on Monday passed the threshold of 50,000 deaths from Covid-19. Around 15,000 of those deaths have been reported since the beginning of September.
24-Nov-2020 The Coronavirus has spiralled out of control in Palestinian-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria, forcing a 2-week lockdown.
24-Nov-2020 The US suffered more than 10,000 deaths in the last seven days, according to Johns Hopkins. The death toll was 10,575.
23-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 4,207 new cases for a total of 422,852; 130 deaths for a total of 10,177; 1,160 in ICU compared to 1,174 yesterday. Maramures had 75 new cases for a total of 7,706 and Cluj had 165 new cases for a total of 19,081.
23-Nov-2020 The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford stops 70% of people developing Covid symptoms, a large scale trial shows. It is both a triumph and a disappointment after vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna showed 95% protection.
23-Nov-2020 The situation at the Bible Students retirement center in Poland is under control. Sadly, 12 died from COVID-19, of which 6 were Brethren, and 2 other deaths were not related to the virus.
23-Nov-2020 As many as 50 million people are expected to travel by various means this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, potentially producing a new surge in infections that will manifest a couple of weeks later and threaten the Christmas holidays, too, leading expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned.
23-Nov-2020 U.S. healthcare workers and others recommended for the nation’s first COVID-19 inoculations could start getting shots within a day or two of regulatory consent next month, a top official of the government’s vaccine development effort said on Sunday.
23-Nov-2020 Hyperbaric oxygen treatments can stop the aging of blood cells and even reverse the aging process in healthy aging adults, according to a recently published study from scientists at Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Shamir Medical Center. [Such conditions would have existed before the Flood, possibly explaining longer lifespans then. (ed.)]
22-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 5,837 new cases for a total of 418,645; 131 deaths for a total of 10,047; 1,174 in ICU compared to 1,132 yesterday. Maramures had 87 new cases for a total of 7,631 and Cluj had 283 new cases for a total of 18,916.
22-Nov-2020 The official total in the U. S. is now over 12 million. Records are being set every day, with more than 200,000 new cases recorded in the latest tally.
22-Nov-2020 Canada will place its largest city, Toronto, under ‘lockdown’ for at least 28 days amid coronavirus spikes.
22-Nov-2020 In October, more than 1 in 4 U. S. workers were either unemployed or working for poverty-level wages, according to an analysis of government data.
22-Nov-2020 Texas National Guard troops have been deployed to El Paso, Texas, to help with morgue operations as the city and county grapple with a COVID-19 surge.
21-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,685 new cases for a total of 412,808; 160 deaths for a total of 9,916; 1,132 in ICU compared to 1,139 yesterday. Maramures had 113 new cases for a total of 7,544 and Cluj had 424 new cases for a total of 18,633.
21-Nov-2020 Governments and central banks have spent more than $12 trillion and promised to shell out another $7.5 trillion since the coronavirus erupted to “put a floor under the world economy,” according to the International Monetary Fund.
21-Nov-2020 The U. S. recorded another all-time high, and another new world record, with more than 195,000 cases in a 24-hour period. Deaths surged to nearly 2,000. The U. S. has nearly 12 million cases, followed by India with 9 million and Brazil at 6 million cases.
21-Nov-2020 More than 1,000 hospitals across the United States are “critically” short on staff, according to numbers released this week by the Department of Health and Human Services.
21-Nov-2020 Due to huge expenses in the fight against COVID-19 to-date, many poorer countries have little or no money left to pay for a potential vaccine, once one becomes available.
21-Nov-2020 A number of European governments, including Austria, are launching programs to test entire populations of countries or regions for Covid-19, in an effort to tamp down contagion ahead of Christmas and ease economically damaging restrictions and lockdowns.
20-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,272 new cases for a total of 403,123; 160 deaths for a total of 9,756; 1,139 in ICU compared to 1,131 yesterday. Maramures had 148 new cases for a total of 7,431 and Cluj had 520 new cases for a total of 18,209.
20-Nov-2020 The need to store the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at at least -70C(-94F), with its required cold-chain infrastructure, puts it out of the reach of up to two-thirds of the world’s population.
20-Nov-2020 Russia reported its worst day for new infections with more than 24,000 confirmed cases. India now has more than 9 million cases. Mexico has become the 4th country to surpass 100,000 deaths. Global cases are nearly 57 million.
20-Nov-2020 The U. S. recorded an all-time high, and a new world record, with more than 187,000 cases in a 24-hour period. California and Ohio will be under statewide curfews beginning Saturday. The country is approaching 12 million total cases.
19-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 10,108 new cases for a total of 393,851; 167 deaths for a total of 9,596; 1,131 in ICU compared to 1,174 yesterday. Maramures had 132 new cases for a total of 7,283 and Cluj had a record of 734 new cases for a total of 17,689.
19-Nov-2020 Europe made up almost half of the world’s 4 million new coronavirus cases last week but recorded a nearly 10% fall in infections compared to the week before, thanks in part to strict government lockdown measures, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday.
19-Nov-2020 Pfizer and BioNTech could secure emergency U.S. and European authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine next month after final trial results showed it had a 95% success rate and no serious side effects, the drugmakers said on Wednesday. The vaccine’s efficacy was found to be consistent across different ages and ethnicities.
19-Nov-2020 The official COVID-19 death toll in the U. S. has now surpassed 250,000. Total confirmed infections stand at 11.5 million. India is in second place with nearly 9 million cases.
18-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 10,269 new cases for a new record and a total of 383,743; 168 deaths for a total of 9,429; 1,174 in ICU compared to 1,174 yesterday. Maramures had 172 new cases for a total of 7,151 and Cluj had 501 new cases for a total of 16,955.
18-Nov-2020 More cases are being reported in Europe and the U. S. amongst Bible Students.
18-Nov-2020 Confirmed cases worldwide surpassed 55 million, with over 600,000 new cases in the past 24 hours. Total deaths are more than 1.3 million.
18-Nov-2020 Italy and Spain have both recorded their highest daily coronavirus death tolls of the second wave, reporting 731 and 435 deaths respectively over the past 24 hours.
18-Nov-2020 Canadians celebrated their Thanksgiving last month, and if the day can teach anything to Americans, it’s that gathering for the holidays can lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases.
18-Nov-2020 Doctors on the White House Coronavirus Task Force stressed to Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic situation is dire and only getting worse. One by one, leaders in cities and states are also sounding the alarm. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced a new curfew as the state faces a COVID-19 surge.
18-Nov-2020 France on Tuesday became the first European country to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases despite an Oct. 30 nationwide lockdown that has led to a sharp decline in new infections, according to a Reuters tally.
17-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 8,262 new cases for a total of 373,474; 186 deaths for a total of 9,261; 1,174 in ICU compared to 1,187 yesterday. Maramures had 45 new cases for a total of 6,979 and Cluj had 606 new cases for a total of 16,454.
17-Nov-2020 France has passed the peak in the latest wave of infections. India’s daily cases fell to their lowest level since mid-July. Total cases in Russia are approaching the 2 million mark. The U. S. added more than one million new cases in the past week alone.
17-Nov-2020 As California’s “unprecedented” coronavirus surge worsens, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that he’s pulling “the emergency brake” and implementing the state’s most restrictive safety measures across most counties, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The number of daily new coronavirus cases doubled in the past 10 days in California.
17-Nov-2020 Moderna Inc. said its experimental coronavirus vaccine was 94.5% effective at protecting people from Covid-19 in an early look at pivotal study results, the second vaccine to hit a key milestone in U.S. testing. The vaccine will be easy to distribute, particularly to rural areas, because it can be stored for one month at standard refrigerator temperatures.
16-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 4,931 new cases for a total of 365,212; 149 deaths for a total of 9,075; a record of 1,187 in ICU compared to 1,169 yesterday. The percentage of positive cases is a new record of 43.8% out of 11,266 tests conducted. Maramures had a weekend record of 258 new cases for a total of 6,934 and Cluj had 105 new cases for a total of 15,848.
16-Nov-2020 Around the World: The State of Southern Australia has gone on high alert after a new outbreak. The Indian capital of Delhi has seen increasing numbers of new cases, aggravated by dangerous levels of air pollution. Russia set another daily record for new cases.
16-Nov-2020 The U. S. has surpassed 11 million confirmed cases, and deaths are approaching 250,000. More States have imposed new restrictions. There are scattered reports of more Bible Students who have become infected, but no severe cases are known at this time.
15-Nov-2020 Germans should brace for another 4-5 months of severe measures to halt the rise in coronavirus infections and should not expect the current rules to be eased quickly, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told weekly Bild am Sonntag.
15-Nov-2020 Global cases of COVID-19 are now more than 54 million. The U.S. continues to be the biggest contributor to the increase, outpacing second place India by more than 3-to-1.
15-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 7,096 new cases for a total of 360,281; 113 deaths for a total of 8,926; 1,169 in ICU compared to 1,172 yesterday. The percentage of positive cases is 32.9% out of 21,571 tests conducted.
15-Nov-2020 Starting Tuesday, Austria will impose a limited curfew, banning people from leaving their homes except to go to work, get essential supplies, to exercise or to help people who need assistance.
15-Nov-2020 New cases in the U.S. continue to surge with more than 184,000 reported yesterday. Cases continue to rise in all 50 States. Daily cases have gone up more than 70% nationwide, since the beginning of November.
14-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,460 new cases for a total of 353,185; 129 deaths for a total of 8,813; a record of 1,172 in ICU compared to 1,149 yesterday. Maramures had 108 new cases for a total of 6,674 and Cluj had 601 new cases for a total of 15,468.
14-Nov-2020 More than a hundred U. S. Secret Service Uniformed Division officers are in isolation or quarantine due to testing positive for COVID-19 or having close contact with someone who is, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.
14-Nov-2020 Italy has added more regions to its coronavirus high-risk “red zones” as cases across the country hit a new daily record. Authorities in Campania, which includes Naples, have warned that the health system there is close to collapse. Friday’s announcement came as Italy confirmed 40,902 new infections – its highest ever daily total.
14-Nov-2020 A new coronavirus strain could potentially leap to other animals, such as rats, mice, ferrets and voles, an expert has warned. The virus could then “come back in future years into the human population”, said Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust.
14-Nov-2020 U.S. daily coronavirus cases set another record (more than 150,000) as several states reported all-time highs, while California became the second state in the country to top one million total infections. Three U.S. West Coast states jointly called for a halt in non-essential travel. For the first time, all 50 states are seeing a rise in daily COVID-19 cases.
13-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,489 new cases for a total of 343,725; 174 deaths for a total of 8,684; 1,149 in ICU compared to 1,152 yesterday. Maramures had 191 new cases for a total of 6,566 and Cluj had 586 new cases for a total of 14,867.
13-Nov-2020 New infections and hospital admissions have surged in Sweden as the country battles a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that officials had hoped its light-touch, anti-lockdown approach would mitigate.
13-Nov-2020 Lockdowns and other restrictions are starting to stem the spread of Covid-19 in some, but not all, European countries, authorities have said, and the continent’s hospitals remain under heavy pressure that is unlikely to ease for some time yet.
13-Nov-2020 The governors of North Dakota, Ohio and Utah all delivered the same message this week: hospital resources normally used for patients with heart attacks, strokes or emergency trauma will soon be overrun by patients with COVID-19.
13-Nov-2020 In India, Delhi’s COVID-19 deaths rose by a record high on Thursday and it also reported the most number of infections in India, an increase attributed to the city’s toxic air and a lack of physical distancing in public places around a major festival. Hospitals are swamped.
13-Nov-2020 Chicago’s mayor issued a month-long stay-at-home advisory on Thursday, and Detroit’s public schools called a halt to in-person instruction to curb the spread of the coronavirus as more than a dozen U.S. states reported a doubling of new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks.
13-Nov-2020 U. S. cases topped 100,000 for the 9th day in a row with more than 144,000 new cases. At least nine states from North Carolina to New Mexico reported record numbers of new cases. Illinois has recorded six days of more than 10,000 new infections. These records are likely to be swiftly surpassed as cases soar nationally.
12-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 10,142 new cases for a total of 334,236; 121 deaths for a total of 8,510; a record of 1,152 in ICU compared to 1,092 yesterday. Maramures had 143 new cases for a total of 6,375 and Cluj had 413 new cases for a total of 14,281.
12-Nov-2020 Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced an imposition of an even stricter set of nationwide regulations is likely. Baia Mare is the latest city to be put under quarantine. In addition to the nationwide restrictions and curfew already in place, additional restrictions are imposed under a local quarantine.
12-Nov-2020 Italy, one of the European countries hit hardest by COVID-19, surpassed the one-million infections mark on Wednesday, leap-frogging Mexico to become one of the top 10 worst-affected countries globally, according to a Reuters tally.
12-Nov-2020 Bible Students in Northern Moldova continue to battle with the coronavirus. The latest round of infections are in the small Ecclesia in Drochia. One Sister from there has been admitted to the hospital. At least one Brother from Ruseni, Moldova, is struggling with the lasting effects of “long COVID” which have left him weak and unable to perform his usual duties.
11-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,799 new cases for a total of 324,094; a record of 203 deaths for a total of 8,389; 1,092 in ICU compared to 1,093 yesterday. Maramures had 234 new cases for a total of 6,232 and Cluj had 707 new cases for a total of 13,868.
11-Nov-2020 Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday said much of the state is seeing the worst surge of the coronavirus since the pandemic started earlier this year.
11-Nov-2020 Wearing a mask not only protects others from the spread of Covid-19, but it protects the wearer as well, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday in its strongest messaging yet on face coverings.
11-Nov-2020 More than 300,000 people have died of COVID-19 across Europe, according to a Reuters tally on Tuesday, and authorities fear that fatalities and infections will continue to rise as the region heads into winter despite hopes for a new vaccine.
11-Nov-2020 The U.S. government could begin vaccinating Americans as early as December if Pfizer Inc. moves quickly in gaining approval of a vaccine it developed with German partner BioNTech SE, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Tuesday. However, the vaccine needs to be stored at a temperature of minus 70 Celsius, meaning in practice that it can only be transported packed in “dry ice,” making the logistics of a mass global distribution extremely problematic.
11-Nov-2020 The United States reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases for the seventh day in a row on Tuesday, while the number of deaths surged to their highest daily count since August.
10-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 7,304 new cases for a total of 314,295; a record of 177 deaths for a total of 8,186; a record of 1,093 in ICU compared to 1,076 yesterday. Maramures had 82 new cases for a total of 5,998 and Cluj had 423 new cases for a total of 13,161.
10-Nov-2020 In Timisoara, one of Romania’s largest cities, ICU units are full. Six patients died while waiting for an ICU bed to become available. This scenario is, sadly, becoming more common across the country.
10-Nov-2020 The coronavirus pandemic raged across the United States last week with the daily number of new infections hitting record highs for four straight days. More than 770,000 new cases were diagnosed in the week ended Nov. 10, up 34% over the previous seven days. The nation’s top health officials are warning we could be entering the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic.
10-Nov-2020 The Food and Drug Administration on Monday cleared the experimental drug Bamlanivimab from Eli Lilly for people 12 and older with mild or moderate COVID-19 not requiring hospitalization. It may help clear the coronavirus sooner and possibly cut hospitalizations in people with mild to moderate COVID-19.
10-Nov-2020 Pfizer Inc. said on Monday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed more than a million people, battered the world’s economy and upended daily life.
10-Nov-2020 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has tested positive for coronavirus, the presidential office said on Monday. “The head of state is feeling well and will continue to perform his duties remotely in self-isolation,” the office said in a statement.
09-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 3,240 new cases for a total of 306,991; 130 deaths for a total of 8,009; a record of 1,076 in ICU compared to 1,056 yesterday. Maramures had 179 new cases for a total of 5,916 and Cluj had 121 new cases for a total of 12,738.
09-Nov-2020 The French Health Ministry reported a total of 1,787,324 confirmed COVID-19 cases, up 38,619 from Saturday when the total increased by a new record of 86,852.
09-Nov-2020 Global coronavirus infections exceeded 50 million on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally, with a second wave of the virus in the past 30 days accounting for a quarter of the total.
09-Nov-2020 Extensive social restrictions announced last week and imposed across Germany from Monday – including shutting restaurants, gyms and theatres – have yet to have a decisive impact. The curve is still heading upwards.
09-Nov-2020 There continue to be scattered reports of infections amongst the Bible Students. At this point there are no severe cases known. The most recent death was last week in Romania.
08-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 6,752 new cases for a total of 303,751; 86 deaths for a total of 7,879; a record of 1,056 in ICU compared to 1,048 yesterday. The number of new cases is a record for a weekend day. Maramures had 49 new cases for a total of 5,737 and Cluj had 392 new cases for a total of 12,617.
08-Nov-2020 Once again, the United States general election has taken over the top spot in world news, consequently coronavirus stories are fewer.
08-Nov-2020 Germany followed several European countries by reporting a record number of daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, as a second wave of infections sweeps through the continent as winter approaches.
08-Nov-2020 The United States on Saturday reported a record increase in coronavirus cases for a fourth consecutive day with at least 131,420 new infections, bringing the country’s total caseload to nearly 10 million. Seventeen states reported a record one-day increase on Saturday while 14 states reported record daily numbers of hospitalized patients.
07-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: There were 9,937 new cases for a total of 296,999; 130 deaths for a total of 7,793; a record of 1,048 in ICU compared to 1,001 yesterday. Maramures had 165 new cases for a total of 5,688 and Cluj had 485 new cases for a total of 12,225.
07-Nov-2020 France broke a daily record for new cases with more than 60,000 confirmed on Friday. Italy reported 35,505 new cases and 445 deaths Thursday. Austria and Poland also both reported record case rises Thursday. Germany recorded nearly 20,000 new cases on Friday.
07-Nov-2020 The State of Texas has exceeded one million cases of COVID-19, taking over first place from California with 960,000 cases.
07-Nov-2020 U.S. coronavirus infections surged by at least 129,606 on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, the third consecutive daily rise of more than 100,000 cases as a third wave of COVID-19 sweeps the United States.
06-Nov-2020 Latest from Romania: As of Monday a nationwide curfew will be imposed between 11pm-5am. All stores must close by 9pm. Masks will be required at all times outside the home. More than 10,000 new cases for the first time at 10,260 for a total of 287,062; 123 deaths for a total of 7,663; 1,001 ICU beds in use compared to 1,014 yesterday. Daily cases in Maramures were a new record of 290 for a total of 5,523. Cluj had a new record of 722 cases for a total of 11,740 and the highest in Romania for the past 24 hours.
06-Nov-2020 Scientists have found the strongest evidence yet that people who recover from Covid may mount a much faster and more effective defence against the infection if they encounter the virus again. Researchers at Rockefeller University in New York found that the immune system not only remembered the virus but improved the quality of protective antibodies after an infection had passed, equipping the body to unleash a swift and potent attack if the virus invaded a second time.
06-Nov-2020 Globally, the world suffered the highest total one-day death toll of the pandemic so far, with 11,447 people lost in the last day. It also recorded more cases than ever before, more than 700,000 in a 24-hour period.
06-Nov-2020 The World Health Organization in Europe on Thursday said it was seeing an “explosion” of coronavirus cases in the region and warned of a “tough time” ahead as mortality rates rose.
06-Nov-2020 There were more than 120,000 new cases of coronavirus in the US on Thursday – another record one-day increase, exceeding the previous day record by more than 20,000.
05-Nov-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: More records with 9,714 new cases for a total of 276,802; 121 deaths for a total of 7,540; 1,014 ICU beds in use compared to 1,001 yesterday. Although more ICU beds have been added recently, Romania is near maximum capacity. A lack of ICU personnel is an even more serious problem. New daily cases in Maramures were 170 for a total of 5,233. Cluj had a record of 534 new cases for a total of 11,018.
05-Nov-2020 AstraZeneca PLC said late-stage trials for the Covid-19 vaccine it is developing with the University of Oxford are on track to produce results “later this year,” with a potential rollout soon after, subject to regulatory approval.
05-Nov-2020 India is reporting 50,209 new coronavirus cases for the previous 24 hours amid a surge in the capital of New Delhi, which officials now say is in its third wave of infections.
05-Nov-2020 At least seven European nations have seen record case rises in the last 24 hours. Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Switzerland each confirmed their highest new infections to date.
05-Nov-2020 Americans went to the polls Tuesday under the shadow of a resurging pandemic, with an alarming increase in cases nationwide and the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 reaching record highs in a growing number of states. Daily infections were rising in all but three states. Total cases are approaching the 10 million mark. There were more than 100,000 new cases of coronavirus in the US on Wednesday – a record one-day increase.
05-Nov-2020 Denmark plans to cull its entire population of roughly 15 million minks in farms after the animals spread a mutation of the coronavirus to humans. The country’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said at a press conference Wednesday that the mutated virus could spread to other countries and it “may pose a risk to the effectiveness of a future vaccine.”
05-Nov-2020 France registered 40,558 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, compared with 36,330 on Tuesday and a record of 52,518 on Monday, health ministry data showed. The total number of cases increased to 1,543,321.
05-Nov-2020 Italy’s latest restrictions to try to rein in the coronavirus include a partial lockdown of its richest and most populous region Lombardy around the financial capital Milan, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday.
04-Nov-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: Another tsunami of records: 8,651 new cases for a total of 267,088; 146 deaths for a total of 7,419; 1,001 ICU beds in use compared to 974 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were 205 for a total of 5,063. Cluj had 293 new cases for a total of 10,484.
04-Nov-2020 As the eyes of the world are focused on the US election results, Pandemic news is taking a less prominent place.
03-Nov-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: an “explosion” of new cases. RECORDS in every category. There were 7,733 new cases for a total of 258,437; 120 deaths for a total of 7,187; 974 ICU beds in use compared to 916 yesterday. President Klaus Iohannis will make an emergency declaration later today. New daily cases in Maramures were a RECORD 254 for a total of 4,858. Cluj had 355 new cases for a total of 10,191.
03-Nov-2020 Across the US, there are growing concerns that the bitterness and animosity over the presidential election will not end when the polls close Tuesday night. From coast to coast, cities are preparing for possible protests, civil unrest and violence, regardless of the election’s outcome.
03-Nov-2020 The number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States hit another record high last week, rising 18% to more than 575,000, while deaths increased by 3%, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county reports.
03-Nov-2020 France reported a record 52,518 new COVID-19 on Monday and the number of people hospitalised with the disease rose by more than a 1,000 for the fourth time in eight days, as the pandemic showed no signs of abating despite a new lockdown.
02-Nov-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 4,041 new cases for a total of 250,704; 86 deaths for a total of 7,153; 916 ICU beds in use compared to 910 yesterday. The rate of 38.2% positive tests is a new record, compared to 32.7% which was the previous record. The 4,041 new cases is a record high for a Sunday, compared to the previous record of 2,844. (Monday’s figures reflect tests performed on Sunday.) New daily cases in Maramures were 74 for a total of 4,604. Cluj had 159 new cases for a total of 9,836.
02-Nov-2020 Five more localities in Maramures County, Romania, entered into quarantine after the infection rate soared to more than 8.0 compared to 4.98 in Cluj and 3.91 in Bucuresti. Sighet is not currently under quarantine, but Baia Mare has been for some time. Any area with a rate higher than 3.0 is subject to quarantine. More than a third of all Bible Students in Romania reside in the County of Maramures.
01-Nov-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 5,324 new cases for a total of 246,663; 99 deaths for a total of 7,067; 910 ICU beds in use compared to 923 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were 74 for a total of 4,530. Cluj had 344 new cases for a total of 9,677.
01-Nov-2020 Low levels of vitamin D, which our bodies produce in response to strong sunlight, may lead to a greater risk of catching the coronavirus or suffering more severe effects of infection, according to some studies. Last week, researchers in Spain found that 82% of coronavirus patients out of 216 admitted to hospital had low vitamin D levels.
01-Nov-2020 Russia’s daily tally of coronavirus cases hit a record high of 18,665 on Sunday, including 5,261 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 1,636,781. Authorities also reported 245 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 28,235.
01-Nov-2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered England back into a national lockdown after the United Kingdom passed the milestone of one million COVID-19 cases and a second wave of infections threatened to overwhelm the health service.
01-Nov-2020 A Brother from Tirgu Mures, Romania, died from COVID-19 this morning. There are additional Brethren with the coronavirus in Romania and in Moldova, but no other severe cases have been reported at this time.
31-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 5,753 new cases for a total of 241,339; 101 deaths for a total of 6,968; 923 ICU beds in use compared to 917 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were 54 for a total of 4,456 of which 2,384 (more than half) were in October. Cluj had 328 new cases for a total of 9,333.
31-Oct-2020 Europe has surpassed the 10 million mark of COVID-19 cases to-date, with the continent’s death toll at about 275,000.
31-Oct-2020 As coronavirus cases continue to spike and working from home seems permanent, many Americans are planning to set off to live in new places. An astonishing 14 million to 23 million Americans intend to relocate to a different city or region as a result of telework, according to a new study released by Upwork.
31-Oct-2020 Regeneron has paused its trials on the sickest patients following safety concerns. According to reports on Friday, the pharmaceutical company decided to stop giving its antibody-drug to coronavirus patients on ventilators or those receiving high amounts of oxygen.
31-Oct-2020 A surge of coronavirus cases in the United States pushed hospitals closer to the brink of capacity and drove the number of infections reported on Friday to an ominous new daily world record of over 100,000.
31-Oct-2020 Germany has set a new record for daily coronavirus cases, reporting 19,059 infections. The country’s previous highest daily increase was 18,681, reported only 24 hours earlier.
31-Oct-2020 Ukraine registered a record 8,752 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the national security council said on Saturday, up from 8,312 cases on Friday. Total infections stood at 387,481.
31-Oct-2020 India’s coronavirus caseload stood at 8.1 million on Saturday, with 48,268 new cases being recorded in the last 24 hours, data from the health ministry showed. India has the world’s second-highest caseload, behind only the United States, but new infections have seen a dip since September.
30-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: MORE RECORDS with 6,546 new cases for a total of 235,586; 103 deaths for a total of 6,867; 917 ICU beds in use compared to 868 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were a RECORD 261 for a total of 4,402. Cluj had 385 new cases for a total of 9,005.
30-Oct-2020 The World Health Organization’s Europe director expressed deep concern on Thursday after the region again recorded the highest-ever weekly incidence of cases, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a “difficult winter” as residents in France braced for life under a new month-long lockdown and Spain’s parliament voted to extend a state of emergency.
30-Oct-2020 The U.S. recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases in a day so far (over 90,000), and approached nine million in total, as the pandemic’s spread intensified across nearly all states.
29-Oct-2020 RECORD AFTER RECORD. Latest Romanian statistics: 6,481 new cases for a total of 229,040; 83 deaths for a total of 6,764; 868 ICU beds in use compared to 861 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were 161 for a total of 4,184. Cluj had 371 new cases for a total of 8,620.
29-Oct-2020 India has now become the second country to surpass 8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, after the US which has 8.8 million cases. Globally, the daily rate is now more than half a million per day.
29-Oct-2020 Avi Berkowitz, US Special Representative for International Negotiations, stated this morning that the United States is currently holding normalization discussions with between five and ten countries in the Arab world.
29-Oct-2020 The handful of drugmakers dominating the global coronavirus vaccine race are pushing the boundaries of vaccine technology. The next crop under development feature more conventional, proven designs, but will require much more time to produce a viable result.
29-Oct-2020 French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown, as a massive second wave of coronavirus infections threatened to overwhelm Europe before the winter. Daily cases hit a new record in many other European countries, including Italy, Poland and Romania. Nearly 100,000 are catching the virus daily in England, and that figure is doubling every nine days.
29-Oct-2020 The latest figures from the World Health Organization on Tuesday showed Europe reported 1.3 million new cases in the past seven days, nearly half the 2.9 million reported worldwide, with over 11,700 deaths, a 37% jump over the previous week.
29-Oct-2020 As cold weather envelops Illinois, the state is experiencing a massive upsurge in coronavirus cases, part of a trend across Midwest states. On Tuesday Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the closing of all indoor dining and bar service in the state’s largest city, Chicago, effective this Friday. On Wednesday, Illinois reported 6,110 cases and 51 deaths.
29-Oct-2020 A Mount Sinai study published Wednesday in the journal “Science” found that most people who experienced mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms have “a robust antibody response” that kills the virus and is “relatively stable for at least five months.” The study included data from 30,082 people.
28-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics RECORDS IN EVERY CATEGORY: 5,343 new cases for a total of 222,559; 107 deaths for a total of 6,681; 861 ICU beds in use compared to 824 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures were 100 for a total of 4,023. Cluj had 356 new cases for a total of 8,249.
28-Oct-2020 Russia has seen another spike in new cases. The government has mandated a nationwide requirement of masks in all public places. The country also recorded a record number of deaths.
28-Oct-2020 The U. S. has seen an increase of new cases in 38 States, with a one-week record high of new cases nationwide. Deaths are also on the increase.
28-Oct-2020 Ukraine recorded a record number of deaths. Germany recorded a record number of new cases.
27-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 4,724 new cases for a total of 217,216; a RECORD of 104 deaths for a total of 6,574; 824 ICU beds in use compared to 823 yesterday. New daily cases in Maramures continue to be very high at 155 for a total of 3,923. Cluj had 264 new cases for a total of 7,893.
27-Oct-2020 Some countries in Europe are faced with the difficult decision of selecting which patients will receive care, where no more ICU beds are available. Romania is adding another 200 ICU beds in the coming days as very few remain available nationwide.
27-Oct-2020 Global records continue to be set every day as nearly half a million new cases are being added every 24 hours.
27-Oct-2020 The United States, Russia, France and many other countries are setting records for coronavirus infections as a tidal wave of cases washes over parts of the Northern Hemisphere, forcing some countries to impose new curbs.
26-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,844 new cases for a total of 212,492; 79 deaths for a total of 6,470; 823 ICU beds in use compared to 828 yesterday. The infection rate of those tested was a new RECORD of 32.7% Maramures was in 4th place nationally with a RECORD of 181 new cases for a total of 3,768 (the previous record was 128). Cluj had 199 new cases for a total of 7,629.
26-Oct-2020 Angry groups of protesters clashed with riot police in Naples, Prague, Paris, Berlin and Warsaw over the weekend.
26-Oct-2020 Chevron CEO Michael Wirth believes that the Middle East is entering an era of reconciliation that will make it ideal for tapping natural gas, as demand for the cheaper and cleaner fuel is forecast to outstrip oil. The new strategy has seen the company close multi-billion dollar gas deals in Egypt, Israel and Qatar.
26-Oct-2020 France may be experiencing 100,000 new COVID-19 cases per day (twice the latest official figure) Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, who heads the scientific council that advises the government on the pandemic, told RTL radio on Monday.
26-Oct-2020 The United States has seen its highest ever number of new COVID-19 cases in the past two days. Europe reported more than 1.3 million new cases this past week, its highest single week count yet. New cases in India declined slightly during the past two weeks. Global cases are well over 42 million.
26-Oct-2020 The COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford produces an immune response in both elderly and young people and adverse reactions were lower among the elderly, British drug maker AstraZeneca on Monday.
26-Oct-2020 Israeli scientists say improperly treated wastewater poses a threat of a renewed outbreak. It can affect not only sewage plant workers but also people or animals who come into contact with the water, and could affect crops if treated water is used for agriculture.
26-Oct-2020 The state-run Israel Institute for Biological Research announced Sunday that researchers will begin human testing on its coronavirus vaccine next week. Another Israeli firm: Taffix, has invented a powder-based nasal spray that creates a gel in the nose that serves as a “protective layer” stopping the coronavirus from infecting people.
25-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 3,855 new cases for a total of 209,648; 73 deaths for a total of 6,391; a huge increase, and a new RECORD of 828 ICU beds in use compared to 787 yesterday. Maramures had 65 new cases for a total of 3,587. Cluj had 164 new cases for a total of 7,430.
25-Oct-2020 Russia confirmed a record 17,340 new coronavirus cases on Friday. One Sister in Tulun has contracted the virus, and is being treated at home due to overloaded healthcare facilities there.
25-Oct-2020 Italy reported another daily record for COVID-19 cases on Saturday as the government planned further restrictions to contain a resurgence of the pandemic, despite a second night of street protests against curfews ordered this week.
25-Oct-2020 Europe became the second region after Latin America to surpass 250,000 deaths on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, with record numbers of daily COVID-19 infections reported in the past two weeks.
24-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 4,761 new cases for a total of 205,722; 73 deaths for a total of 6,318; a RECORD of 787 ICU beds in use compared to 782 yesterday. Maramures had 57 new cases for a total of 3,522. Cluj had 340 new cases for a total of 7,266.
24-Oct-2020 Asia surpassed 10 million infections of the new coronavirus on Saturday, the second-heaviest regional toll in the world, according to a Reuters tally, as cases continue to mount in India despite a slowdown and sharp declines elsewhere.
24-Oct-2020 Polish President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus but is feeling good, presidential minister Blazej Spychalski announced on Twitter on Saturday.
24-Oct-2020 Israel and Sudan agreed on Friday to take steps to normalize relations in a deal brokered with the help of the United States, making Khartoum the third Arab government to set aside hostilities with Israel in the last two months.
24-Oct-2020 On Friday, both AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson announced that their coronavirus vaccine trials are set to resume in the U.S. after hitting pause when volunteers became sick. The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light after investigations found no link between those cases and the vaccine.
24-Oct-2020 French President Emmanuel Macron says his country will be fighting the virus until at least the middle of next year as cases there surged past a million.
24-Oct-2020 US coronavirus cases have hit a record daily high as states grapple with a renewed wave of infections. Citing data from local state health authorities, the Covid Tracking Project reported 83,010 new cases on Friday.
23-Oct-2020 Another day of records in Romania, with more than 5,000 new cases for the first time (5,028). Total cases are now over 200,000 at 201,032. There were 82 deaths for a total of 6,245. A new record of 782 in ICU compared to 778 yesterday. New cases in the counties of Maramures and Cluj were 106 and 273 respectively.
23-Oct-2020 Western intelligence sources say the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas has secret cyberwarfare headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey.
23-Oct-2020 Germany saw a “very serious” rise in new cases, and other nations across Europe are on the brink of an “out-of-control” resurgence of the disease.
23-Oct-2020 The number of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. rose Wednesday for a third straight day, with more than 62,000 new cases reported. The total there is nearing 8.5 million confirmed cases.
23-Oct-2020 US regulators have given full approval for the antiviral drug Remdesivir to treat Covid-19 patients in hospitals. Many studies have found the drug to be effective at shortening the time for recovery. This conflicts with the World Heatlh Organization which concluded from its own limited study that the drug had little effect.
23-Oct-2020 French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday a vast extension of the nightly curfew that is intended to curb the spiraling spread of the coronavirus, saying “the second wave is here.”
22-Oct-2020 A day of records in Romania in every category: 4,902 new cases for a total of 196,004; 98 deaths for a total of 6,163; 778 in ICU compared to 766 yesterday; 128 new cases in Maramures compared to the previous record of 116. Other Counties also set records.
22-Oct-2020 Hospitals around the United States are starting to buckle from a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, with several states setting records for the number of people hospitalized and leaders scrambling to find extra beds and staff.
22-Oct-2020 In spite of having a heavily touted vaccine against COVID-19, Russia continues to set daily records of new cases of the virus.
22-Oct-2020 Tens of thousands of deaths are now inevitable in a second wave of coronavirus infections sweeping across England. Germany surpassed 10,000 daily cases for the first time. France is nearing one million cases, a figure recently surpassed by Spain. Italy continues to set new daily case records. Croatia also saw a record daily high.
22-Oct-2020 Israel and the UAE have signed a 700 million deal to extend an oil pipeline through Israel, from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, opening up direct oil shipments from Arab countries to Europe in 2021. Relations between Israel and Qatar are also “warming”. Normalization of ties between Israel and Sudan could come as early as this weekend.
21-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: a RECORD of 4,848 new cases for a total of 191,102; 69 deaths for a total of 6,065; 766 ICU beds in use compared to 768 yesterday. Maramures had 63 new cases for a total of 3,231. Cluj had 343 new cases for a total of 6,315.
21-Oct-2020 Romania ranks 2nd in Europe for the death rate from COVID-19. The latest report shows that 22 municipalities (large cities) 15 cities and 255 towns have an infection rate of more than 3 per thousand, which is considered a “red line”.
21-Oct-2020 Regions in Spain and Italy have returned to lockdown and Ireland will do so from Wednesday as countries across Europe continue to report new Covid infection highs and governments struggle to contain the second wave of the pandemic.
21-Oct-2020 Two new peer-reviewed studies are showing a sharp drop in mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. (The rate dropped from 25.6% down to 7.6% which is still many times higher than seasonal Flu.) The drop is seen in all groups, including older patients and those with underlying conditions, suggesting that physicians are getting better at helping patients survive their illness.
21-Oct-2020 A senior delegation of United Arab Emirate officials visited Israel on Tuesday and signed various agreements that included the establishment of the Abraham Fund, which seeks to raise $3 billion in private investments for regional development.
21-Oct-2020 Daily confirmed cases in Poland have more than doubled in the past week, and the most recent 24-hour period saw nearly 10,000 new cases, a figure more than 16 times higher than the initial peak experienced last Spring.
20-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 3,400 new cases for a total of 186,254; 65 deaths for a total of 5,996; a RECORD of 768 ICU beds in use compared to 757 yesterday. Maramures had 79 new cases for a total of 3,168. Cluj had 228 new cases for a total of 5,972.
20-Oct-2020 The district of Bavaria in Germany has entered lockdown. This is the first such action since last Spring.
20-Oct-2020 Argentina became the fifth country in the world to surpass one million confirmed cases of COVID-19.
20-Oct-2020 President Trump will remove Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. Sudan has promised to pay 335 million dollars to victims of terrorist attacks. The U.S. move could be a precursor to ties between the African nation and Israel.
19-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,466 new cases for a total of 182,854 (30.7% of those tested came back positive for a new RECORD); 59 deaths for a total of 5,931; a RECORD of 757 ICU beds in use compared to 749 yesterday. Maramures had 86 new cases for a total of 3,089.
19-Oct-2020 New cases of the coronavirus have risen in 48 of the 50 U. S. States. Only Vermont and Missouri reported falls in the average number of reported coronavirus cases over the past week.
19-Oct-2020 Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on Sunday evening signed a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel. “We started the day as friends and we end it as members of one family – members of the family of Abraham,” Ben-Shabbat said at the signing ceremony.
19-Oct-2020 The Global case count has now surpassed 40 million, rising at an accelerated rate, with 10 million new cases being added in the last month alone.
19-Oct-2020 As daily cases in Italy hit a new record of 11,705 on Sunday, Prime Minister Conte said the situation had become critical, but his government is determined to avoid a repeat of the lockdown imposed at the start of the crisis in March.
19-Oct-2020 A Japanese research team published the results of a new study showing the coronavirus can survive on human skin for up to nine hours, reinforcing the importance of hand-washing to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
18-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 3,920 new cases (the highest ever on a weekend) for a total of 180,388; 60 deaths for a total of 5,872; a RECORD of 749 ICU beds in use compared to 745 yesterday. Maramures had 59 new cases for a total of 3,003.
18-Oct-2020 The U. S. recorded its highest daily total since July on Saturday. Globally, a new record was set with more than 400,000 cases in a single day.
17-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 3,952 new cases for a total of 176,468; 63 deaths for a total of 5,812; a RECORD of 745 ICU beds in use compared to 726 yesterday. Maramures had 51 new cases for a total of 2,944.
17-Oct-2020 An Arab pollster in the U. S. published a survey this week in which roughly 70% of the Arab respondents believe it is likely that Arab states will develop normalized ties with Israel even without a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Sudan has accelerated its moves to normalize ties with Israel. The Saudi-Arabian government has openly criticized the Palestinians in recent weeks.
17-Oct-2020 Europe’s second coronavirus wave took a dramatic turn for the worse this week, with the continent teetering “on the brink of disaster”, forcing governments across the continent to make tough choices as more than a dozen countries reported their highest ever number of new infections.
17-Oct-2020 The CEO of Geneva University Hospitals says that Europe faces a “turning point” at a time when many European countries are facing a second wave of coronavirus cases that grew in large part out of a summertime lull in which people let down their guard about the highly infectious pandemic.
17-Oct-2020 Italy set a daily record of new cases for the third day in a row. The situation has escalated rapidly going from 7,332 cases on Wednesday, to 8,804 on Thursday, and exceeding 10,000 new cases on Friday. Croatia also set a record for the third day in a row.
16-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: a RECORD of 4,026 new cases for a total of 172,516; 75 deaths for a total of 5,749; a RECORD of 726 ICU beds in use compared to 721 yesterday. Maramures had a RECORD of 116 new cases for a total of 2,893.
16-Oct-2020 Germany has set another record for daily cases. France reported more than 30,000 cases in 24 hours. The World Health Organization issued a warning that the surge of new cases in Europe could be five times as high as the April peak.
16-Oct-2020 U.S. cases of the novel coronavirus crossed 8 million on Thursday, rising by one million in less than a month, as another surge in cases hits the nation at the onset of cooler weather.
16-Oct-2020 After months of keeping the virus under control, Italy has set another record of 8,804 new cases, beating the previous record of 7,332 set only the day before.
15-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 4,013 new cases (just short of the record of 4,016), for a total of 168,490; 73 deaths for a total of 5,674; a new RECORD of 721 ICU beds in use compared to 686 yesterday. Maramures had 76 new cases for a total of 2,777.
15-Oct-2020 London will be placed on “high alert” Friday night, with tougher restrictions to be put in place. Eight million residents are affected.
15-Oct-2020 Europe has overtaken the U. S. in new cases of COVID-19. Germany set a daily case record, as did Italy. France has declared a “health state of emergency” and has placed major cities under curfew. However, new cases continue to surge in the U. S. in 37 out of the 50 States.
15-Oct-2020 Leading experts in the U. K. have warned not to expect anything like “normal” before 2022. This is a growing consensus worldwide.
15-Oct-2020 Yesterday Poland had a record high of new infections at 6,526. The previous record was 5,300. Croatia also had a record high of 748 new cases.
14-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: a new RECORD of 4,016 new cases, for a total of 164,477; 66 deaths for a total of 5,601; a new RECORD of 686 ICU beds in use compared to 651 yesterday. Maramures had 69 new cases for a total of 2,701.
14-Oct-2020 Germany recorded its highest number of infections since April with more than 5,000 new cases.
14-Oct-2020 Europe is seeing record numbers of new coronavirus cases, reporting over 700,000 new cases last week — its highest weekly total yet, according to the World Health Organization. This represents a 36% increase from the prior week.
14-Oct-2020 Nearly nine out of 10 workers want to be able to choose whether to work from home or the office once COVID-19 workplace restrictions ease, and have greater autonomy over their hours, according to research from Cisco Systems.
14-Oct-2020 Russia continues to have record high infections rates due to the general population not following safety guidelines. Most students will be moved to online learning. There are more than 1.3 million cases in Russia, ranking fourth in the world.
13-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 3,109 new cases, for a total of 160,461; 68 deaths for a total of 5,535; a RECORD of 651 ICU beds in use compared to 628 yesterday. Maramures had 55 new cases for a total of 2,632.
13-Oct-2020 A man in the United States caught Covid twice, with the second infection taking place less than 2 months after the first, and becoming far more dangerous. The 25-year-old needed hospital treatment after his lungs could not get enough oxygen into his body. He has since recovered.
13-Oct-2020 The world is adding new cases at a staggering pace and is already approaching 38 million cases.
13-Oct-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, an expert in infectious diseases for the last four decades, said in an interview Monday evening that it was more critical than ever to: wear a mask, social distance, avoid crowded spaces, do things outdoors where possible, and wash your hands frequently. He also said: “This is an outbreak of historic proportions, the likes of which we have not seen in 102 years…”
13-Oct-2020 Johnson & Johnson said it has paused further dosing in all clinical trials of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine because a study volunteer had an unexplained illness. The Phase 3 trial began in September and aimed to enroll as many as 60,000 people in the U. S.
12-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,069 new cases, for a total of 157,352; 56 deaths for a total of 5,467; 628 ICU beds in use compared to 628 yesterday. Maramures had 59 new cases for a total of 2,577.
12-Oct-2020 Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, warned that there is going to be “a lot of death and disease” from now until the end of 2020. Gottlieb also predicted that the U.S. is “going to face a difficult fall and winter.”
12-Oct-2020 There are currently 207 COVID-19 vaccines under development. Of those, 142 have not entered human trials yet, 35 are in small-scale (phase 1) human trials, 19 are in expanded safety trials (phase 2), and 11 are in large-scale efficacy trials (phase 3). None have been approved for general use.
12-Oct-2020 The U.S. reported more than 54,000 new cases of the coronavirus, marking a fourth straight day with daily infections above 50,000.
12-Oct-2020 The lockdown in Israel has proven effective as the percentage of positive results has dropped dramatically, to the lowest point in a month.
12-Oct-2020 A new corona test designed by a joint Israeli and Indian team produces results in under a minute. This could pave the way for a reopening of air travel among many other applications.
12-Oct-2020 An outbreak of COVID-19 in Poland, at the Bible Student Retirement Center there, has infected more than half the residents, and took the life of one Brother over the weekend.
11-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,880 new cases, for a total of 155,283; 53 deaths for a total of 5,411; 628 ICU beds in use compared to 629 yesterday. Maramures had 36 new cases for a total of 2,518.
11-Oct-2020 The Global total of COVID-19 cases has now exceeded 37 million, the most recent one million cases taking less than 3 days to accumulate.
11-Oct-2020 India has surpassed 7 million cases and continues on track to overtake the U. S. with the most cases in the world.
11-Oct-2020 The U. S. had a two month high for daily new cases. There were record numbers of new cases in 10 States.
10-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: RECORD of 3,517 new cases, for a total of 152,403; 59 deaths for a total of 5,358 a RECORD 629 ICU beds in use compared to 613 yesterday. Maramures had 49 new cases for a total of 2,482.
10-Oct-2020 Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a ceasefire that was brokered by Russia. There is one young Brother who lives in Armenia, as reported recently via OldRon. He has reported that he is “OK” for the moment.
10-Oct-2020 Total cases globally have surpassed 37 million. Yet another daily record was set on Friday with more than 350,000 new cases of COVID-19 worldwide. Another record was set in Europe with more than 109,000 new cases.
10-Oct-2020 New cases in Israel have gone down dramatically in recent days as lockdowns seem to be having a positive effect.
10-Oct-2020 Poland has seen a huge spike in daily cases, which have more than doubled in the past week, and set new records three days in a row. France set a new daily record with more than 20,000 cases in a 24-hour period.
10-Oct-2020 Berlin has emerged as a new virus hotspot. German chancellor, Angela Merkel, announced that some areas would be given 10 days to improve the situation or face tougher action.
10-Oct-2020 Russia recorded a daily high number of new cases. Infections have been on the rise since early September.
10-Oct-2020 A recent study in Israel discovered that the Coronavirus may cause sterility in males who suffered a severe infection. An interaction with the male hormone is the underlying cause, and may explain why males on average are twice as sick as females, and have a higher mortality rate.
09-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: RECORD of 3,186 new cases, for a total of 148,886; 52 deaths for a total of 5,299; a RECORD 613 ICU beds in use compared to 607 yesterday. Maramures had 32 new cases for a total of 2,433.
09-Oct-2020 Europe recorded more new cases than any other region of the world with nearly 100,000 cases in the past 24 hours.
09-Oct-2020 Italy recorded its highest number of new cases since mid-April. Some restrictions are being reimposed nationwide.
09-Oct-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has often disagreed with the White House, stated his opinion that the experimental antibody therapy Regeneron probably “made a significant difference” in President Trump’s recovery from COVID-19.
09-Oct-2020 New cases in the U. S. exceeded 50,000 again after trending downward for several weeks. Canada is seeing a rise in new cases going into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Daily new cases there have been near 2,000 or above.
09-Oct-2020 Moldova had a 30% rate of positive test results, which is among the highest worldwide. This tiny country registered 1,121 new cases yesterday. Bible Students in the Northern part of the country continue to struggle with recovery from infections.
09-Oct-2020 The global total of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 36 million. Yesterday saw a record-setting 338,779 new cases worldwide.
08-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: RECORD of 3,130 new cases, for a total of 145,700; 44 deaths for a total of 5,247; 607 ICU beds in use compared to 612 yesterday. Maramures had a RECORD of 85 new cases for a total of 2,401.
08-Oct-2020 Germany registered its largest daily increase since the start of April (4,058). The leading health official there has warned the country could see 10,000 new infections per day unless people stick to hygiene and social distancing rules.
08-Oct-2020 Brazil now has more than 5 million cases, behind India at nearly 7 million and the U. S. at more than 7.5 million.
08-Oct-2020 The number of people connected to the White House that have been infected by COVID-19 has risen to 34.
08-Oct-2020 The World Bank has stated that extreme poverty is set to rise for the first time in more than 20 years. Another 115 million people are expected to enter into that category.
08-Oct-2020 Face masks are now obligatory in Italy, even in open spaces, as of Wednesday. The country registered its highest daily number of new cases since mid-April, and the growth rate is now faster than at the peak of the epidemic.
08-Oct-2020 Paris is now in a state of “maximum alert”, but is rapidly approaching an official “state of emergency” as the percentage of ICU beds in use continues to soar.
07-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics – all new records: 2,958 new cases, for a total of 142,570; 82 deaths for a total of 5,203; 612 ICU beds in use compared to 608 yesterday. Maramures had 50 new cases for a total of 2,316.
07-Oct-2020 According to a recent report, the difference between Sweden’s success and much of the rest of the world boils down to the level of trust between the authorities and the general populace.
07-Oct-2020 Several European countries saw record new cases, including Poland and Ukraine. France is seeing an “exponential rise” in new cases, and Paris has seen a spike in ICU patients.
07-Oct-2020 The virus that causes COVID-19 can relieve pain, according to a new study by University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers. If the underlying mechanism can be better understood it could revolutionize pain-management therapy and reduce the need for opiates.
07-Oct-2020 In a recent interview, one of Saudi Arabia’s top diplomats presented a highly critical view of Arab, and especially Palestinian, leadership failures throughout the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
06-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,121 new cases, for a total of 139,612; A RECORD 73 deaths for a total of 5,121; A RECORD 608 ICU beds in use compared to 592 yesterday. Maramures had 51 new cases for a total of 2,266. Authorities fear the situation in Romania is becoming “uncontrollable”.
06-Oct-2020 About 10% of the global population may have been infected by the coronavirus, according to a senior World Health Organization official. This means that 90% of the world’s population is still vulnerable.
06-Oct-2020 President Trump has been released from Walter Reed Medical Center and returned to the White House just three days after being admitted. The number of those infected in his “inner-circle” continues to grow.
06-Oct-2020 Another flip-flop by the CDC: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said tiny particles that linger in the air can spread the coronavirus, revising its guidelines on the matter just a few weeks after the health agency had acknowledged a role for the particles and then abruptly removed it.
06-Oct-2020 Europe’s second coronavirus wave is spreading, and rising hospitalizations and deaths are prompting governments to impose more restrictions. Confirmed cases in France, Spain, and the U.K. are now higher on an average day than at the peak of this spring’s emergency. Only four European countries are below the “critical” level, and one of those, Germany, is seeing increased infections recently.
05-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,591 new cases, for a total of 137,491; 45 deaths for a total of 5,048; 592 ICU beds in use compared to 598 yesterday. Maramures had 23 new cases for a total of 2,215.
05-Oct-2020 India’s death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 100,000 on Saturday, only the third country in the world to reach that bleak milestone, after the United States and Brazil — while its epidemic shows no sign of abating.
05-Oct-2020 COVID-19 cases continue to grow at a rapid pace, with more than 35 Million cases globally. The U. S. has nearly 7.5 million, India 6.7 million and Brazil nearly 5 million.
05-Oct-2020 Italy’s most densely populated region, and one of its poorest, registered the largest daily tally of new infections in the country on Saturday. New cases in Italy jumped to over 2,800, the highest in five months.
04-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,835 new cases, for a total of 135,900; 56 deaths for a total of 5,003; another new RECORD of 598 ICU beds in use compared to 583 yesterday. Maramures had 30 new cases for a total of 2,192.
04-Oct-2020 Turkish President Erdogan declared publicly on Thursday that “Jerusalem is our city” alluding to the control of the region by the Ottoman Empire pre-WWI.
04-Oct-2020 Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said on Saturday that he was checking himself into a hospital as a precautionary measure after testing positive for coronavirus.
04-Oct-2020 Britain reported 12,872 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, a record daily figure for the country.
04-Oct-2020 People close to President Trump offered conflicting messages, as his physician said Trump’s symptoms were improving and a person familiar with his health warned his vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning.
03-Oct-2020 Poland registered a new record for daily cases at 2,239. There have been less than 100,000 cases and about 2,600 deaths in Poland since the beginning of the Pandemic.
03-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,064 new cases, for a total of 134,065; 32 deaths for a total of 4,947; 583 ICU beds in use [another record] compared to 571 yesterday. Maramures had 23 new cases for a total of 2,162.
03-Oct-2020 India suffered its worst month on record with more than 1,000 deaths per day. The total there is now more than 100,000 which is third behind the U. S. and Brazil, but India ranks second in the total number of cases.
03-Oct-2020 Latin America is no longer the epicenter of COVID-19 as new cases have begun to fall. Brazil has had a 40% decrease since July.
03-Oct-2020 A growing number of individuals close to President Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus.
03-Oct-2020 U. S. President Trump was moved to Walter Reed Medical Center for observation and treatment. He is taking Vitamin-D, Zinc; an experimental drug Regeneron; anti-viral medication Remdesivir, and has mild symptoms. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife have tested negative in their latest daily test for the virus.
02-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,343 new cases, for a total of 132,001; 53 deaths for a total of 4,915; 571 ICU beds in use compared to 557 yesterday. Maramures had 32 new cases for a total of 2,139.
02-Oct-2020 U. S. President Donald Trump, and his First Lady, both tested positive for COVID-19 after a close aide to the President came down with the virus. It is unknown at this time how many others in the White House Staff may have been infected.
02-Oct-2020 Total COVID-19 cases worldwide are now more than 34 million. New cases rose in 27 States in the U. S. in September compared to August.
02-Oct-2020 New cases in Israel hit a new record high (nearly 9,000) in spite of a strict nationwide lockdown.
02-Oct-2020 Cases continue to rise in Poland and Turkey which were added to the “quarantine list” in the U. K., which now contains several dozen countries. Poland has seen a doubling of new cases in recent days. Paris is on the verge of a new lockdown as virus cases surge there.
02-Oct-2020 “Life won’t return to normal by Spring” is the conclusion of a report by a group of leading scientists. Even if an effective vaccine is developed, it will take at least six months, and more likely a year, for everyone to be vaccinated.
01-Oct-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,086 new cases, for a total of 129,658; 37 deaths for a total of 4,862; 557 ICU beds in use compared to 550 yesterday which equals the record high. Maramures had 35 new cases for a total of 2,107.
01-Oct-2020 A new study by the University of Princeton shows that a person can be infected in as little as 30 seconds in a casual conversation with another infected person, if neither one is wearing a face mask.
01-Oct-2020 British health experts have admitted Covid-19 is out of control in the country as case numbers and hospital admissions rise despite a slew of new restrictions on social gatherings.
01-Oct-2020 Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said Wednesday that his company’s coronavirus vaccine won’t be ready for widespread public distribution until spring of next year, according to a report. The timeline is a setback for Moderna, which said earlier this month that it could seek emergency authorization for a vaccine as soon as November 1.
01-Oct-2020 In a surprise development, a widespread belief has emerged recently in diplomatic corridors about the presence of secret negotiations between Israel and Syria, the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Sunday.
30-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 2,158 new cases, a new record, and a huge jump, for a total of 127,572; 33 deaths for a total of 4,825; 550 ICU beds in use compared to 551 yesterday. Maramures had 54 new cases for a total of 2,072.
30-Sep-2020 A worrying situation is unfolding in the Romanian capital of Bucuresti where COVID-19 hospitals no longer have places available for new cases. Newly infected patients must be transported to other hospitals in the region.
30-Sep-2020 Professor Alexandru Rafila, a member of the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization, stated that many countries in the European Union are experiencing a second wave of COVID-19, and that this week Romania could see more than 2,000 new cases a day.
30-Sep-2020 Ukraine has registered another daily record high for new COVID-19 cases. Other European countries are also seeing a sharp increase in new cases.
30-Sep-2020 Results from an early safety study of Moderna Inc’s coronavirus vaccine candidate in older adults showed that it produced virus-neutralizing antibodies at levels similar to those seen in younger adults, with side effects roughly on par with high-dose flu shots, researchers said on Tuesday.
29-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,470 new cases, for a total of 125,414; 44 deaths for a total of 4,792; 551 ICU beds in use compared to 557 yesterday. Maramures had 37 new cases for a total of 2,018.
29-Sep-2020 Heading into the usual Flu season, many countries will face a triple threat of rising Covid-19 cases, major backlogs in treatment and reduced capacity at hospitals.
29-Sep-2020 Though the U. S. has the most coronavirus cases worldwide as a country, Latin America and Europe have more cases when totalled by geographic region.
29-Sep-2020 A French study of 1,300 patients shows that loss of smell is a symptom most often associated with a less serious infection of COVID-19.
29-Sep-2020 Israel and Lebanon are set to sign a border agreement delineating the maritime frontier between the two countries, Arab media outlets have reported.
29-Sep-2020 Cases of coronavirus are now surging in 29 different US states according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The number of cases in these states increased by at least 10% in the last week, compared to the week before.
29-Sep-2020 Global COVID-19 deaths have surpassed one million. New cases are rising faster in India than anywhere else in the world. Currently in second place, the country will surpass the U. S. for first place in the near future. Cases are also rising quickly in a number of other countries, including Argentina, Indonesia, Ukraine and Russia, as well as across Europe. Rising cases in Germany are “deeply concerning”.
29-Sep-2020 The concept of “herd immunity” is not materializing, even in localized places where more than two-thirds of the population have been infected.
28-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,271 new cases, for a total of 123,944; 30 deaths for a total of 4,748; 557 ICU beds in use compared to 535 yesterday. This is the second day in a row for a record high in ICU. The rate of infections was a record high of 20.6% which is more than three times the previous average. Maramures had 23 new cases for a total of 1,981.
28-Sep-2020 global COVID-19 Vaccine tracker: 142 pre-clinical; 29 phase I; 18 phase II; 9 phase III; 0 approved.
28-Sep-2020 India now has more than 6 million COVID-19 cases. The global total will surpass 33 million later today, and is growing at a rate of about one million every three days. Global deaths are set to surpass one million.
28-Sep-2020 New statistics published by the IDF’s Coronavirus Task Force finds that Israel’s daily confirmed cases are now the highest in the world relative to the population.
28-Sep-2020 Doctors at a hospital in Ocala, Florida say they’ve come up with a treatment for the coronavirus that has a 96.4% success rate. AdventHealth Ocala is using existing drugs in combination in a treatment called ICAM, an acronym: “I” – Immunosupport (Vitamin C and Zinc), “C” – Corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory); “A” – Anticoagulants; “M” – Macrolides (to fight infection).
27-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,438 new cases, for a total of 122,673; 31 deaths for a total of 4,718; there are 535 ICU beds in use compared to 512 yesterday. This is a new record high for ICU. Another 12 cases were recorded in Maramures for a total of 1,958.
27-Sep-2020 As new cases around the world rise at an alarming rate, resistance to restrictions is growing even faster. Demonstrations were held across the globe in defiance of local regulations.
27-Sep-2020 A second surge of Covid-19 this fall and winter could be catastrophic for the U.S., but it’s not just more sick people that doctors worry about, it’s the financial impact. The very hospitals that treat lower-income patients could be forced to shut down or cut crucial services.
27-Sep-2020 Brazil continues to have the most cases in Latin America, with nearly 5 million, but the next five countries in the region have a combined total of 4.5 million cases, with Argentina having one of the highest rates globally in recent days.
27-Sep-2020 The State of New York topped 1,000 new virus cases for the first time since June. The single-day figure — in a state that has recently kept cases at low levels — comes as part of a nationwide uptick. In the last week, seven mostly Midwest states have reported record one-day rises in new infections.
26-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,552 new cases, for a total of 121,235; 54 deaths for a total of 4,687; there are 512 ICU beds in use compared to 508 yesterday. Another 40 cases were recorded in Maramures for a total of 1,946.
26-Sep-2020 A trial of a new vaccine that appears to train the immune system to fight coronavirus has begun in the UK. Early tests showed the jab, developed by US biotechnology company Novavax, leads to high levels of virus-fighting antibodies being produced.
26-Sep-2020 Covid-19 cases in Israel have continued to rise despite the latest lockdown. A new record of more than 8,000 infections for a single day were recorded on Thursday in Israel, which has one of the highest rates of infections per capita in the world.
26-Sep-2020 The deaths of two million people with Covid-19 is “very likely” unless the world takes comprehensive action to curb the spread of the disease, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) expert has warned.
26-Sep-2020 This week’s report on coronavirus hotspots from Public Health England has a new analysis. It shows that the most common activity people recall doing before their coronavirus symptoms began is eating out. This has been true in other countries as well.
26-Sep-2020 Two of Canada’s most populous provinces have moved to impose further restrictions on social gatherings, as they seek to stem rising coronavirus infections.
26-Sep-2020 The rate at which the Covid-19 virus is spreading appears to be speeding up in the UK, with cases in England up 60% in the last week. Estimates of the “R” factor have increased to as high as 1.5 in recent days.
25-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,629 new cases, for a total of 119,683; 42 deaths for a total of 4,633; there are 508 ICU beds in use compared to 504 yesterday. Another 25 cases were recorded in Maramures for a total of 1,906.
25-Sep-2020 The Covid-19 virus is continuing to mutate throughout the course of the pandemic, with experts believing it is becoming more contagious, though less lethal. A recent rise in new cases, coupled with a decrease in deaths seems to support this conclusion.
25-Sep-2020 Russia has seen a sharp increase in cases. Brazil had nearly 33,000 new cases yesterday. Israel continues to struggle as hospitals are reaching the breaking point. India is approaching 6 million cases.
25-Sep-2020 Unconfirmed news reports Thursday said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to Uganda in the coming days to meet the Sudanese leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations.
25-Sep-2020 Global numbers of new cases of COVID-19 are nearly 300,000 daily at a rate which is the highest since the beginning of the Pandemic. Total cases will surpass 32 million today, and total deaths are nearing the one million mark.
25-Sep-2020 The Helsinki airport is using sniffer dogs to detect Covid with “close to 100% accuracy” in only 10 seconds. The entire procedure takes less than one minute.
25-Sep-2020 Poland was hit by a record daily rise in coronavirus cases on Thursday attributable to increased direct contact between people after a lifting of restrictions, the health ministry said.
25-Sep-2020 Many countries in Europe are on the brink of national lockdowns as new cases continue to rise. France registered a daily record for new cases. The U. K. also registered a new record of daily cases with 6,634 compared to the previous record of 6,201 on May 1st.
24-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,639 new cases, for a total of 118,054; 41 deaths for a total of 4,591; there are 504 ICU beds in use compared to 498 yesterday. Another 30 cases were recorded in Maramures for a total of 1,881.
24-Sep-2020 A large percentage of Brethren in northern Moldova have contracted what is most likely the coronavirus. One Brother there died this morning, and an older Sister is in the same hospital. Please keep these Brethren in your prayers.
24-Sep-2020 Assessing the situation in the U. S. — “Colder weather is likely to drive millions back indoors where the virus can spread more easily. There is simply no chance of containing the contagion when new cases are still running at about 35,000 a day.” The Guardian
24-Sep-2020 The weekly number of new recorded coronavirus infections worldwide was last week at its highest level to date, the World Health Organization has announced, as deaths from Covid-19 in Europe increased by more than a quarter week on week.
24-Sep-2020 Another Arab country will sign a peace deal with Israel in the “next day or two,” US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft told Al Arabiya in an interview on Wednesday. “I know others are going to be following,” Craft added.
24-Sep-2020 Johnson & Johnson has entered the phase three clinical trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine. According to the company, 60,000 volunteers will participate in the trial at 215 locations in the U.S. and around the world.
24-Sep-2020 U.S. President Donald Trump declined on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 election to Democratic rival Joe Biden and said he expected the election battle to end up before the Supreme Court.
24-Sep-2020 The Israeli Cabinet has agreed to a total lockdown of the country, beginning this Friday, as a result of soaring numbers of new cases and hospitalizations. The new restrictions will be even harsher than the first lockdown in April.
24-Sep-2020 New case are rising at an alarming rate in the U. K. with 6,178 yesterday compared to 4,926 the day before. This latest figure is close to the record high of 6,201 recorded on May 1st.
23-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,767 new cases which is a new record high, for a total of 116,415; 47 deaths for a total of 4,550; there are 498 ICU beds in use compared to 496 yesterday. Total new cases in Maramures were 45 for a new total of 1,851.
23-Sep-2020 Israel recorded 6,861 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday – another record high in the country.
23-Sep-2020 France continues to see large numbers of new cases, registering more than 10,000 in the past 24 hours.
23-Sep-2020 “Food insecurity” has doubled in the U. S. since 2018, as one in three families with children do not have enough food.
23-Sep-2020 The U. S. has now surpassed 7 million cases of COVID-19, and continues to have more cases than any other country in the world.
22-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,059 new cases for a total of 114,648; 45 deaths for a total of 4,503; there are 496 ICU beds in use compared to 464 yesterday. There were 27 new cases in Maramures for a new total of 1,806.
22-Sep-2020 The situation in the U. K. continues to grow more severe and the threat level has been increased to 4, meaning that transmission of the virus is “high or rising exponentially”. The “R” factor is now close to 1.4 and officials are warning of more than 50,000 cases a day if additional measures are not taken. At this point there are no Brethren we know of that currently have the virus in the U. K.
22-Sep-2020 The CDC published, and then removed updated guidance saying the virus is airborne, and that it can spread “through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols”. These are produced even when people breathe.
22-Sep-2020 The full economic impact of COVID-19 is yet to be felt. Among other factors, a large proportion of pensions in the Western World are tied to investments in the stock market. Additonally, the World Economy is currently being artificially maintained by various government programs which are temporary in nature.
22-Sep-2020 Respiratory diseases such as the seasonal flu are historically more prevalent in the Fall and Winter. Scientists are warning of a “six month problem” that will involve a combination of COVID-19 with these other seasonal viruses.
22-Sep-2020 There are reports of “mass outbreaks” at schools in various countries as attempts are made to reopen. Many schools have had to either close or quarantine entire classrooms of students.
22-Sep-2020 Investors are trying to figure out what’s ahead for the stock market, much of which will depend on who’s elected U. S. President. But it could be weeks or even months before one of the candidates concedes, according to new research.
IN-DEPTH ARTICLES:
Jerusalem ICU doctor: “We are now in a battle for survival.”
Arab leaders express growing anger at Palestinians.
21-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 808 new cases for a total of 113,589; 23 deaths for a total of 4,458; there are 464 ICU beds in use compared to 470 yesterday. There were 30 new cases in Maramures for a new total of 1,779.
21-Sep-2020 Research published by the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows coronavirus can spread easily among passengers on long-haul flights.
21-Sep-2020 The global total of COVID-19 cases has now surpassed 31 million.
21-Sep-2020 Honduras is the latest country to announce that it will move its embassy to Jerusalem.
20-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,231 new cases for a total of 112,781; 33 deaths for a total of 4,435; there are 470 ICU beds in use compared to 461 yesterday. These are very high numbers for a weekend when less than half the usual tests are conducted. There were 11 new cases in Maramures for a new total of 1,749.
20-Sep-2020 France saw another daily record of new cases. The U. K. continues to see an “out of control” situation being described as a “perfect storm” scenario. Poland also saw a record daily rise. India continues to be the epicentre of the disease.
20-Sep-2020 The U. S. has surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. Total infections are approaching 7 million.
20-Sep-2020 AstraZeneca said on Saturday that its COVID-19 vaccine trial in the United States is on hold.
19-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,333 new cases for a total of 111,550; 42 deaths for a total of 4,402; 461 ICU beds in use compared to 447 yesterday. Maramures had a record high of new cases at 71 for a total of 1,738.
18-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,527 new cases for a total of 110,217; 48 deaths for a total of 4,360; 447 ICU beds in use compared to 460 yesterday.
18-Sep-2020 Ther are serious problems in the U. K. as cases surge, the testing system is not functioning well, and a nationwide lockdown is being considered.
18-Sep-2020 Almost two-thirds of young American adults do not know that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and more than one in 10 believe Jews caused the Holocaust, a new survey has found. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, or had been exaggerated.
18-Sep-2020 The World Health Organization warned on Thursday that weekly coronavirus case numbers are rising in Europe at a higher rate than during the pandemic’s peak in March. More than 54,000 new cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, and more than 300,000 in the past week.
17-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,679 new cases for a total of 108,690; 27 deaths for a total of 4,312; 460 ICU beds in use compared to 471 yesterday. Another 28 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a new total of 1,668.
17-Sep-2020 Indian continues to see record numbers of new cases, nearly 100,000 per day. A senior cabinet minister tested positive today for the virus, joining 17 others who tested positive on Monday.
17-Sep-2020 The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has told a Senate panel that he thinks it will take one year before a coronavirus vaccine will be “generally available to the American public”.
17-Sep-2020 Global infections are expected to exceed 30 million later today as new cases continue to rise.
17-Sep-2020 An additional 1,422 coronavirus-related fatalities were recorded in the United States on Tuesday, a more than threefold increase from the previous day, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
17-Sep-2020 New infections continues to soar as Israel recorded its highest single-day increase ever in COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with 5,523 new diagnoses, according to the country’s health ministry.
17-Sep-2020 The U. K. had its highest number of new cases since May, with nearly 4,000 in a 24-hour period. Germany recorded its second highest daily figure since April with 2,194 new cases. Ukraine set a new record with 2,139 new cases.
16-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,713 new cases for an all-time high record and a total of 107,011; 49 deaths for a total of 4,285; 471 ICU beds in use compared to 460 yesterday. Another 53 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a new total of 1,640.
16-Sep-2020 More than 80 schools in France have been closed due to reported cases of the coronavirus. This problem is occuring in many countries.
16-Sep-2020 A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center of more than 13,000 adults in 13 advanced economies between 10 June and 3 August shows international confidence in the U. S. and its president sharply down across the board, reaching historical lows in several countries.
16-Sep-2020 The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements on Tuesday to normalize ties with Israel, becoming the first Arab states in a quarter century to break a longstanding taboo, in a strategic realignment of Middle East countries against Iran. There are predictions that 7 or 8 additional Arab countries will join the list in the near future.
16-Sep-2020 Israel’s coronavirus infection rate appeared to be soaring out of control Tuesday as the Health Ministry announced that infections in the past day had skyrocketed to almost 5,000 cases. Meanwhile, a three-week national lockdown is set to begin Friday, when the country marks the Rosh Hashana Jewish new year holiday.
16-Sep-2020 Total confirmed cases in India passed the 5 million mark on Tuesday as the virus continues to spread rapidly. Expectations are that India will take over the top spot from the U. S. where cases are still increasing, but at a slower rate. The total worldwide is rapidly approaching 30 million.
16-Sep-2020 Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed across the U. S. challenging COVID-19 based restrictions. The Courts have ruled such restrictions to be unconstitituional in several cases already, complicating the efforts to restrain the virus at a time when a second wave is becoming more likely.
15-Sep-2020 Due to a soaring number of new cases, India is now facing a medical oxygen shortage. Numbers have been over 90,000 several days in a row.
15-Sep-2020 Bill Gates (Microsoft) claims that the Pandemic has “pushed back global development more than two decades” in his annual Foundation report.
15-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,111 new cases for a total of 105,298; 51 deaths for a total of 4,236; 460 ICU beds in use compared to 456 yesterday. Another 35 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,587.
15-Sep-2020 Between 25 and 30 MPs in the Indian Parliament have tested positive for COVID-19.
15-Sep-2020 The UAE has approved a China developed vaccine for healthcare workers.
15-Sep-2020 Many European countries are seeing a second rise in coronavirus infections, including France, Italy, Spain, the U. K. and Ukraine.
15-Sep-2020 A recent CDC study finds that children without symptoms can transmit COVID-19 to adults.
14-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 692 new cases for a total of 104,187; 22 deaths for a total of 4,185; ICU beds in use at 456 compared to 465 yesterday. Another 28 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,552. These mumbers are lower, but the number of tests were only one-fourth the normal amount. The percentage was high at 9.4% which is nearly double the normal rate.
14-Sep-2020 The World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body’s European branch has told AFP.
14-Sep-2020 Almost 86% of doctors in England say they expect a second peak of coronavirus in the next six months, according to a new survey, as concern continues to grow over a recent rise in cases. The “R” number for England is now 1.7 with infections doubling every week.
14-Sep-2020 The World Health Organization reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Sunday, with the total rising by 307,930 in 24 hours. The biggest increases were from India, the United States and Brazil.
14-Sep-2020 The total number of COVID-19 cases globally has surpassed 29 million.
14-Sep-2020 Israel on Friday is to become the first developed country to impose a second nationwide lockdown, as its government struggles to contain a fresh coronavirus outbreak that has hammered the economy and divided the nation.
13-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics are very high for a weekend: 1,109 new cases for a total of 103,495; 36 deaths for a total of 4,163; ICU beds in use at 465 compared to 467 yesterday. Another 19 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,524.
13-Sep-2020 Trials of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University will resume after being paused due to a reported side effect in a patient in the UK. On Saturday, the university said it had been deemed safe to continue.
12-Sep-2020 Latest Romanian statistics: 1,311 new cases for a total of 102,386; 27 deaths for a total of 4,127; ICU beds in use at 467 compared to 478 yesterday. Another 41 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,505.
12-Sep-2020 The White House coronavirus taskforce’s most senior public health expert, Doctor Anthony Fauci, said on Friday that it would probably take another year or more before life returns to a sense of “normality” in the US, even if a successful Covid-19 vaccine is approved in the next few months.
12-Sep-2020 The U. S. Federal deficit is projected to be at least 3.3 trillion USD for 2020. This is more than double the previous record set in 2009. At the same time, the U. S. economy shrank at an annual rate of more than 30%, and the number receiving some kind of unemployment benefits is 30 million, or about 20% of the total workforce.
12-Sep-2020 As flames push closer to the city of Portland, OR, the mayor has declared a state of emergency and state officials say they’re now preparing for a “mass fatality incident.” Dozens are missing.
12-Sep-2020 Israel had more than 4,000 new cases for the 2nd day in a row. An emergency cabinet meeting considered a one month national lockdown.
11-Sep-2020 Cases are climbing again in Austria and new face mask requirements have been put in place. In the U. K. new cases are now doubling every week.
11-Sep-2020 Coronavirus cases in Romania are now over 100,000. Latest statistics: 1,391 new cases for a total of 101,075; 35 deaths for a total of 4,100; ICU beds in use at 478 compared to 459 yesterday. Another 48 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,464.
11-Sep-2020 The daily coronavirus death toll in the U. S. has climbed to over 1,000 again after a brief period of declining numbers.
11-Sep-2020 More than 500,000 people in Oregon have been forced to evacuate as unprecedented wildfires rage across the state, amounting to more than 10% of the population, authorities said Thursday.
11-Sep-2020 As the United States heads into flu season, Americans can’t let up in the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday. “We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy,” Fauci said during a panel of doctors from Harvard Medical School.
11-Sep-2020 The global total of coronavirus infections has now surpassed 28 million.
11-Sep-2020 France reported nearly 10,000 new cases on Thursday. This is the highest number since the start of the Pandemic.
10-Sep-2020 England saw its highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the week ending September 2nd, with a 43% increase compared to the previous week.
10-Sep-2020 Israel posted another record high with nearly 4,000 new cases, and the “Coronavirus Czar” there has been put in quarantine after a colleague tested positive.
10-Sep-2020 Coronavirus cases in Romania are nearing 100,000. Latest statistics: 1,380 new cases for a total of 99,684; 47 deaths for a total of 4,065; ICU beds in use at 459 compared to 459 yesterday. Another 25 cases were confirmed in Maramures for a total of 1,416.
10-Sep-2020 Reports have been received of Brethren in Oregon that had to flee the fires raging there. Initial reports are that at least one family of Brethren may have lost their home.
10-Sep-2020 Once a COVID-19 vaccine is available, it will be the “transport challenge of the century” to distribute it worldwide, requiring the capacity of more than 8,000 cargo-class 747 aircraft. In addition, the cargo space must be refrigerated to protect the vaccine.
10-Sep-2020 India continues to set records with new cases nearing 100,000 in the past 24 hours. Total infections there now number nearly 4.5 million.
10-Sep-2020 The “R” factor has risen above 1.0 in Canada, indicating that the virus is spreading. Prior to this, the situation in Canada has been very stable.
10-Sep-2020 Pfizer and BioNTech are confident they can have a vaccine against the novel coronavirus ready for regulatory approval by the middle of October or early November, BioNTech CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin told CNN on Tuesday.
10-Sep-2020 The coronavirus death toll in the U. S. has topped 190,000 and infections are over 6.5 million as the country continues to be the epicenter of the disease. The worldwide total is approaching 28 million infections with more than 900,000 deaths after a surge in India.
10-Sep-2020 The Palestinian Authority is accusing Israel of a “war crime” for their plans to make the Cave of the Patriarchs accessible by wheelchair.
10-Sep-2020 Another new term has been invented: “twindemic” to describe the combined effects of COVID-19 with the seasonal Flu, expected to begin impacting the Northern Hemisphere in a few weeks.
09-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 1,271 new cases for a total of 98,304; 51 deaths for a total of 4,018; ICU beds in use at 459 compared to 460 yesterday. New cases in Maramures were 26 for a total of 1,391.
09-Sep-2020 AstraZeneca on Tuesday said it has paused global trials, including large late-stage trials, of its experimental coronavirus vaccine because of an unexplained illness in a study participant. The vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, has been widely seen as one of the leading global candidates against the coronavirus.
09-Sep-2020 As the number of Covid-19 cases rises sharply in parts of Europe, health authorities from the UK to Spain are calling on young people to do more to halt the spread of the virus. Young people have hit back against the suggestion that they might be responsible for increases in coronavirus cases.
09-Sep-2020 As new cases continue to rise at an alarming rate, the U. K. has imposed new restrictions including a ban on gatherings of more than six people.
09-Sep-2020 The Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership has watered down its criticism of the normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates before an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Wednesday at which the accord will be debated, Reuters reports.
09-Sep-2020 More than 500,000 children in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported Tuesday, and the rate of new cases among kids continues to rise.
09-Sep-2020 “In a matter of a few weeks life as we know it will become drastically worse if we don’t act now. This means focusing on stopping the spread of the coronavirus while also using all of our preventative measures to prevent the spread of other respiratory illnesses. The combination of COVID-19, influenza and a panoply of acute and chronic illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes, cancer and accidents may, and likely will, paralyze the existing health care system.” (NBC)
09-Sep-2020 The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally held in South Dakota last month may have caused more than 250,000 new coronavirus cases, according to an economic study focused on the public health costs of “superspreading” events.
08-Sep-2020 Chad is the latest country to enter into talks with Israel to normalize relations.
08-Sep-2020 The recent rise in coronavirus cases in the U. K. has been laid firmly at the door of young people. Around half of new cases in recent weeks have been diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s. This same trend is being seen in other countries as well.
08-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 1,136 new cases for a total of 97,033; 41 deaths for a total of 3,967; ICU beds in use at 460 compared to 465 yesterday. There were another 25 cases in Maramures for a total of 1,365 to-date.
08-Sep-2020 New cases in the U. K. have taken a sharp turn upward in recent days with the “R” factor going above 1.0, while in France the “R” factor has risen to 1.2, and daily cases have increased to more than 4,000. Any “R” number larger than 1.0 is dangerous. New cases in Brazil have dropped.
08-Sep-2020 India has moved into 2nd place in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 4.2 million, compared to Brazil which is now in 3rd place at 4.1 million.
08-Sep-2020 Malawi announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem. The African country does not currently have an embassy in Israel.
07-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 883 new cases for a total of 95,897; 33 deaths for a total of 3,926; ICU beds in use at 465 compared to 474 yesterday. These are very high numbers for a weekend. There were another 21 cases in Maramures for a total of 1,340 to-date.
07-Sep-2020 It’s been a 100 nights of protests in Portland, Oregon. Violence erupted over the weekend, as Molotov cocktails were used against police.
07-Sep-2020 Infectious disease experts warn a cold weather surge in new coronavirus cases — the long-feared “second wave” — may be just weeks away.
07-Sep-2020 The global coronavirus total has passed 27 million. New infections continue to rise in 22 of the 50 States in the U. S. and there are fears that new cases will increase in more States due to the Labor Day holiday weekend. The UK has recorded a massive rise in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus, amid concerns the government has lost control of the epidemic.
07-Sep-2020 The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi-Arabia, Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, called for Muslims to practice religious tolerance, especially toward Jews. Similarly, in the UAE this week, Al Bayan had an article by Ahmed Mohammed Al Shehhi where he uses the Koran to support making peace with Israel.
06-Sep-2020 India has recorded another world record for new cases in a single day: more than 90,000. The country will pass Brazil on Monday as the second most affected country by total infections.
06-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 1,150 new cases for a total of 95,014; 43 deaths for a total of 3,893; ICU beds in use at 474 compared to 476 yesterday. These are very high numbers for a weekend. There were another 20 cases in Maramures for a total of 1,319 to-date.
06-Sep-2020 “As the U. S. enters its first coronavirus winter, economists and epidemiologists see a pivotal moment – a hinge whose swing will determine the direction of the economy and the course of the disease into 2021 and for years – potentially generations – to come.” [The Guardian]
06-Sep-2020 Restrictions in Melbourne, Australia, have been extended another two weeks as efforts to get the latest outbreak under control require more time.
06-Sep-2020 Bahrain has opened its airspace to Israeli commercial flights, joining Saudi-Arabia which made a similar announcement yesterday.
05-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 1,269 new cases for a total of 93,864; 38 deaths for a total of 3,850; ICU beds in use at 476 compared to 485 yesterday. Maramures had 15 new cases for a total of 1,299.
05-Sep-2020 India now has more than 4 million confirmed cases and is set to overtake Brazil in the number two spot. The U. S. continues in first place with more than 6 million cases.
05-Sep-2020 Kosovo (which has a Muslim majority) has agreed to recognize Israel, and Serbia will move its embassy to Jerusalem. Both moves were announced today and are tied to a peace agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.
05-Sep-2020 Global projections, by the University of Washington, for coronavirus deaths by the end of the year, vary from 2 million in a best-case scenario, to 4 million in a worst-case scenario. Current deaths stand at more than 900,000.
05-Sep-2020 After great success in conquering the first wave earlier this year, Israel now has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the world, as the pandemic there “spirals out of control”, prompting lockdowns in 31 cities.
05-Sep-2020 Daily COVID-19 deaths in the U. S. continue to be above one thousand. A study by the University of Washington projects a dramatic rise in deaths, to more than double the current figure, by the end of the year. More than half of all States have increasing numbers of infections.
05-Sep-2020 A vaccine created in Russia shows some promising early results, but the test group was very small (40 people), and was restricted to healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 60.
05-Sep-2020 France continues to see an alarming number of new cases, setting an all-time daily record on Friday with nearly 9,000 reported. The U. K. has also seen a large and steady increase in new cases.
04-Sep-2020 Romania statistics: 1,339 new cases for a total of 92,595; 47 deaths for a total of 3,812; ICU beds in use at 485 compared to 503 yesterday. Maramures had a near-record high of new cases at 48.
04-Sep-2020 Major Jewish and pro-Israel groups welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision on Wednesday to open its airspace to flights between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates. “A major breakthrough for regional prosperity and progress,” the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) tweeted.
04-Sep-2020 In Israel: After a record high of more than 2,000 new cases on Wednesday, that record was shattered with a massive spike to more than 3,000 new cases in the past 24 hours. The Government has approved harsh new restrictions.
Sunday August 30th through Thursday September 3rd:
There are reports of several Brethren in Romania being infected with COVID-19 who fully recovered without serious problems. Romania has the highest rate of deaths per 100,000 population in the E. U. due to COVID-19. Romania now has more confirmed cases of COVID-19 than China.
Infections across Europe have risen back to March levels. France has suffered an “exponential” increase in Covid-19 cases. The number of new cases has been growing steadily throughout August, but jumped dramatically this past week. Germany has seen an alarming increase in new cases as well. The U. K. is experiencing its highest number of new cases since mid-May.
Total cases worldwide continue to rise by one million every four days, surpassing the 26 million mark on Thursday, and are continuing this pace at present. Total cases in the U. S. are more than 6 million, Brazil has over 4 million, India more than 3.8 million and Russia more than one million cases.
India set another single-day global record of new cases on September 3rd with more than 83,000 newly confirmed infections, and has become the new epicenter of the pandemic. The country reported nearly two million Covid-19 cases in August, the highest monthly tally in the world since the pandemic began.
A new study shows that children can carry the virus “in their noses and throats for weeks” even if they do not show symptoms. Dr. Roberta DeBiasi, chief of the paediatric diseases division at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC, believes that while the “vast majority of infected children have mild or unrecognised disease,” they may play an “important” role in enabling the spread of infection through communities.
Israel had its deadliest week ever as new cases topped 2,000 on multiple days, and deaths for the previous week reached a record high. However, scientists at Ben Gurion University estimate that Israel will have herd immunity in two weeks. If so, they would be the first country to reach this important milestone.
The long-term economic fallout from the pandemic will be felt for years to come. A growing number of companies are telling furloughed workers they will not be coming back to work. More than 40 million people in the U. S. are in danger of being evicted from their homes. The U. S. federal government’s accumulated debt burden is projected to be larger than the overall economy next year for the first time since 1946.
The impending expiration of an international weapons ban on Iran threatens to flood the Middle East with high-tech Russian and Chinese military equipment that will then be available to the Islamic Republic’s terror proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Stephen Hahn, the FDA commissioner, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he was prepared to issue emergency use authorization for a Covid-19 vaccine before the end of Phase 3 human trials that put the drug through stringent testing for safety and efficacy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked states to prepare to distribute a potential coronavirus vaccine as soon as late October, according to a series of planning documents sent to public health officials last week.
Coronavirus has disrupted health systems in almost all countries, according to a survey by the World Health Organization. Middle and lower-income countries reported the most severe difficulties.
The charity Save The Children is warning that nearly 70,000 children in sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of dying from extreme hunger before the end of this year. It says the Covid-19 pandemic is adding to the pressures some families and communities face in accessing food.
Antibody levels against the novel coronavirus rose and then held steady for up to four months in more than 90% of recovered COVID-19 patients in Iceland, according to a study published on Tuesday that measured antibody levels in more than 30,000 participants. This is a hopeful sign for the long-term effectiveness of an eventual vaccine.
Week ending 29-Aug-2020:
A Brother in Negresti (30 miles from Sighet) died from COVID-19 this past week. This is the first virus death we know of in Romania amongst the Brethren.
Turkey has discovered natural gas reserves in the Black Sea very close to an area where maritime borders of Bulgaria and Romania converge, not far from Romania’s Neptun block gas field. Growing tensions between Turkey and the rest of Europe are certain to increase as a result. A formal complaint with the EU has been filed by Romania against Turkey. Turkey is already in a dispute with Greece and Cyprus over competing claims for the Eastern Mediterranean.
India surpassed 3 million cases on August 22nd and continues to set records for new cases almost every day. Australia is seeing new virus clusters outside the strictly quarantined State of Victoria. Authorities are seeking to extend the current State of Emergency by another year. The lower numbers of new cases in Africa are veing viewed with caution, as the underlying reason is probably due to decreased testing.
France, Italy, Germany and Spain continue to see alarming numbers of new cases, and other countries across Europe are seeing similar spikes. New border restrictions have been put in place. However, in a conflicting report, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that fatality and infection rates were easing in most regions, notably in the hard-hit Americas, except Southeast Asia and the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey’s President Erdogan gave Turkish citizenship and passports to a dozen senior Hamas terrorists in recent days. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU and two Hamas officials hosted by President Erdogan this week are Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
More than 40 schools in the Berlin area alone have reported coronavirus cases among students since sessions resumed two weeks ago. The number of younger children infected in the U. S. rose by 21% in the past two weeks to more than 400,000 cases. More than 500 College students at the University of Alabama have tested positive since classes resumed a week ago. Other colleges with similar outbreaks include Notre Dame, the University of Southern California, Ohio State University, the University of Connecticut and the University of North Carolina.
Boeing Company said last week that it is developing a hand-held wand that emits ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria and viruses, part of a suite of methods to disinfect flight deck surfaces and controls, as well as surfaces throughout the cabin.
A former U. K. chief scientist says: “COVID-19 will be around forever” like the seasonal flu, and will require regular repeat vaccinations. Hong Kong scientists have reported a confirmed case of a patient who recovered from COVID-19 four months ago who was reinfected. Two similar cases were reported in Europe.
There are hopes that the Oxford vaccine will be approved before the end of the year. More than 50,000 people worldwide are involved in clinical trials, including 30,000 in the U. S.
A study of coronavirus cases in the U.K. and Italy showed that one-eighth of those treated were infected while in the hospital. The vast majority of such cases had pre-existing conditions.
A surprisingly small number of people in the Southern Hemisphere have gotten the seasonal flu this year, probably because the public health measures put in place to fight COVID-19 have also limited the spread of influenza. This bodes well for low numbers in the Northern Hemisphere as well.
Add Sudan to the growing list of Arab countries considering normalizing relations with Israel.
Week ending August 22nd:
Add Poland to the list of countries seeing a surge in new cases of COVID-19. Friday’s report contained the highest numbers since the start of the pandemic.
More Arab countries have shown signs of making official ties to Israel. Sudan is close to a peace agreement. U.S. and Israeli officials have said that they expect the U.A.E.-Israel deal will be followed by several others in the coming weeks and months, including Bahrain, Morocco and Oman. The UAE are considering military cooperation in addition to their recent normalization of relations. Suadi-Arabia is also a likely candidate.
Daily new cases in the U. S. are slowly falling, but continue above 50,000 on a rolling 7-day average. However, the number of tests conducted has dropped dramatically. Daily deaths are still over 1,000. Florida has become the fifth state to surpass 10,000 deaths from the virus. Texas recently crossed that threshold. Three other States have more than 10,000 deaths. Public health experts are saying that another round of lockdowns may be the only way to keep an already dire situation from spiraling out of control.
The CDC has made a dire prediction for virus deaths in the U. S. due to the reopening of schools with in-person sessions. New cases are already on the rise at Colleges that reopened recently.
Italy has made it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors in some areas between 6pm and 6am. It’s the first reintroduction of restrictions in Italy as cases rise to the highest levels in months, particularly among young people. Italy is at a crossroads as fears grow of a second wave.
Nineteen European countries have crossed a key threshold of new coronavirus infections for the past month, with Spain’s figures particularly worrying at 115.7 cases per 100,000 population. Romania also has one of the highest numbers with a rating of 88.9 compared to 37.8 in Sweden and 20.7 in the United Kingdom. Croatia has seen a spike in new cases, setting an all-time record on August 19th.
Global virus hotspots include India with all-time daily new cases and Germany with its highest number since April. South Korea, which controlled the virus early on, now fears a nationwide epidemic. France is seeing a rapid rise in new cases with the highest figures since May.
Easy to remember acronym – F.I.G.S.: France, Italy, Germany and Spain. These are the four European countries with the most severe resurgence of coronavirus cases.
Week ending August 15th:
Public anger at Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful group, has been unleashed as a result of the catastrophic explosion that occurred recently. The Iranian ally has become a target of public resistance, particularly from a new generation of Lebanese less concerned with the conflicts of the past than the deep-rooted problems of the present.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir that if mask and social distancing guidelines aren’t followed, the U.S. could be dealing with dual outbreaks of the flu and COVID-19 come fall and winter. The Director of the CDC added his concerns that “this Fall could be the worst ever for public health”.
U.S. unemployment claims fell below one million last week for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in March.
Scientists worry about Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine. A rising chorus of concern over the Sputnik-V vaccine stems from the secrecy of its development and lack of mass-testing.
Most employers plan to have only 5 to 15 percent of their workforce return before the end of 2020, said Bhushan Sethi, global people and organization co-leader at the PwC consulting agency. Even then, that number would be limited to employees who require physical site access, such as some technical and operational roles.
Study results from several countries show that teenagers are just as contagious as adults, but those in younger age groups do not transmit COVID-19 to the same extent.
Financial and enrollment problems aggravated by the pandemic have forced the permanent closure of more than 140 Catholic schools in the U. S., according to officials who oversee Catholic education in the country.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said internal border closures were unlikely to lift before Christmas. The sparsely populated Northern Territory has extended its border restrictions for another 18 months.
The number of new COVID-19 cases among children in the United States rose 40% in the last two weeks of July, according to a report released just weeks before tens of millions of American students are scheduled to begin the new school year.
Public Health Specialists in Romania have given dire warnings for the future if the general public continues to ignore coronavirus precautions: LINK in Romanian
The fragile nature of restraining COVID-19 has been manifested across the globe as places like New Zealand, which brought new cases down to zero for an extended period, are suddenly fighting fast-growing fresh outbreaks.
08-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 60,623; new infections, 1,350. Total deaths, 2,659; deaths today, 43. The number in ICU is 448.
08-Aug-2020 California has surpassed 10,000 deaths due to COVID-19. The death toll in Brazil is nearing 100,000. Victoria State in Australia has seen a leveling off of new cases in its struggle to contain the virus.
07-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 59,273; new infections, 1,378. Total deaths, 2,616; deaths today, 50. The number in ICU is 446. These are record highs for new cases and deaths.
07-Aug-2020 Lebanon may see a rise in coronavirus infections, as the fallout from a deadly explosion in Beirut further stretches medical resources, the country’s health minister says. On Wednesday evening, Lebanon-based newspaper The Daily Star reported that coronavirus testing had been halted in Beirut following the explosion.
07-Aug-2020 Global cases are rapidly approaching 20 million with many countries continuing to see a rise in cases. More than half of all cases are in just three countries: The U. S., Brazil and India. The number of coronavirus cases in India recently passed two million. The U. S. death toll has risen for the 5th straight week, while total cases are near the five million mark. Africa now has more than one million cases.
06-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 57,895; new infections, 1,345. Total deaths, 2,566; deaths today, 45. The number in ICU is 458.
06-Aug-2020 Sweeping lockdown restrictions on non-essential businesses in Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, have come into effect, as authorities scramble to bring coronavirus infections under control. Many state borders in Australia are closing down to curb the spread of Covid-19.
06-Aug-2020 Coronavirus cases increased markedly in Europe on Wednesday. France recorded its highest number of cases for more than two months, while Spain also saw its biggest post-lockdown rise. Greece also saw a surge in new cases.
06-Aug-2020 The coronavirus is highly transmissible, so it is unlikely the world will be able to eradicate the disease entirely, says the top infectious diseases expert in the U. S., Dr Anthony Fauci.
06-Aug-2020 The entire County of Cluj has been added to the list of areas in Romania that require the use of masks in open areas. There are now 16 counties included in the mandate.
06-Aug-2020 The World added another million cases of coronavirus only three days ago, but the next million is already in sight as cases are nearing 19 million. COVID-19 deaths rose by 24% in the U. S. in the past week.
05-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 56,550; new infections, 1,309. Total deaths, 2,521; deaths today, 41. The number in ICU is 464 which is another record high.
05-Aug-2020 COVID-19 deaths globally have surpassed 700,000 with more than 150,000 of those deaths in the United States.
05-Aug-2020 Australia’s Victoria state (Melbourne) reported a record rise in new COVID-19 cases and deaths on Wednesday, as it prepared to close much of its economy to control a second wave of infection that threatens to spread across the country.
05-Aug-2020 Latin America surpassed Europe on Tuesday to become the region with the highest coronavirus death toll worldwide, according to a Reuters tally. The region has now recorded more than 206,000 deaths, approximately 30% of the global total. The spread of the pandemic has accelerated in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia.
05-Aug-2020 Young people who are hitting nightclubs and beaches are leading a rise in fresh coronavirus cases across the world, with the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 who are infected rising three-fold in about five months, the World Health Organization said.
05-Aug-2020 More than 200 days since coronavirus was first detected, public health authorities say the number of infections is accelerating and the peak still lies ahead. In early August, the world finds itself at a nebulous stage: past the shock of the pandemic but without a clear end in sight.
04-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 55,241; new infections, 1,232. Total deaths, 2,480; deaths today, 48, eclipsing the previous record of 39 set a few days ago. The number in ICU is 436 which is also a new record.
04-Aug-2020 France’s top scientific body said a second wave of the coronavirus was “highly likely” this autumn or winter as the country grapples with a marked increase of new cases of the disease over the past two weeks. Other countries’ experts have expressed similar concerns.
04-Aug-2020 As coronavirus continues to spread across the United States, companies are coming to terms with a future of work that doesn’t look anything like it did before, and many are revisiting their plans to go back to the office. Many employees will never return to their offices, but will continue to work remotely.
04-Aug-2020 Data sent to the BBC by an anonymous source shows that Iranian Government internal records give actual figures that are much higher than the reported figures: 42,000 deaths (compared to 14,405) and 451,000 cases (compared to 278,000).
04-Aug-2020 India recorded the highest daily death toll globally in the past 24 hours. New cases continue to soar as well.
03-Aug-2020 Masks are now mandatory in open spaces as well as inside for those in the Romanian capital of Bucuresti. The new rule will be enforced by authorities.
03-Aug-2020 There might never be a “silver bullet” for Covid-19 in the form of a perfect vaccine, and the road to normality could be long, the World Health Organization has said.
03-Aug-2020 Singapore researchers have developed “electronic skin” capable of recreating a sense of touch, an innovation they hope will allow people with prosthetic limbs to detect objects, as well as feel texture, or even temperature and pain.
03-Aug-2020 Young people are letting loose across Europe, fueling a surge in coronavirus infections that is imperiling the Continent’s hard-won gains against the pathogen.
03-Aug-2020 Where is 47,000 new cases good news? In the U. S. where that number represents a significant drop.
03-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 54,009; new infections, 823. Total deaths, 2,432; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 419 which is another new record. As always, the number of tests on the weekend is much lower than normal, only about one-third normal.
03-Aug-2020 The Australian State of Victoria (Melbourne) reported a surge of new cases as efforts to curb the virus have so far been ineffective.
03-Aug-2020 The U. S. continues to see a dangerous increase in new cases and deaths. The head of the White House Virus Task Force warned that the pandemic has entered a new phase, affecting rural areas as well as more heavily populated regions.
03-Aug-2020 Total COVID-19 cases globally added another million at the fastest rate ever, now exceeding 18 million. Total deaths are approaching 700,000.
02-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 53,186; new infections, 1,075. Total deaths, 2,413; deaths today, 34. The number in ICU is 412 which is a new record. As always, the number of tests on the weekend is much lower than normal. Maramures County saw its highest count of new cases ever with 30.
02-Aug-2020 Global coronavirus cases are already nearing 18 million as the spread of the virus continues to accelerate. Hardest hit areas include the Americas, South Africa and India.
02-Aug-2020 Australia’s Victoria State (Melbourne) has declared a State of Disaster in addition to the State of Emergency already in effect as daily new cases continue to remain high.
01-Aug-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 52,111; new infections, 1,225. Total deaths, 2,379; deaths today, 36. The number in ICU is 401.
01-Aug-2020 The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Friday, with the total rising by 292,527. The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa. Nearly 40 countries have reported record single-day increases in coronavirus infections over the last week.
31-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 50,886; new infections, 1,295. Total deaths, 2,343; deaths today, 39 for another daily record. The number in ICU is 409, also an all-time high.
31-Jul-2020 Florida reported 253 new COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday. The fatalities mark the third day in a row that the Sunshine State has reported its highest single-day death toll during the pandemic, with 186 on Tuesday, followed by 216 on Wednesday.
31-Jul-2020 Economic data released on Thursday by the U. S. Government revealed that during April, May and June, the economy experienced the most severe shrinkage in its history, declining by 32.9%. This is by far the worst among all major world economies, with Germany declining around 10% by comparison.
31-Jul-2020 Australia’s Victoria state recorded its second-highest day of new coronavirus infections on Friday, one day after logging record deaths, as the state’s leader flagged the prospect of more rigorous steps to contain the spread of the disease.
31-Jul-2020 The Philippines this month has recorded Southeast Asia’s biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths and biggest single-day increase in confirmed infections.
30-Jul-2020 President Donald Trump has called for November’s presidential election to be postponed, saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.
30-Jul-2020 Poland has recorded its highest daily rise in infections since the start of the pandemic.
30-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 49,591; new infections, 1,356 for another daily record. Total deaths, 2,304; deaths today, 35. The number in ICU is 402, also an all-time high.
30-Jul-2020 India has set another daily record for new cases with more than 52,000 testing positive. India has the third highest number of total cases after the U. S. and Brazil.
30-Jul-2020 The Australian State of Victoria (Melbourne) continues to set daily records of deaths and new cases in spite of a strict lockdown in place.
30-Jul-2020 Another million cases of COVID-19 were added to the global total in the past four days as the total is now over 17 million.
30-Jul-2020 The Association of American Medical Colleges warns that “if the nation does not change its course — and soon — deaths in the United States could be well into the multiple hundreds of thousands.”
30-Jul-2020 Both California and Florida — the two states with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country — set new records for single-day coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. The heartbreaking milestones come as the U.S. surpasses 150,000 deaths from the virus.
29-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 48,235; new infections, 1,182; total deaths, 2,269; deaths today, 30. The number in ICU is 377. Romania’s recent surge in new cases has made international headlines. [BBC] The foregoing figures are at near-record levels, with the ICU number the highest ever.
SPECIAL NOTE: The 9th of Av begins at sunset today (Wednesday). The destruction of the first and second Temples and several other important events took place on this day in the past.
29-Jul-2020 Face masks can also protect the wearer. Using animal experiments and observations during the pandemic, a group of scientists says people wearing face coverings take in fewer coronavirus particles, making it easier for their immune systems to combat any viral spread. The report was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
29-Jul-2020 The term “second wave” has been used in many recent news reports. However, this term is not really accurate for COVID-19. The various ups and downs are related to public compliance with restrictions. Such fluctuations will continue until a reliable vaccine is available globally. A larger and more imminent threat is the combined effect of coronavirus with the seasonal flu as we approach the end of the year.
29-Jul-2020 Why do we grow numb to staggering statistics? Elke Weber, a professor of psychology and of energy and the environment at Princeton University says: “When you live in a war zone, after a while, everyday risk becomes just baseline. Our neurons are wired in such a way that we only respond to change. And any state that’s constant basically sort of gets washed out.”
29-Jul-2020 Tech companies and medical researchers are hard at work figuring out if wearable devices can spot Covid-19, the flu and other illnesses. Results from Fitbit’s Covid-19 study are already showing fluctuations in key metrics, such as heart rate and respiration, days before symptoms appear.
29-Jul-2020 The U. S. broke more daily records on Tuesday with nearly 1,600 deaths and numbers of new daily cases in six States: California, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Oregon, and Texas. Only one State is “doing well” – Vermont. There are nearly 150,000 deaths now recorded out of 4.3 million reported cases. Florida recorded a daily high over night with 191 deaths.
28-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 47,053; new infections, 1,151; total deaths, 2,239; deaths today, 33. The number in ICU is 357.
27-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 45,902; new infections, 1,104; total deaths, 2,206; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 353, another all-time record. Today is the sixth day in a row with more than 1,000 new cases. The number of tests was only a third of normal. Six zones have been put under quarantine.
27-Jul-2020 Today’s news is mostly repetitious: Global cases continue to rise fast. The vast majority of countries now have rising numbers of new cases, or have a growth curve that is flat. Restrictions either remain in place or are being reinstituted. Records continue to be broken around the world. The future remains highly uncertain until an effective vaccine becomes available.
27-Jul-2020 An Israeli company expects its new fabric to be found 99 percent effective against coronavirus in upcoming EU-authorized laboratory tests. Microspectrum lab in Shanghai previously confirmed that Sonovia’s fabric neutralized more than 90 percent of the coronavirus in its tests.
26-Jul-2020 Low plasma 25(OH) vitamin D level is associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection, an Israeli study has verified. Maintaining normal vitamin D levels enhances immune system response. On the other hand, taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements is dangerous.
26-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 44,798; new infections, 1,120; total deaths, 2,187; deaths today, 22. The number in ICU is 351. The new cases number is by far the highest ever recorded on a weekend. And the number in ICU surpasses the previous record set only yesterday by 36.
26-Jul-2020 Total COVID-19 infections worldwide have risen rapidly to beyond 16 million. Many nations grapple between staving off fresh outbreaks and reopening their economies. Cases are rising again in France and Germany. The Australian State of Victoria continues to break new records. Brazil has more than 2.3 million infections. The U. S. has more than four million cases.
25-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 43,678; new infections, 1,284; total deaths, 2,165; deaths today, 15. The number in ICU is 315. This is the fifth day in a row with a record of new cases. The number in ICU is also a record.
25-Jul-2020 Spanish health officials have warned the country could already be experiencing a “second wave” of coronavirus, as France, Germany and Belgium all reported steep rises in their number of cases.
25-Jul-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases, with the total rising by 284,196 in 24 hours, Reuters reports. Deaths rose by 9,753, the biggest one-day increase since a record high of 9,797 deaths on April 30.
25-Jul-2020 A growing number of researchers think until there’s an effective vaccine, the coronavirus will simply persist in the population, causing illness indefinitely.
25-Jul-2020 The United States recorded more than 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 for the fourth straight day on Friday. The daily total of more than 73,000 on Friday was also a record. Florida now has more than 400,000 cases.
25-Jul-2020 Australia’s Victoria State (Melbourne) recorded an increase in new coronavirus cases on Saturday as officials laid out new directives to protect people in retirement homes and help contain a second wave of infections.
25-Jul-2020 Almost 40 countries have reported record single-day increases in coronavirus infections over the past week, around double the number that did so the previous week, according to a Reuters tally showing a pick-up in the pandemic in every region of the world.
24-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 42,394; new infections, 1,119; total deaths, 2,150; deaths today, 24. The number in ICU is 301. This is the fourth day in a row with a record of new cases. The number on ICU is also a new record.
24-Jul-2020 The Health Minister of Romania has warned that if the COVID-19 situation does not improve in the next two or three weeks a State of Emergency will be reinstated.
24-Jul-2020 The U. S. now has more than four million recorded infections, the highest in the world. It required only 15 days to add the latest one million cases. The global total is rising faster than ever, with more than 15.5 million cases.
23-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 41,275; new infections, 1,112; total deaths, 2,126; deaths today, 25. The number in ICU is 285. This is the third day running with a record of new daily cases.
23-Jul-2020 Twitter has deemed the Star of David, a symbol of Judaism and Jewish pride, to be ‘hateful imagery,’ and is locking the accounts of users who display it.
23-Jul-2020 Covid-19 measures have all but wiped out the Flu in the Southern Hemisphere. From Chile to South Africa to New Zealand, countries report far lower numbers of influenza cases, which could be good news for the U.S. and Europe.
23-Jul-2020 An Israeli company claiming to have created a tiny micro-pancreas that can “cure” diabetes for millions of people has said it will submit a request next month for human clinical trials in the UK.
23-Jul-2020 Several States in the U. S. recorded a record number of deaths, including California, Alabama, Nevada and Texas. California now has the highest number of infections in the U. S. after posting a record 12,000 new cases in the past 24 hours.
23-Jul-2020 Record daily cases were recorded in Brazil. Record deaths were recorded in South Africa. India infections have surpassed 1.2 million. Spain has seen a rebound in new cases. New cases in Australia have begun to decrease after record numbers there.
22-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 40,163; new infections, 1,030; total deaths, 2,101; deaths today, 27. The number in ICU is 293. This is the first time daily infections have exceeded one thousand.
22-Jul-2020 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 rose by more than 1,000 on Tuesday, the biggest single-day increase since early June, according to a Reuters tally.
22-Jul-2020 Global Coronavirus cases have now surpassed 15 million according to a Reuters tally.
22-Jul-2020 Federal agents and Portland (OR) protesters are in a standoff as chaos envelops parts of the city. Recently, demonstrations have become increasingly heated after federal forces arrived without the consent of local leaders.
22-Jul-2020 U. K. Health experts and leading scientists warn that COVID-19 will “be with us for decades” in an official statement made to British politicians.
22-Jul-2020 The Australian State of Victoria (Melbourne) set another record for new cases in the past 24 hours. Research indicates that the virus has been spreading due to a failure by infected individuals to heed the rules. Nearly 90% of reported cases did not self-isolate between the time of first feeling symptoms and being tested for the virus.
22-Jul-2020 The pandemic shows no signs of slowing in the Americas. Cases continue to surge in many countries in North, South and Central America.
21-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 39,133; new infections, 994; total deaths, 2,074; deaths today, 36. The number in ICU is 297. These are all record highs.
21-Jul-2020 The University of Oxford vaccine that proved effective in limited trials in the U. K. will undergo extensive human trials in India as soon as licensing is obtained.
21-Jul-2020 The World Health Organization says it is seeing “an acceleration” of the outbreak in Africa, warning that the surge in South Africa could be a precursor for more outbreaks across the continent
21-Jul-2020 A coronavirus vaccine under development by CanSinoBiologics Inc. and China’s military research unit showed that it appears to be safe and induced an immune response in most of the 508 healthy volunteers who got one dose of the vaccine, researchers reported.
21-Jul-2020 The coronavirus pandemic raged in Florida on Monday as the state reported more than 10,000 new infections for a sixth day in a row. California recorded a daily record of nearly 12,000 new cases.
20-Jul-2020 A University of Oxford vaccine has finished its first human trials on 1,077 participants. The results are “hugely promising”, showing that the injection led to antibody and white blood cell creation. No serious side-effects were noted.
20-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 38,139; new infections, 681; total deaths, 2,038; deaths today, 12. The number in ICU is 293. This is the highest in ICU since the beginning of the pandemia. The new cases figure is based on only half the usual number of tests.
20-Jul-2020 A new protein treatment, which can be inhaled, has proven effective 79% of the time in preventing serious disease in patients with COVID-19.
20-Jul-2020 India recorded the highest number of daily cases yet, with more than 40,000 new infections on Sunday.
20-Jul-2020 Romania has entered into a “super-exponential” increase in coronavirus cases. If this rate continues, conditions for reimposing a State of Emergency will be reached by the beginning of August. The independent study conducted by the firm Avantera also predicts that all 4,000 ICU beds in Romania will be occupied in August if conditions do not improve.
20-Jul-2020 A surge in COVID-19 cases in Australia’s second-biggest city (Melbourne) could take weeks to subside despite a lockdown and orders to wear masks, Australia’s acting chief medical officer said on Monday. The neighboring State of New South Wales (Sydney) has recorded its two biggest days of new infections since April.
20-Jul-2020 Operation Warp Speed has diverted funding away from other vaccine candidates that are slower to develop. Experts worry that focusing on fast-track solutions may result in no successful candidates in the near term. The vaccine for tuberculosis took 13 years, rotavirus 15 years, and chickenpox 28 years.
20-Jul-2020 The States of California, Florida and Texas continue to break records almost daily on both the number of new virus infections and the number of daily deaths. ICU beds are full in many hospitals, and emergency rooms are overwhelmed.
19-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 37,458; new infections, 767; total deaths, 2,026; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 286. As always, the number of tests is much lower on the weekend.
19-Jul-2020 The Oregon Department of Justice is suing several federal agencies for civil rights abuses after camouflaged federal agents detained protesters in Portland using unmarked vehicles.
19-Jul-2020 Nearly 260,000 new cases of infections have been reported over the past 24 hours, according to data from the World Health Organization. This is another world record, and on a pace to add another million cases in less than four days. The global death toll has surpassed the 600,000 mark.
19-Jul-2020 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 exceeded 140,000 on Saturday as cases continued to rise in 43 out of 50 states over the past two weeks, according to a Reuters tally. New cases nationally are up 50% over the last two weeks and the daily death toll is up 42% over the same period.
19-Jul-2020 Face masks are emerging as one of the most powerful weapons to fight the coronavirus, with growing evidence that facial coverings help prevent transmission—even if an infected wearer is in close contact with others. It’s not common to contract Covid-19 from a contaminated surface, scientists say. And fleeting encounters with people outdoors are unlikely to spread the coronavirus.
18-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 36,691; new infections, 889; total deaths, 2,009; deaths today, 21. The number in ICU is 280. The numbers continue to climb rapidly, with new records being set daily in all categories. Today the first death was recorded in Maramures.
18-Jul-2020 The total number of cases worldwide has surpassed 14 million. One million new cases were registered in less than 100 hours, with nearly 250,000 cases in the past day. The U. S. recorded another record number of new cases for 24 hours.
17-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 35,802; new infections, 799; total deaths, 1,988; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 273. This is yet another daily record. The number in ICU is the highest since mid-April.
17-Jul-2020 Global totals are nearing 14 million. The U. S. has passed 3.5 million, Brazil has passed 2 miilon, and India has passed 1 million total cases. Countries like France and Italy, which had largely brought the virus under control, are joining the list of those seeing a jump in new cases.
17-Jul-2020 The Australian State of Victoria (Melbourne) set a daily record for the second time in a row. The “second wave” has been largely confined to the metropolitan area which has put 5 million residents under stay-at-home orders.
17-Jul-2020 The world record set only yesterday was shattered by the U.S. when more than 77,000 new cases were reported. Sadly, this is in line with predictions by Doctor Anthony Fauci who warned that daily figures could top 100,000. New cases are rising in 41 States.
17-Jul-2020 Israel continues to see a rise in new cases, with nearly 2,000 in the past 24 hours. Weekend lockdowns will take place nationwide.
16-Jul-2020 Only 10 days ago, the number of new daily cases in Romania had decreased to 250. Now it is more than triple that amount. Based on the current rate of infections, the government predicts that daily numbers will more than double again in the next two weeks. The number in ICU has also increased in the same period from 215 to 261. If this trend continues, ICU units will be full in mid-August. The majority in ICU do not recover.
16-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 35,003; new infections, 777; total deaths, 1,971; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 261. The 777 new cases far exceeds the previous daily record of 698 set only five days ago.
16-Jul-2020 Australia continues to see rising numbers of new cases. About one fourth of all coronavirus cases for the entire country have occurred in just the city of Melbourne in the last two weeks alone.
16-Jul-2020 For the fourth time in eight days, the U. S. has broken the world record for new virus cases, registering more than 69,000 in the past 24 hours.
16-Jul-2020 A research team at Hebrew University of Jerusalem says early research looks promising for cholesterol-lowering drug Fenofibrate, first used in the mid-1970s, as an effective treatment against coronavirus.
15-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 34,266; new infections, 641; total deaths, 1,952; deaths today, 21. The number in ICU is 248.
15-Jul-2020 Daily new cases continue to rise in Israel, with more than 1,500 reported in the past 24 hours.
15-Jul-2020 Top US public health expert Doctor Anthony Fauci warned on Tuesday that the global coronavirus outbreak could be as bad as the 1918 flu pandemic, calling that catastrophe “the mother of all pandemics”, which killed more than 50 million people worldwide.
15-Jul-2020 The U. S. is appraching 3.5 million cases; Brazil nearly 2 million; and India will pass the one million mark in the next few days. Many countries are experiencing 2nd and 3rd “waves” of the virus.
15-Jul-2020 Moderna Biotech (USA) announced results of its phase 2 human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. All 45 participants developed antibodies at a rate up to four times that of patients who recovered from the virus. Phase 3 trials will start soon with a planned enrollment of 30,000 adults.
15-Jul-2020 The coronavirus is spreading across the United States faster than at any point in the pandemic, and the number of new cases has accelerated in July. The top three States account for nearly 20% of all new cases worldwide.
14-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 33,585; new infections, 637; total deaths, 1,931; deaths today, 30. The number in ICU is 234.
14-Jul-2020 Austria and Belgium are the latest in a long list of countries imposing restrictions on travelers coming from Romania.
14-Jul-2020 India continues to reimpose lockdowns as new cases climb. Latest restrictions include the city of Bangalore.
14-Jul-2020 Another million cases of coronavirus have been added to the world total, and at the fastest rate yet.
13-Jul-2020 A new study of those who have recovered from COVID-19 shows that immunity may only last for a few months. Those included in the study had antibodies in their blood after recovery, but the levels dropped significantly over a relatively short period of time.
13-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 32,948; new infections, 413; total deaths, 1,901; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 235. The number of new cases is based on less than half the usual number of tests, which are always lower on the weekend. The number in ICU is still very high, as are the number of deaths.
13-Jul-2020 If Florida were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for the most new cases of coronavirus in a day.
13-Jul-2020 The CEO of Pfizer has announced that the drug company can have a COVID-19 vaccine ready by this Fall.
13-Jul-2020 A total of 20 European countries have now placed travel restrictions on travellers from Romania due to the rising number of cases there.
13-Jul-2020 New cases of COVID-19 worldwide continue to rise, and another daily record was set on Sunday with more 230,000 reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Total infections are rapidly approaching 13 million.
12-Jul-2020 India continues to see a rapid rise in new infections. The current total of more than 850,000 cases is third behind the U. S. and Brazil.
12-Jul-2020 The State of Florida has broken another coronavirus record, reporting 15,300 new cases with 45 additional deaths in the past day. The figures, released by the state’s health department, surpass the previous record rise of 11,458 new infections on 4 July.
12-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 32,535; new infections, 456; total deaths, 1,884; deaths today, 13. The number in ICU is 243. The number of new cases is based on only two-thirds the usual number of tests, which are always lower on the weekend. The number in ICU is the highest since May 9th.
12-Jul-2020 The U. S. set another daily record on Saturday, for new cases, for the fourth day in a row. Deaths there have surpassed 135,000 which is by far the highest number in the world.
11-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 32,079; new infections, 698; total deaths, 1,871; deaths today, 24. The number in ICU is 239. The record number of new cases is much higher than the previous record of 614 set on Thursday.
11-Jul-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a record daily number of new coronavirus cases on Friday. In its latest figures, the WHO said there were 228,102 new cases across the world, according to Yahoo News. The WHO says countries may have to return to “total lockdown,” after cases doubled worldwide in only six weeks.
11-Jul-2020 Victoria (Melbourne), Australia’s second most-populous state, on Saturday reported one of its highest daily increases in new coronavirus infections and warned the numbers would get worse before they got better as it began its first weekend under a six-week lockdown.
11-Jul-2020 New cases of COVID-19 rose by more than 66,000 across the United States on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, setting a record for the third consecutive day. A total of eight U.S. states – Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin – also reached records for single-day infections.
10-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 31,381; new infections, 592; total deaths, 1,847; deaths today, 13. The number in ICU is 236.
10-Jul-2020 The State of Victoria (Melbourne) set another daily record for new cases as lockdown efforts continue, including a limit on the number of citizens currently abroad returning each week.
10-Jul-2020 Florida has 207 Intensive Care units. At present 45 are at full capacity, and almost half are at 90% capacity. Other states are facing similar problems as hospitalizations increase nationwide.
10-Jul-2020 Another world record by the U. S. as total new cases soared to more than 65,000 in a 24-hour period. This is the 6th time in the past 10 days that a record high has been reached. Total deaths are also increasing.
09-Jul-2020 Another grim record set in Romania. Today’s statistics: Total infections, 30,789; new infections, 614; total deaths, 1,834; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU increased to 240.
09-Jul-2020 Restrictions are being put back in place in the State of Mississippi after 36 people at the state capitol building tested positive for the virus. A total of 26 lawmakers out of 174 were infected. The number of U. S. States seeing a rise in infections is now 42.
09-Jul-2020 The global charity Oxfam has warned that more people could die of hunger, especially in Africa and other poor countries, than die of the coronavirus.
09-Jul-2020 Australia has placed a “ring of steel” around the city of Melbourne, with no allowed in or out of the area for at least six weeks. This came in response to record high new cases in the area.
09-Jul-2020 A total of ten E. U. countries have banned travel from Romania after new cases reported on Wednesday exceeded those from any other European country except Great Britain.
09-Jul-2020 The rate of increase is accelerating globally with another million cases being added in only five days. The total has now surpassed 12 million worldwide.
08-Jul-2020 The number of Jews from the U. S. who filed for Aliyah soared to more than 25,000 in the month of June.
08-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 30,175; new infections, 555; total deaths, 1,817; deaths today, 18. The number in ICU is 237. This is the highest daily number ever. Romania is considering reimposing the State of Emergency as the situation escalates. The “R” factor has risen to 1.4 from 0.6 a month ago. Both Romania and Moldova have been put on a “blacklist” by Austria.
08-Jul-2020 California and Texas both registered more than 10,000 new cases in a 24-hour period as the total number of cases surpassed three million. The seven day average increased in 37 States in the U.S.
08-Jul-2020 Intensive Care Units at 57 Florida hospitals have reached full capacity. New cases of COVID-19 in the State surged to record levels three times in the past week.
08-Jul-2020 Doctor Anthony Fauci stated on Tuesday that the average age of U.S. coronavirus cases has dropped 15 years compared to the early stages of the pandemic.
08-Jul-2020 Outspoken critic of the dangers of COVID-19, Brazilian President Bolsonaro, has tested positive for the virus.
08-Jul-2020 Israel’s Director of Public Health has resigned, citing disagreements on the lifting of the lockdown. After reducing daily infections to the low 20s, new cases have skyrocketed to more than 1,000 a day since reopening.
07-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 29,620; new infections, 397; total deaths, 1,799; deaths today, 31. The number in ICU is 231. This is the highest number of deaths since May 6th.
07-Jul-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., said Monday the status of the coronavirus pandemic there is “really not good” as new cases surge across the country. “We are still knee-deep in the first wave of this.” At least 32 states reported higher rates of new cases this week compared to the last.
07-Jul-2020 The world is treating the health and economic symptoms of the coronavirus pandemic but not the environmental cause, according to the authors of a UN report. As a result, a steady stream of diseases can be expected to jump from animals to humans in coming years, they say.
07-Jul-2020 New coronavirus cases soared in California over the July Fourth weekend, stressing some hospital systems as admissions jumped 50%.
07-Jul-2020 Countries in which the virus continues to increase include many in Africa, especially Egypt and South Africa.
07-Jul-2020 The U.S. death toll from the virus has moved past 130,000 which is nearly double that of Brazil which has the 2nd highest count in the world. The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is nearly three million.
07-Jul-2020 Australia has extended its lockdown in the State of Victoria from an area of 300,000 inhabitants to one of more than five million in and around Melbourne.
07-Jul-2020 Israel successfully launched its Ofek-16 (or, “Horizon-16”) satellite at 4:00 a.m. on Monday. It joins a collection of satellites Israel has deployed recently. Israel is one of only a dozen countries in the world capable of launching into space.
07-Jul-2020 Experts in several countries are warning that an effective vaccine is not likely to be available by the end of the year. The FDA in the U.S. as well as scientists in India are the most recent to raise their concerns.
07-Jul-2020 Based on weekly totals, Romania has seen five consecutive weeks of rising numbers of new coronavirus cases. This followed five weeks when the numbers declined.
06-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 29,223; new infections, 250; total deaths, 1,768; deaths today, 18. The number in ICU is 227. Total tests of 4,614 is less than half of normal, as is usual for a Sunday. The increasing number in ICU is significant.
06-Jul-2020 Another method for ranking coronavirus is cases per million inhabitants. Currently, the U.S. has the highest number of cases, but ranks 13th by cases per million. India is not even in the top 100, due to its huge population. Romania is 73rd on the list, while Moldova is 30th; Ukraine is 83rd; Poland is 92nd; etc.
06-Jul-2020 Another major company, Fujitsu, has announced that “work from home” will now be permanent. They are reducing their office space by half. This trend continues worldwide.
06-Jul-2020 In Australia, the State border between New South Wales and Victoria has been closed for the first time in recent history.
06-Jul-2020 Experts around the world are warning of a “second wave” of COVID-19 in the Fall that will be worse than the initial outbreak. Combined with the regular Flu season, the dangers will increase in the Winter. The virus has not yet peaked in the Americas, India, places in Africa and the Middle-East.
06-Jul-2020 In an open letter soon to be published, a group of 239 scientists from 32 countries claim that the potential for Covid-19 to spread through aerosol transmission, by lingering in the air for long periods of time, is being underplayed by the World Health Organization.
06-Jul-2020 India continues to set daily records of new cases, with just under 25,000 on Sunday. A 29 year-old Deacon from the Ooty Ecclesia in India has become the first known case of a Bible Student contracting the coronavirus there. He was hospitalized over the weekend.
06-Jul-2020 The virus death toll in the U.S. is approaching 130,000 with 2.8 million confirmed cases. Florida has surpassed 200,000 cases. In Houston, Texas, the percentage of those who are testing positive has jumped from 10% to 25%, and hospitalizations have increased exponentially. The mayors of Houston and Austin warned that hospitals there will be “overwhelmed” in less than two weeks.
06-Jul-2020 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a cabinet meeting on Sunday that “Israel is in a State of Emergency” due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases there.
05-Jul-2020 The coronavirus crisis has caused a dramatic deterioration in the European public perception of the US, extensive new polling reveals. More than 60% of respondents in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark and Portugal said they had lost trust in the United States as a global leader.
05-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 28,973; new infections, 391; total deaths, 1,750; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 215.
05-Jul-2020 Florida and Texas continue to report daily records of new cases. Saturday’s totals were 11,458 and 7,890 respectively. Seven other States registered new daily highs. Florida’s daily totals now exceed that of any European country during the height of the coronavirus outbreak there.
05-Jul-2020 The World Health Organization report for Saturday showed a record 24-hour increase in cases worldwide. The total of 212,326 is considerably higher than the previous record of 189,077 recorded on June 28th.
04-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 28,582; new infections, 416; total deaths, 1,731; deaths today, 23. The number in ICU is 223.
04-Jul-2020 India reported more than 20,000 new cases in a single day for the first time, and could soon surpass Russia as the 3rd most infected country.
04-Jul-2020 New COVID-19 cases continued near record levels in the U.S. with more than 53,000 reported on Friday. [The BBC reported 57,000.] Many States saw new daily highs, while Florida’s 9,488 came in just below the prior day’s record. Experts worry that the July 4th weekend will be a “perfect storm” scenario for further spread of the virus.
04-Jul-2020 The U.S. and Romania have something in common: both are excluded from the U.K. “safe travel list” for arriving air passengers.
04-Jul-2020 A fire and an explosion early Thursday morning that struck a building above Iran’s underground Natanz uranium enrichment facility was caused by an Israeli cyber attack, according to the Kuwaiti al-Jarida newspaper. However, the report, published Friday, quotes a “senior security source” as saying the explosion was the result of an airstrike conducted by the IDF’s F-35 stealth jet.
04-Jul-2020 The number of infections worldwide has surpassed 11 million, adding another million in the last week alone.
03-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 28,166; new infections, 420; total deaths, 1,708; deaths today, 21. The number in ICU is 224. In Bucuresti all but six ICU beds are in use at this time. Some patients are being transferred to other hospitals.
03-Jul-2020 Many countries where restrictions were removed have seen a resurgence of the coronavirus. Austria is the most recent to join that list.
03-Jul-2020 New Coronavirus cases are rising in 37 States in the U.S., NPR analysis shows. The State of Florida set a daily record with more than 10,000 new cases on Thursday.
03-Jul-2020 The U.S. reported another daily record Thursday of more than 55,000 new cases, which is also a global record for the highest number in a 24-hour period.
03-Jul-2020 A fire and an explosion struck a building above Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, a site that U.S.-based analysts identified as a new centrifuge production plant. This is the second explosion at a nuclear facility in Iran in less than a week. Experts suspect a cyber attack by Israel in both cases.
03-Jul-2020 The Palestinian Authority (PA) is deeply anxious regarding the number of coronavirus patients in the areas under its control that continue to spike, and as it is forced to contend with the situation on its own after cutting all ties with Israel.
03-Jul-2020 Closures were imposed on neighborhoods in several cities across Israel Thursday as the government tried to stop an explosion of new coronavirus infections. Nearly one thousand new cases were registered in the past 24 hours. Hospitalizations have doubled in the past two weeks.
02-Jul-2020 Another alarming increase in today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 27,746; new infections, 450; total deaths, 1,687; deaths today, 20. The number in ICU is 237.
02-Jul-2020 The World Health Organization recently announced that 17 potential vaccines are in human trials with 132 in preclinical phases.
02-Jul-2020 The U.S. reported another daily record Wednesday of 52,000 new cases, far surpassing the previous record. Hospitalizations are also rising rapidly, demonstrating that higher numbers are not merely the result of increased testing.
01-Jul-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 27,296; new infections, 326; total deaths, 1,667; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 222.
01-Jul-2020 Cornering the market on Remdesivir by the U.S. Government has raised ethical questions in the minds of international experts. Some claim that it violates the spirit of fair access to critical drugs. However, several companies are working on generic equivalents of the drug.
01-Jul-2020 The effects of COVID-19 on the human brain, in those more seriously infected, include stroke, delirium, anxiety, confusion, memory loss, and other neurological problems.
01-Jul-2020 Hong Kong woke up to a new reality on Wednesday, after China’s central government imposed a sweeping national security law late the night before that critics say has stripped the city of its autonomy and precious civil and social freedoms, and cements Beijing’s authoritarian rule over the territory.
01-Jul-2020 The U.S. continues to set daily records, with more than 47,000 confirmed new cases on Tuesday. Doctor Anthony Fauci warned that this number could soon double to more than 100,000 cases a day. Coronavirus cases in June more than doubled in 14 U.S. states, including California, Florida and Texas, a Reuters analysis on Tuesday showed.
01-Jul-2020 The highest number of COVID-19 deaths globally are currently in the U.S., followed by Brazil, and the U.K., with these three countries accounting for nearly half of the total.
01-Jul-2020 India recorded its worst month ever in the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 70% of all confirmed new cases and deaths occurring in June.
01-Jul-2020 Australia has reimposed a lockdown on the city of Melbourne which affects 300,000 residents. This comes after the worst outbreak of the coronavirus in three months,
01-Jul-2020 The U.S. Government has purchased 100% of the World’s July production of Remdesivir, and 90% of August and September production from the sole maker of the drug. Remdesivir is the only approved treatment for the COVID-19 virus based on clinical trials, and is used worldwide.
30-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 26,970; new infections, 388; total deaths, 1,651; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 205.
30-Jun-2020 Local lockdowns (instead of country-wide restrictions) are becoming more commonplace in many countries including Australia, Germany, India and the U.K., a procedure which has also been suggested for Romania.
30-Jun-2020 India has begun human trials on a potential COVID-19 vaccine. There are more than 120 vaccine programs around the world, with six of them in India.
30-Jun-2020 A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in China by scientists. It emerged recently and is carried by pigs, but can infect humans.
30-Jun-2020 Swarms of locusts which devastated crops in many parts of Africa and the Middle-East have made their way to India where the government of New Delhi put officials on “high alert”.
30-Jun-2020 The Romanian County of Maramures (Sighet, Baia Mare) saw its highest daily number of confirmed cases ever, more than double the previous record. Though comparatively small, the numbers indicate a strong upward trend. The county of Cluj has seen only a small increase in new cases.
30-Jun-2020 There are some places where progress is being made to control the coronavirus, including New York State which registered its lowest number of hospitalizations during the pandemic.
30-Jun-2020 The median age for new cases is going down in many places around the world. Florida, which registered more than 5,000 new cases on Monday, reported a median age of only 37. Lack of respect for social distancing and other regulations, especially among younger people, is cited as a likely reason.
30-Jun-2020 Contract tracing has the potential to be a significant help in keeping the coronavirus in check, but the majority of contacts attempted are not successful. In the U.K. only 15,812 people were able to be contacted by 25,000 call handlers in the first three weeks of operation. In spite of millions downloading contact tracing apps in various countries, very few have voluntarily supplied information via the apps.
30-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization has warned that “the worst is yet to come” with COVID-19, as the virus is speeding up, not slowing down.
30-Jun-2020 Recent flooding in Romania and Ukraine has not had any severe impact on Bible Students in the area.
29-Jun-2020 The Minister of Health in Romania has recommended that the planned relaxation of measures on July 1st should be delayed. This analysis is based on a recent surge in new cases, and especially in the number in ICU and the number of deaths. Romania’s Premier agreed with this decision. An official vote will be taken this evening.
29-Jun-2020 The first million cases of COVID-19 worldwide was reached in 3 months. The most recent million cases only required eight days.
29-Jun-2020 COVID-19 cases are rising in every continent except Europe. The most rapid rise in cases is taking place in the U.S., Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. There are local outbreaks in Europe, including Germany, where thousands of new cases have been registered in the area of a meat-processing plant.
29-Jun-2020 A fresh outbreak in Beijing, China, has resulted in a new lockdown for 400,000 residents in the area. After bringing new infections down to near zero, Australia has seen its largest outbreak in three months. In the U.S. daily cases continue to be over 40,000. In the State of Texas the situation has been described as taking a “swift and dangerous turn” with more than 5,000 new cases daily.
29-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 26,582; new infections, 269; total deaths, 1,634; deaths today, 22. The number in ICU is 210. There is no explanation why the number of tests performed is still very low, less than half today compared to normal.
28-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 26,313; new infections, 291; total deaths, 1,612; deaths today, 23. The number in ICU is 217. This is the highest daily death toll, and number in ICU, since the middle of May. It is also based on fewer tests than normal.
28-Jun-2020 The U.S. is seeing shortages of more than 200 drugs and medical supplies due to strains on the supply chain, according to a report prepared by the Department of Homeland Security.
28-Jun-2020 The number of U.S. States with rising numbers of new infections is now 33. Record highs continue to be set on a daily basis in many States and nationwide. The Saturday figure was almost 46,000 new infections, a huge jump from the previous day. Total cases to-date are more than 2.5 million, or 25% of the worldwide total.
28-Jun-2020 Global coronavirus cases have surpassed 10 million, with deaths approaching the half million mark.
27-Jun-2020 The planned opening of borders by the E.U. will exclude a number of non-EU countries considered “high-risk” and the U.S. is on that list.
27-Jun-2020 A spike in new cases in Arizona, Florida and Texas is affecting many more young people.
27-Jun-2020 An Israeli company has developed an Alzheimer’s disease treatment which is now in advanced Phase 3 clinical trials. The drug could also prove effective in treating lung inflammation caused by Covid-19.
27-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 26,022; new infections, 325; total deaths, 1,589; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 199. The new cases number is based on a much smaller number of tests, less than 2,000 tests compared to 11,000 yesterday.
27-Jun-2020 India’s total is now over half a million. A number of hospitals are overwhelmed.
27-Jun-2020 The U.S. set another record in the past 24 hours with more than 40,000 new cases. Doctor Anthony Fauci called the situation a “serious problem”. A number of States have delayed their reopening plans.
26-Jun-2020 More incidents are being reported of police being attacked when trying to break up illegal gatherings in a number of countries. “Large numbers of people” have been “completely flouting the health regulations” and are reacting violently against authorities.
26-Jun-2020 Total cases in India continue to set daily records. Train travel has been cancelled again in response to the crisis. The total nationwide is approaching half a million.
26-Jun-2020 Thirty countries in Europe have seen an increase in weekly cases of COVID-19. This is the first time in months that the rate of new infections in Europe has gone up.
26-Jun-2020 Memorials to all four Presidents on Mount Rushmore are being targeted by BLM protesters.
26-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 25,697; new infections, 411; total deaths, 1,579; deaths today, 14. The number in ICU is 186. This is the second day in a row with new cases over 400.
26-Jun-2020 Six months of data confirm a growing consensus regarding how people become infected with COVID-19: the major culprit is close-up, person-to-person interactions for extended periods.
26-Jun-2020 Protesters said they are planning to topple a statue of Abraham Lincoln in the capital meant to commemorate his 1863 proclamation freeing enslaved people in the rebel states at the height of the Civil War. They claim the manner in which it is portrayed is demeaning to black people.
26-Jun-2020 The governor of Texas temporarily halted the state’s reopening on Thursday as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations surged and the country set another new record for a one-day increase in cases.
26-Jun-2020 Romania has been included on Denmark’s “no entry” list of six E.U. countries due to an excess of new cases of COVID-19.
26-Jun-2020 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 20 million Americans could have contracted the coronavirus, 10 times more than official counts, indicating many people without symptoms have or have had the disease.
25-Jun-2020 Europe saw a rise in weekly cases for the first time in months last week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and a number of countries could see numbers hit dangerous levels if more isn’t done to stop the spread.
25-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: A “shocking increase” in new infections at 460, the fourth highest ever. Total infections, 25,286; total deaths, 1,565; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 199. The largest daily total was 523 at the peak of the pandemic.
25-Jun-2020 The U.S. set a daily record for the past two months with more than 34,000 new cases. The highest number ever was 36,000 on April 24th. The New York Times claims a total of 38,672 which would be well above the previous all-time high.
25-Jun-2020 Dozens of Secret Service agents have been quarantined after several who attended the Trump rally in Oklahoma tested positive.
25-Jun-2020 India set another daily record with nearly 17,000 new cases. The total is approaching half a million. India’s capital, Delhi, has announced that it will screen its nearly 30 million residents for symptoms in a door-to-door survey.
25-Jun-2020 Several U.S. States including New York have imposed a 14-day quarantine on people entering from other States with rising infections. New infections are rising rapidly in the South and West. Numbers are now rising in 27 States.
25-Jun-2020 Door-to-door testing is underway in Melbourne, Australia, after a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus. Troops have been sent in to assist in the process.
24-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 24,826; new infections, 321; total deaths, 1,555; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 186.
24-Jun-2020 The Indian capital of Delhi recorded its highest number of daily infections yet. The local government has started a program to screen every house in the city.
24-Jun-2020 Russian citizens are set to begin voting on constitutional changes that could allow President Vladimir Putin to remain in office for years to come, potentially cementing his hold on power.
24-Jun-2020 Top U.S. health expert Doctor Anthony Fauci warned of a “disturbing surge” of new infections in a number of States, including Arizona where more than 80% of all hospital beds are already occupied. Overall numbers are rising rapidly in the U.S. with more than 30,000 new cases in a single day recently. More than half of all States have seen an increase in the past week.
23-Jun-2020 One of the most promising vaccine candidates has entered human trials in two of the hardest it countries: Brazil and South Africa.
23-Jun-2020 The State of California shattered its one-day record with over 6,000 new cases. The previous record was 4,500 new cases.
23-Jun-2020 In an attempt to keep a local outbreak from spreading, German officials have added a second district to the lockdown near a meat-processing plant. Warendorf is home to about 270,000 people, bringing the total to over half a million.
23-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 24,505; new infections, 214; total deaths, 1,539; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 200.
23-Jun-2020 Romania is experiencing major flooding that has inundated several towns, blocked trains and closed highways. Heavy rains continue over much of the country. There are no reports as yet of Bible Students being affected. The situation has complicated coronavirus mitigation efforts.
23-Jun-2020 India registered another daily record in new cases. Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia have reported increased cases that officials are calling a second wave.
23-Jun-2020 Romania is now in third place in Europe, behind Portugal and Sweden, in the number of coronavirus infections per hundred thousand inhabitants.
23-Jun-2020 Half of the 1,300 workers that tested positive for Coronavirus at the German slaughterhouse Tonnies were workers from Romania. Owners blame a subcontractor for failing to take necessary precautions when bringing the workers to Germany. Government officials are implementing an expansion of the lockdown zone around the plant. More than 360,000 residents will be affected.
23-Jun-2020 The spike in coronavirus cases in Florida, Arizona, Oregon and other Southern and Western states can be traced back to around Memorial Day, when officials began loosening their lockdowns. In about two weeks, hospitals in those states could find themselves struggling to find enough beds for patients, one of the nation’s top public health experts warned.
23-Jun-2020 The Hinoman company in Kibbutz Be’eri, Israel, is growing the world’s smallest vegetable that contains all the essential amino acids plus iron and vitamin B12. Mankae, a form of duckweed, is tasteless and odorless, and can be added to almost any food. The tiny plant has been proven to have many health benefits.
23-Jun-2020 The total number of COVID-19 infections worldwide has surpassed nine million. Daily increases continue to set records. The majority of new cases are in the Americas. The death toll in the U.S. is now over 120,000 out of 470,000 worldwide.
22-Jun-2020 The “R” rate in Germany has risen again sharply in the past 24 hours, from 1.79 to 2.88, after rising from 0.7 only a few days ago. Officials claim that this rise is the result of local outbreaks and does not indicate a “second wave” of infections. Local quarantines to stem these outbreaks have resulted in violence against police trying to enforce the rules.
22-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 24,291; new infections, 246; total deaths, 1,523; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 195. Sunday numbers were based on only one-third as many tests being done compared to a weekday.
22-Jun-2020 “Offensive” statues are being pulled down or removed all over the U.S., including memorials to Francis Scott Key, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Junipero Serra and Christopher Columbus.
22-Jun-2020 Setbacks in several countries that brought the coronavirus rate down to near zero underscores the fragile nature of such successes. Australia had no new cases for several weeks in some States which have now seen a resurgence of the virus. A dozen States in the U.S. set record highs in new cases recorded.
22-Jun-2020 Romania’s Health Minister spoke to the media on the alarming upward trend in new cases, stating that the “R” factor has increased from 0.6 to 1.4 and that the result could lead to a doubling of daily new cases. Saturday saw the largest daily increase ever for the County of Maramures, Romania. (Sighet, Baia Mare) Numbers have increased steadily over the past several days.
22-Jun-2020 German authorities have expressed shock over a rampage of an “unprecedented scale” in the centre of Stuttgart, where hundreds of partygoers ran riot overnight and into Sunday, breaking shop windows, plundering and attacking police.
22-Jun-2020 K-pop fans and users of TikTok claimed tickets to Donald Trump’s Saturday night rally in Tulsa then did not use them, as part of a coordinated effort to leave hundreds of seats empty. [New York Times] TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance.
22-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.
22-Jun-2020 Brazil passed the one million mark for coronavirus cases a few days ago. Sunday they passed the 50,000 mark for deaths.
22-Jun-2020 “Israel is entering a second wave of the coronavirus illness and we have to take immediate and urgent steps…” according to an official statement released Saturday evening.
22-Jun-2020 A coronavirus vaccine developed in Israel was tested successfully on lab hamsters and shows promise as a potential cure for the pandemic. Human trials will come next. The Israeli vaccine is unique in the “recombinant replicating virus” method being used.
21-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 24,045; new infections, 315; total deaths, 1,512; deaths today, 12. The number in ICU is 195. This is the fourth day in a row with more than 300 new cases, and with an increase in the number in ICU.
21-Jun-2020 The “R” rate has increased dramatically in Germany to 1.79 from a low of 0.7 only a short time ago. This rate determines how quickly the virus is spreading. Any rate higher than 1.0 indicates an accelerating pace.
20-Jun-2020 Personal accounts from Croatia indicate that the situation has worsened there after restrictions were lifted.
20-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 23,730; new infections, 330; total deaths, 1,500; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 190. This is the fourth day in a row with more than 300 new cases. All daily numbers are higher than the day before. The number of patients who have not recovered has gone up almost every day since May 8th and now stands at 5,495. Some hospitals are no longer able to admit new patients.
20-Jun-2020 Up to a hundred thousand are expected to gather in Tulsa, OK this weekend for two very different events. Friday marked the anniversary of a 1921 massacre that destroyed a black district of the city and nationwide protests began on Friday. A political rally by President Trump will take place on Saturday in Tulsa and “Juneteenth” demonstrators are expected to protest that event as well.
20-Jun-2020 The State of Florida is becoming the new epicenter for COVID-19 in the U.S. with record numbers of new infections.
20-Jun-2020 Brazil has passed the one million mark in the number of virus cases, only the second country to do so, the U.S. being the other. The death toll in Brazil is nearing the 50,000 mark.
20-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning that the pandemic is entering a “new and dangerous” phase. Thursday saw the largest daily jump in cases since the the outbreak began.
19-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 23,400; new infections, 320; total deaths, 1,484; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 184. This is the third day in a row with more than 300 new cases.
19-Jun-2020 Indian officials have re-imposed a lockdown in the southern city of Chennai (formerly Madras) and three neighbouring districts as new cases surge.
18-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 23,080; new infections, 320; total deaths, 1,473; deaths today, 22. The number in ICU is 178. All these daily numbers are alarming and represent some of the highest figures in recent weeks.
18-Jun-2020 Latin America continues to be the new epicenter of COVID-19 with rapidly increasing numbers of infections. Peru has now overtaken Italy in the number of infections. Brazil will soon surpass one million confirmed cases. In other countries around the world, India saw its highest daily count of new cases, and Germany has put thousands into quarantine after more than 650 workers tested positive at a meat-packing plant.
18-Jun-2020 The latest forecasts estimate that the coronavirus pandemic is pushing Jews by the tens of thousands to move to Israel, especially from the United States. The Minister of Aliyah expects 90,000 new immigrants in the next 18 months.
18-Jun-2020 The coronavirus situation in Moldova has worsened. The number of new infections on Tuesday was 478, a record high. More troubling is the fact that 1,943 tests were made for an infection rate of 25%. By contrast, in Romania there were 345 new cases out of 11,715 individuals tested for a rate of 3%. So far as we know, none of the Bible Students in Moldova, Romania or neighboring Ukraine have been severely affected.
17-Jun-2020 Israeli scientists have created a reusable face mask which cleans itself in 30 minutes via a USB port.
17-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 22,760; new infections, 345; total deaths, 1,451; deaths today, 14. The number in ICU is 161. The daily infections number is the highest since May 7th.
17-Jun-2020 The U.S. has narrowed potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates to seven. Globally there are nearly 200 candidates with more than a dozen in human clinical trials.
17-Jun-2020 Most recent studies on coronavirus infection show that surface contamination and fleeting encounters are less of a worry than close-up, person-to-person interactions for extended periods. Another study seemed to confirm that sunlight can deactivate the virus.
17-Jun-2020 India said 20 of its soldiers died in a clash with Chinese troops along the two countries’ disputed border in the Himalayan Mountains, the worst military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
16-Jun-2020 A cheap and widely available drug can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus. The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say.
16-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 22,415; new infections, 250; total deaths, 1,437; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 173.
16-Jun-2020 Tens of thousands of people who were at the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing, where a new outbreak orginated, have been told by Chinese officials to report for testing, and to go into home quarantine until further notice. Residents of the entire district are not permitted to leave Beijing.
16-Jun-2020 Tensions between North and South Korean have escalated in recent days. Threats turned into action today as North Korea blew up a border Liaison Office building. Redeployment of troops near the border is expected in the near future. Experts believe that Kim Jong Un is taking advantage of the global pandemic, as world leaders are preoccupied with the crisis.
16-Jun-2020 The global number of confirmed cases has surpassed eight million, with more than 436,000 deaths.
16-Jun-2020 Cases in India continue to reach record levels. Hospitals in the nation’s capital, Delhi, are “buckling under the pressure” and have had to turn patients away.
16-Jun-2020 The US FDA has withdrawn the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus. The drug has proven essential in the treatment of malaria and continues to be authorized for that purpose.
15-Jun-2020 Authorities in the Indian city of Chennai have reimposed a full lockdown after a surge in new cases on Friday.
15-Jun-2020 China’s official state media has been unusually downbeat today with a statement that “the risk of the Beijing epidemic spreading is very high” and hinting that the danger of a second wave is very real.
15-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 22,165; new infections, 166; total deaths, 1,427; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 175. The number of new infections is always lower based on Sunday’s tests which are far fewer than other days. More significant is the increase in deaths and those in ICU.
15-Jun-2020 Palestinian leaders are embracing a risky method of protest. They have begun refusing to coordinate with Israel on matters of daily Palestinian life. The consequences are enormous. “We put our finger in our mouth, bit ourselves, and are waiting for the Israelis to scream,” a Palestinian security official says, speaking on condition of anonymity.
15-Jun-2020 (Reuters) – Fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections shut six major food markets in Beijing on Friday, while India, which opened up this week, recorded a record daily increase and half a dozen U.S. states said their hospital beds were filling up fast.
15-Jun-2020 Gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in late May have led to record numbers of new cases in many States in the U.S. The consequence of recent protests is yet to come. Most worrisome is the rise in hospitalizations which are also reaching record levels.
15-Jun-2020 President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that Russia was emerging from the novel coronavirus epidemic with minimal losses, having handled it better than the United States where he said party political interests got in the way.
14-Jun-2020 As coronavirus cases continue to rise nationwide in the U.S., protests also continue, and unrest in Atlanta erupted after a black man was shot and killed while resisting arrest.
14-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 21,999; new infections, 320; total deaths, 1,410; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 165. This is an alarming increase and the highest number since May 9th.
14-Jun-2020 Healthcare systems in India are becoming overwhelmed as the number of daily cases continues to exceed record highs.
14-Jun-2020 A temporary switch to a four-day work week is likely to become permanent in more and more companies around the world. Recent studies indicate a rise in productivity and morale related to the concept.
13-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 21,679; new infections, 275; total deaths, 1,394; deaths today, 14. The number in ICU is 171. This is the highest daily case total since May 9th.
13-Jun-2020 In Syria a burgeoning economic crisis engulfing even Bashar al-Assad’s most loyal supporters is now posing the biggest challenge to his grip on the country in years.
13-Jun-2020 Brazil has overtaken Great Britain as the country with the world’s second-highest Covid-19 death toll.
13-Jun-2020 Fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections shut six major food markets in Beijing on Friday, while India, which opened up this week, recorded a record daily increase and half a dozen U.S. states said their hospital beds were filling up fast. Experts remark that many countries are still in the midst of the first wave.
12-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 21,404; new infections, 222; total deaths, 1,380; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 171. These numbers continue an elevated trend for the fourth day.
12-Jun-2020 A clinical researcher for the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has developed a potential “universal” vaccine using pieces of mosquito saliva protein. Trials showed that an Anopheles mosquito-based vaccine was safe and that it triggered antibody and cellular responses.
12-Jun-2020 New figures from India show the country now has the fourth most cases in the world, behind only Russia, Brazil, and the US. Overwhelmed hospitals have had to turn away COVID-19 patients.
12-Jun-2020 The number of confirmed cases in Russia has passed 500,000, the third-highest in the world, behind the US with more than two million and Brazil with over 800,000.
12-Jun-2020 Europe could face a surge of new infections in the coming weeks following recent mass protests, warn politicians, European Union officials and experts.
11-Jun-2020 New jobless claims in the U.S. fell again to 1.5 million from 1.8 million the week before. The total number of unemployed is more than 40 million.
11-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 21,182; new infections, 237; total deaths, 1,369; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 153. This continues to show an alarming trend over the past several days in new cases.
11-Jun-2020 The U.S. has the highest number of infections and deaths from COVID-19, but ranks a distant 11th when it comes to both infections and deaths per million people. Italy, Spain and the U.K. have death rates per million that are nearly double that of the U.S.
11-Jun-2020 The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday refused a planeload of medical supplies from the United Arab Emirates to help fight coronavirus because it was coordinated with Israel. This is the second such incident in the past month.
11-Jun-2020 With new infections rising in 21 States, the total number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has surpassed the two million mark. The rate of new infections in nine States is described as an “explosion”.
11-Jun-2020 An undisclosed number of National Guardsmen have contracted the coronavirus after being deployed to the recent protests. This increases concerns that the general public who attended those protests may have spread the virus amongst themselves.
10-Jun-2020 The head of the Pan-American Health Organization has stated that COVID-19 cases in Latin America are growing exponentially.
10-Jun-2020 The leaders of the six largest countries in the E.U. have issued a statement that Europe must prepare now for the next pandemic.
10-Jun-2020 Social Psychologists warn of potential riots this summer over the effects of COVID-19. Mass job losses, concerns over economic and racial inequality, poor police-community relations and other factors were cited as underlying causes.
10-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,945; new infections, 196; total deaths, 1,360; deaths today, 15. The number in ICU is 150. This shows an alarming trend over the past several days, both in new cases and deaths.
10-Jun-2020 Sadly, as expected, after loosening restrictions, 21 U.S. States and Puerto Rico have seen record high new infection rates of the coronavirus. Some States had increases of 40% for the week compared to the previous seven days.
10-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization has issued confusing and contradictory statements on three major coronavirus issues in the past two weeks. The statements involved the use of face masks, the use of hydroxychloroquine, and the asymptomatic transmission of the virus. A Retraction and a Reversal on the last two items came within only a day or two of the initial reports.
10-Jun-2020 U.S. top coronavirus expert Doctor Anthony Fauci has warned that the pandemic is far from over – despite many countries easing their restrictions.
10-Jun-2020 Several recent studies have confirmed that people with blood type O are less susceptible to COVID-19 while those with blood type A are more susceptible and more likely to have serious symptoms.
10-Jun-2020 Canada will now allow a “limited exemption” for immediate family members of Canadian citizens to cross from the U.S. into Canada. Many married couples of mixed nationality have been separated since March 21st.
09-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,749; new infections, 145; total deaths, 1,345; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 152..
09-Jun-2020 Israel has “put the emergency brake” on relaxing restrictions as new infections climb. The increase occurred after schools, beaches and shopping malls were allowed to reopen.
09-Jun-2020 The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed seven million, and the global death toll is now more than 400,000.
09-Jun-2020 The world’s leading foreign policy journal, Foreign Affairs, has painted a pessimistic picture of the post-pandemic future. They say that the crisis has highlighted inequalities, contributed to domestic unrest, increased surveillance that violates civil liberties, caused economic instability that will last for many years, and brought about a pandemic of misinformation that is “as contagious as the virus itself”.
09-Jun-2020 According to a Harvard Medical School study, analysis of traffic patterns on satellite imagery, coupled with search engine traffic using terms related to coronavirus symptoms, suggest that COVID-19 may have started in the Wuhan, China area as early as August of 2019. By October there was “significant social disruption” taking place.
09-Jun-2020 George Floyd served a five-year prison sentence in 2009 as part of a plea deal on a 2007 charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. After being freed from jail he became involved in his local ministry, Resurrection Houston.
09-Jun-2020 Public officials continue to plead with George Floyd protesters to respect social-distancing, to wear face masks, and to get tested for the coronavirus. Hundreds of thousands worldwide have participated in protests over the past week, putting themselves at serious risk for the virus.
09-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that in spite of an improving situation in Europe, the pandemic is worsening globally.
09-Jun-2020 Texas and Florida are among states that have seen an increase in new infections since the lifting of restrictions. California has also seen a spike in new infections, especially near the Mexican border. The latest estimates project a U.S. death toll of 145,000 by August.
08-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,604; new infections, 125; total deaths, 1,334; deaths today, 8. The number in ICU is 146. The number of new infections is misleading, as only one-third as many tests were made in the past 24 hours compared to normal.
08-Jun-2020 NYC is preparing to open for business today, allowing as many as 400,000 people to return to work.
08-Jun-2020 The Indian State that has Mumbai as its capital now has more confirmed cases than all of China.
08-Jun-2020 A recent upward trend in new cases in Romania has increased the likelihood that the national State of Alert will be extended beyond June 15th. The County of Maramures has seen a slight increase in cases the past four days. Though the numbers are small, the trend is upward.
08-Jun-2020 Recent protests across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd could lead to new surges in coronavirus cases, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Friday.
08-Jun-2020 A majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to disband the police department in favor of a community-led safety model. There is a growing national movement in major cities to “defund” police departments. Ironically, a recent ABC poll shows that 52% of Americans back using the military to control violent protests.
08-Jun-2020 A recent WSJ / NBC poll showed that 80% of participants believe the U.S. is “spiraling out of control.”
08-Jun-2020 A recent increase in inquiries supports the forecast that the coronavirus pandemic could push up to a quarter million Jews to make Aliyah in the coming years.
07-Jun-2020 The President of the World Bank has declared that the coronavirus dealt a devastating blow to the world economy, and that the economic fallout could last more than a decade.
07-Jun-2020 Global coronavirus cases are near 7 million as the outbreak continues to grow in Brazil, India and Russia. The global death toll is now more than 400,000.
07-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,479; new infections, 189; total deaths, 1,326; deaths today, 8. The number in ICU is 144. This is the fourth day in a row when the number of new infections has remained at an elevated level.
07-Jun-2020 An injection of cloned antibodies that counteract Covid-19 could prove significant for those in the early stages of infection, according to the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
07-Jun-2020 Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday in Washington, D.C. and other cities around the world. Health experts continue to issue warnings that these gatherings are “seeding events” for the coronavirus. Demonstrations which started out peaceful, turned violent in several places such as Berlin and Hamburg.
06-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,290; new infections, 187; total deaths, 1,318; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 153. These numbers show an above average trend in the past three days.
06-Jun-2020 Protests continue around the world related to the death of African American George Floyd. Crowds are generally using face masks, but have defied curfews and social-distancing rules. Most protests have been peaceful.
06-Jun-2020 Infections continue to rise in India where more than 10,000 new cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours. Their total now exceeds that of Italy, and hospitals are struggling to cope. There are still no reports of Bible Students being severely affected by the virus in India.
06-Jun-2020 The 1918 pandemic is the worst in U.S. history, with more than 618,000 deaths, or 0.6% of the population at that time. Next on the list is the 1957 flu season when 116,000 died. That puts the current death toll at a close third with 109,000 deaths. But that equates to only 0.03% of the total population.
06-Jun-2020 Looting in the 20 largest metro areas in the U.S. caused more than $400 million in damages in the period from May 29th to June 3rd.
06-Jun-2020 Scientists and researchers looking for novel ways to treat the coronavirus have found that Vitamin-K is highly effective. The best way to obtain a healthy dose is by consuming more spinach, broccoli, blueberries and other fruits and vegetables. Clinical trials have been started.
06-Jun-2020 U.S. Democrats are threatening to end support for Israel if plans for annexation of portions of Judea and Samaria move forward.
06-Jun-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) reports “upticks” in COVID-19 cases in countries where lockdowns have been eased. The official spokesperson stated: “It’s not over…” Concerns continue to be raised for those who are participating in protests and demonstrations, as often they are not wearing facemasks or respecting social distancing.
06-Jun-2020 The U.S. unemployment rate fell from 14.7% to 13.3% in May due to an unexpected surge in employment, with 2.5 million jobs being added.
06-Jun-2020 Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong , the billionaire physician and entrepreneur who owns The Los Angeles Times, announced that he is mobilizing two of his companies to develop a potential coronavirus vaccine.
05-Jun-2020 No major changes in situations around the world regarding the COVID-19 virus. No major changes in the crisis in the U.S.
05-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 20,103; new infections, 196; total deaths, 1,308; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 152.
04-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,907; new infections, 238; total deaths, 1,299; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 153. This is a dramatic increase in new infections compared to the past several days, the largest since May 16th.
04-Jun-2020 The official COVID-19 death toll in the U.K. has surpassed 50,000.
04-Jun-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s leading infectious disease experts, believes that by early 2021, the U.S. will have “a couple of hundred million doses” of a vaccine for the coronavirus.
04-Jun-2020 George Floyd, whose in-custody death in Minneapolis last week triggered an avalanche of protests over the mistreatment of black people by police, tested positive for the coronavirus weeks before his death, an autopsy report released Wednesday shows. The virus was still in his system, but it is not clear if he was contagious at the time of his death. The latest autopsy findings show that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. Two autopsies have reported widely differing results.
04-Jun-2020 Protests in the U.S. were largely peaceful over night. Washington D.C. continues to be a hotspot and Trump has threatened to deploy the Military to control the situation.
04-Jun-2020 COVID-19 continues to decline in most countries in Europe and Asia, but Iran has seen an upsurge in recent days after relaxing restrictions. There has been a slow but steady decline in the U.S., but recent demonstrations raise the risk of another outbreak in the next week or so. Latin America continues to be the new epicenter of the disease.
04-Jun-2020 European borders have begun reopening in most countries, but the relaxation of travel restrictions often continues to exclude entry to those from the U.K. and Sweden.
04-Jun-2020 After concerns that hydroxychloroquine might actually increase mortality rates, the World Health Organization (WHO) has resumed trials. A study by an obscure healthcare company, which claimed the danger, has been declared as “seriously flawed” by numerous experts. The company, Surgisphere, has only a handful of employess including a sci-fi writer and other questionable individuals. How WHO decided to use the study as a basis for a major policy decision is unclear.
03-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,669; new infections, 152; total deaths, 1,288; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 162.
03-Jun-2020 Italy has reopened its borders and ended travel restrictions. The “R” rate in Berlin has risen dramatically to 1.95 which indicates a very high transmission rate for the virus there. The daily death toll has risen above 100 in France for the first time in two weeks.
03-Jun-2020 After initialing cautioning against its use in those with coronavirus, researchers are now suggesting that a special form of ibuprofen (Lipid) may be effective as a treatment.
03-Jun-2020 The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the U.S. has been granted authority by the Department of Justice to conduct “covert surveillance” on people participating in protests. Several DEA officials are privately questioning the order, particularly why a drug enforcement agency is being used for something that is not drug related.
03-Jun-2020 Concerns continue to rise for an uncontrolled rise in COVID-19 infections due to the recent protests around the world. Some participants who were interviewed in Washington, D.C. admitted to being “immunocompromised” but felt that breaking quarantine was justified. A well-known athlete tested positive after participating in protests in Tulsa, OK.
03-Jun-2020 International reaction to the U.S. government crackdown on protests has come swiftly from all over the world, including many allies of the U.S., and the general tone is critical. There is growing opposition to President Trump even within his own party.
03-Jun-2020 More than 40 major cities in the U.S. have issued curfews, but protestors continue to defy the orders.
03-Jun-2020 Mumbai is the hardest hit city in India, with more than 40,000 infections. Now they face another crisis with approaching cyclone Nisarga, which is the first to hit the city since 1891.
02-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,517; new infections, 119; total deaths, 1,279; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 166.
02-Jun-2020 There are rising concerns that Doctor Anthony Fauci is being “squeezed out” of his prominent role in the national coronavirus taskforce. He stated publicly that his last interaction with Trump was on May 18th.
02-Jun-2020 Chaos continues in the U.S. with a growing numbers of States where the National Guard has been called up, increasing violence by rioters, as well as by law enforcement, additional casualties on both sides, etc. President Trump has threatened to use Military force nationwide against protesters.
02-Jun-2020 India has recorded daily records of new infections for several days in a row.
01-Jun-2020 Here’s a summary of the unrest in the U.S.: The National Guard has been called out in 21 States and the District of Columbia. Rioters started fires near the White House, causing damage to a nearby church. Curfews have been ignored in some 40 cities as protests and riots continue. The brother of the man who died in police custody has publicly condemned the violence and has asked protestors to “channel your anger elsewhere”.
01-Jun-2020 Researchers have begun testing what appears to be the first new medicine developed specifically against Covid-19. The medicine, a man-made antibody, was developed by Eli Lilly. If it proves effective, millions of doses could be made available as early as this Fall.
01-Jun-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,398; new infections, 141; total deaths, 1,270; deaths today, 8. The number in ICU is 159.
01-Jun-2020 Unrest continues in the U.S. and has become more widespread. The coronavirus is largely under control in Europe and Asia, but continues to spread in Russia and Latin America. The situation in the U.S. is unpredictable, as unrest there has the potential of causing explosive growth in new cases. The real impact will not be felt for up to two weeks.
31-May-2020 Studies continue to confirm that many COVID-19 infected people show no symptoms, and are not even aware they have the virus, potentially doubling the official numbers. “Asymptomatic” individuals can still transmit the infection to others.
31-May-2020 Testing for COVID-19 has been forced to stop in several major cities in the U.S. due to the rioting there. Concerns are also being raised for uncontrolled spreading of the virus by demonstrators and rioters.
31-May-2020 Unrest is reported in more than 30 cities in the U.S. which is reminiscent of race riots in the 1960s. The situation continues to escalate in spite of calls on both sides for peaceful demonstrations.
31-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,257; new infections, 124; total deaths, 1,262; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 160.
31-May-2020 The eyes of the world are now focused on riots in more than two dozen major cities in the U.S. The National Guard has been called in by Governors of nearly a dozen States. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 situation continues to progress in the background, with more than six million cases confirmed worldwide.
30-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 19,133; new infections, 151; total deaths, 1,253; deaths today, 13. The number in ICU is 160.
30-May-2020 Scientists and health professionals around the world have expressed concerns about relaxing restrictions too soon and too rapidly.
30-May-2020 India has recorded its largest daily increase in cases to-date. Brazil faces rapidly increasing numbers of both infections and deaths. Russia continues to have high numbers as well.
29-May-2020 Siberia is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave with temperatures higher than 80 F (26 C), which is far above the 59 F (15 C) average for this time of year, stoking fears of another wildfire catastrophe. Related flooding last year severely affected our Sisters in Tulun.
29-May-2020 Objections have been raised by 120 researchers and professionals around the world to a study published in the Lancet which prompted the World Health Organization to halt global trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19.
29-May-2020 Twitter hid President Trump’s tweet threatening to shoot looters in Minneapolis as “glorifying violence”.
29-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,982; new infections, 191; total deaths, 1,240; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 182.
29-May-2020 500 National Guard solders were called out in Minneapolis to control non-coronavirus related rioting there. A police precinct complex was taken over by violent protestors and set on fire. Protests have broken out in a number of major cities nationwide, over the killiing by police of an unarmed black man.
29-May-2020 Unemployment claims in the U.S. increased another two million to bring the total to more than 40 million, and the largest percentage since the Great Depression.
29-May-2020 Croatia has opened its borders to 10 E.U. member countries. Hotels are now allowed to reopen in Austria, under strict guidelines.
29-May-2020 Regional clusters of coronavirus are springing up around the world in countries where restrictions have been lifted. South Korea is in a “crisis situation’ after successfully suppressing the virus to near zero. Cases have also increased dramatically in Germany. New outbreaks have also been seen in France, Israel, Italy, and Spain.
29-May-2020 The Boston Marathon has been cancelled for the first time in history.
28-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,791; new infections, 197; total deaths, 1,229; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 182. Though not a big difference, the number of infections have risen now for the third day in a row.
28-May-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci is now saying that he believes there’s a good chance a COVID-19 vaccine may be ready for deployment by November or December. More than 150,000 volunteers will be tested with a half dozen of the most promising candidates.
28-May-2020 The Palestinian Authority (PA) has ceased all security cooperation with Israel in protest against plans to annex portions of Judea and Samaria. Ironically, this opens the door for an amared coup by Hamas to take over the PA. More than 300 organizations tied to Hamas were shut down by the PA in 2019 with the help of Israel.
28-May-2020 According to Israel Hayom, the rulers of Arab states including Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are quietly accepting the annexation plan, despite public statements condemning Israel’s actions.
28-May-2020 The official statistics from the U.S. show a huge proportion of virus deaths in the over 65 category. In Romania 58% of confirmed cases have been in the 30-59 age range and only 13% in the 70 and older group.
28-May-2020 The U.S. death toll from the virus has surpassed 100,000 which is the highest by far of any country in the world. However, the rate of deaths per million of population is ninth on the list.
27-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,594; new infections, 165; total deaths, 1,219; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 198.
27-May-2020 The deputy director of the infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology believes the novel coronavirus is just the tip of the iceberg, and warned about future similar viruses. However, she dispelled rumors of the outbreak originating in the Wuhan lab: “The 2019 novel coronavirus is a punishment by nature to humans’ unsanitary lifestyles. I promise with my life that the virus has nothing to do with the lab,” Zhengli wrote.
27-May-2020 The Israeli Institute for Biological Research revealed on Tuesday that two drugs designed to treat Gaucher’s disease, a genetic disorder that causes a buildup of fatty substances in organs, has turned out to be effective against the coronavirus.
27-May-2020 Global totals have surpassed 5.5 million confirmed cases, and nearly 350,000 have died. Numbers continue to decrease in most countries, with Latin America being the exception. The U.S. saw its lowest daily death toll since mid-March.
26-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,429; new infections, 146; total deaths, 1,210; deaths today, 17. The number in ICU is 181.
26-May-2020 India recorded its highest daily increase in infections on Monday, even as restrictions began to be lifted, and domestic flights resumed.
26-May-2020 The World Health Organization has paused its trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients due to safety concerns after early results showed an increased death rate in those receiving the drug.
26-May-2020 “The worst is over.” That is the latest thinking on the coronavirus, not only regarding the direct effects of the virus, but related to the financial impacts as well. The biggest concerns now are for a second wave resulting from relaxed restrictions.
25-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,283; new infections, 213; total deaths, 1,193; deaths today, 14. The number in ICU is 177.
25-May-2020 COVID-19 is finally taking a backseat, as today’s headlines are mostly about politics.
25-May-2020 The daily death toll in the U.S. continues to decrease, but the total is edging closer to the 100,000 mark.
25-May-2020 The CDC has revised the estimated fatality rate for COVID-19 to 0.26% which is much lower than previous estimates. The lower death rate is due to a higher rate of cases with no symptoms.
24-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 18,070; new infections, 213; total deaths, 1,179; deaths today, 9. The number in ICU is 188.
24-May-2020 Israel is one of the most successful countries in dealing with the coronavirus. There were only 4 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. The recovery rate is more than 84% of the 17 thousand total cases, and the death rate is less than 1.7% of that total.
23-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,857; new infections, 145; total deaths, 1,170; deaths today, 11. The number in ICU is 196.
23-May-2020 Censorship of various electronic media considered inappropriate has raised concerns after a significant percentage of incidents involved legitimate content. Even some Bible Student materials have been suppressed because of factual references to terrorism and COVID-19.
23-May-2020 The top four candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine have shown promising results in recent trials. Doctor Anthony Fauci expressed cautious optimism.
23-May-2020 A recent study in South Korea showed that those who recovered from COVID-19, and later tested positive, did not pass the disease to others.
23-May-2020 Conflicts between the White House and State Governors continue as the President identified places of worship as “essential” while legal authority for giving this status resides with the individual States. Consequently, thousands of churches have expressed their intentions to resume services in defiance of local laws.
23-May-2020 There are still several important questions regarding the coronavirus that remain unanswered: Are children without symptoms able to pass the disease to others? Will there be a second wave? Do recovered patients have immunity to the virus, and if so, for how long?
23-May-2020 Latin America has now become the epicenter of the virus with increasing infection and death rates. Cases in Africa are also rising, though the official death count there is relatively low.
23-May-2020 A recent limited study on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients saw no benefits. A more comprehensive study on the drug is still underway.
22-May-2020 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed the wording on its website earlier this month to emphasize that the coronavirus is not easily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
22-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,712; new infections, 127; total deaths, 1,159; deaths today, 8. The number in ICU is 200. These are the lowest numbers since March 26th.
22-May-2020 BerGenBio, a biotechnology company that employs just 38 people based in Bergen, Norway, and Oxford, England, has developed a drug called bemcentinib, which is currently in phase two of clinical trials.
22-May-2020 Add another major company to the growing list of those shifting to a permanent work-at-home policy: Facebook.
21-May-2020 Jobless claims in the U.S. increased another 2.4 million to bring the total to 38.6 million, or roughly one-fourth of the workforce.
21-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,585; new infections, 198; total deaths, 1,151; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 203.
21-May-2020 Another DNA vaccine, being tested by the Harvard Medical School, has shown “stunning results” in trials with rhesus monkeys.
21-May-2020 Faint text has been revealed on parchments of the Dead Sea scrolls previously thought to be blank. New advanced scanning techniques were used to analyze a number of scroll fragments.
21-May-2020 India’s Chief Minister has stated that Cyclone Amphan is a bigger disaster than the coronavirus. Millions were displaced and thousands have been left homeless. Evacuations were severely hampered by coronavirus concerns.
21-May-2020 The choice of words by leading U.S. politicans has descended further into the realm of the vulgar and obscene. The content of heated exchanges on both sides of the political spectrum has reached a new low in recent days.
21-May-2020 There is a cyber-war raging between Israel and Iran. Hundreds of websites were attacked in Israel on Thursday. This is seemingly retaliation for a supposed Israeli attack on a major Iranian Port on Wednesday which essentially disabled the facility for an extended period of time.
21-May-2020 Most COVID-19 tests are rather invasive, but now Israeli Professor Gabby Sarusi of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has developed a one-minute breathalyzer test with a 96% accuracy rate.
21-May-2020 Wednesday saw the highest daily number of confirmed cases worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of confirmed cases globally has now surpassed the five million mark. Half of those cases are in only five countries, and well over one-fourth are in the U.S.
20-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,387; new infections, 196; total deaths, 1,141; deaths today, 15. The number in ICU is 198.
20-May-2020 New York City transit officials announced on Tuesday that they are launching a pilot program using ultraviolet light to disinfect its subway cars and buses. However, it is not safe to expose humans to UV light for prolonged periods.
20-May-2020 The U.S. has extended border restrictions, with Canada and Mexico, indefinitely.
20-May-2020 Controversy continues regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. The official FDA leaflet which is distributed with the drug lists all possible side-effects. Last on the list is cardiomyopathy (later stages of arrythmia) which the leaflet states: “has been rarely reported with high daily dosages of hydroxychloroquine.” There is very little danger when taken at recommended dosages, but always under a doctor’s supervision, and must be combined with Zinc at early stages of the virus in order to be effective.
20-May-2020 Global numbers of confirmed infections are edging towards 5 million cases.
20-May-2020 The World Health Organization’s annual assembly agreed to set up an independent inquiry into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. The resolution was approved without objection by the 194 members participating.
19-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,191; new infections, 155; total deaths, 1,126; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 195.
19-May-2020 Research in Israel by Tel Aviv University reveals that 70% of all COVID-19 cases in the country had their origin in the U.S.
19-May-2020 Top hurricane forecasters are predicting an above average Atlantic hurricane season. The historical average is 12. Forecasts for 2020 range from 15 to 22. Though many States have lifted coronavirus restrictions. there are concerns as to how a major hurricane landfall might complicate matters. The first named storm formed on May 16, several weeks ahead of the official start of the season. Meanwhile, the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal is heading for landfall in India, severely complicating pandemic efforts there.
19-May-2020 The official U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 90,000. This figure is nearly as high as the next three countries combined. The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is now above 1.5 million.
19-May-2020 Biotech company Moderna announced that its potential COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, produced antibodies in all 45 participants in a trial, a significant milestone in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
18-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 17,036; new infections, 165; total deaths, 1,107; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 193.
18-May-2020 After reaching record low levels, pollution in China has now risen to levels that are higher than a year ago for the same period.
18-May-2020 More than 100 countries have joined the call for an independent inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak. The measure will be considered at the World Health Assembly now in virtual session.
18-May-2020 India has extended its lockdown another two weeks, though some restrictions have been eased. The number of new infections hit its highest daily total yesterday.
18-May-2020 The number of daily coronavirus deaths continues to decrease in most of the hardest hit countries. By contrast, the number is still very high in the U.S. where the total is approaching 90,000.
18-May-2020 Israel’s parliament approved the new unity government on Sunday, ending more than a year of political deadlock. One of the first items on the agenda for the new government is the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria.
18-May-2020 As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc in America, aliyah offices report requests to move to Israel have tripled compared to the same period last year.
17-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 16,871; new infections, 167; total deaths, 1,097; deaths today, 16. The number in ICU is 205.
17-May-2020 A program to train dogs to sniff out COVID-19 is continuing in several countries including the U.S. and Great Britain. Canines have been successfully trained to sniff out other diseases in humans.
17-May-2020 All but two States in the U.S. have reopened, but protests continue. Germany has relaxed most of the restrictions there, but largescale demonstrations continue to take place in major cities, attracting thousands. Romania lifted many of the lockdown measures in force, but hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Bucharest on the weekend to protest those rules that remain.
17-May-2020 Polarization was a marked feature in Society before COVID-19 and now it is even more prominent. This is the conclusion of a variety of studies by well-known and respected research groups in the U.S. and Europe.
17-May-2020 Italy is considering a proposal to reopen its borders in June as the numbers there continue to show gradual improvement.
16-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 16,704; new infections, 267; total deaths, 1,081; deaths today, 25. The number in ICU is 206.
15-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 16,437; new infections, 190; total deaths, 1,056; deaths today, 10. The number in ICU is 219.
15-May-2020 Total infections globally have surpassed 4.5 million, with more than 300,000 deaths.
15-May-2020 New infections in Russia have reached a plateau, but at an incredibly high level, being over 10,000 per day for many days.
15-May-2020 Germany has joined a long list of countries which have officially entered an economic recession.
15-May-2020 The State of Emergency has been allowed to expire in Romania, and has been replaced by a “State of Alert” which relaxes a number of restrictions.
15-May-2020 Another security update to ZOOM has been released recently. If not automatically prompted to upgrade, it is important to do so manually using the “Check for Updates” option.
15-May-2020 Millions of pigs must be euthenized in the U.S. as meatpacking plants remain closed. The same problem has affected beef and poultry to a lesser extent.
15-May-2020 India had a record wheat harvest, but farmers are unable to sell their crops due to supply chain issues caused by coronavirus restrictions. Much of the crop may be lost if this problem is not solved in the next few days.
15-May-2020 The Unity Government of Israel was officially sworn in thursday evening, thus ending a political crisis which dragged on for nearly 18 months and saw three elections without a majority government.
14-May-2020 U. S. Unemployment claims increased another three million last week, bringing the total to 36.5 million, or nearly 15% of the workforce.
14-May-2020 Until now, young children have been considered to be virtually immune from the COVID-19 virus, but many countries are now reporting many cases of a rare Kawasaki-like disease that is thought to be a delayed immune response to the virus.
14-May-2020 One of the world’s busiest airports is in Frankfurt, Germany. Statistics for April show passenger traffic is down 97% from a year ago.
14-May-2020 Official figures for global virus deaths are nearing 300,000 but the real total is considered to be much higher.
14-May-2020 The legality of restrictions and enforcement laws have come under increased scrutiny by courts in various countries. The Romanian Supreme Court ruled recently that fines for failure to comply with emergency laws was unconstitutional. Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order has been struck down by the State’s Supreme Court. Similar actions have been or will be considered in other places.
14-May-2020 Jordan’s Parliament was overruled by their Supreme Court stating that a 10 billion dollar deal with Israel to supply natural gas can only be annulled by Jordan’s King. Therefore the agreement will continue in force.
14-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 16,247; new infections, 245; total deaths, 1,046; deaths today, 30. The number in ICU is 225.
13-May-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) has made repeated statements that COVID-19 “may never go away” and that an effective vaccine may never be developed. They warn that the world may need to learn to live with the virus.
13-May-2020 New York City has registered the lowest number of pedestrian fatalies since 1983. The city has increased the number of streets open to pedestrian only traffic to more than 100 miles.
13-May-2020 The largest state university system in the U.S. is moving all classes online in September. California State University has about 480,000 students.
13-May-2020 In what is becoming a more frequent news item, another country has seen a spike in new cases after lifting restrictions. Poland had its largest increase in a single day.
13-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 16,002; new infections, 224; total deaths, 1,016; deaths today, 25. The number in ICU is 228.
13-May-2020 In what is being called “era-defining news” Twitter has told employees that work-from-home will now be allowed “forever”. Other companies are expected to follow suit.
13-May-2020 The number of virus deaths in the U.S. doubled in the past 24 hours, after being below 1,000 for 2 days, to nearly 2,000.
12-May-2020 Russia now has more confirmed cases than anywhere else in the world except the U.S., and Putin’s official spokesman has tested positive for the virus and was taken to hospital in Moscow.
12-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 15,778; new infections, 190; total deaths, 991; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 238. This is the 3rd day in a row when new infections and deaths have decreased.
12-May-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to lie about and condemn Israeli health support to Palestinians, which in fact far exceeds that of both the PA Authority and Hamas.
12-May-2020 An Israeli soldier was killed this morning in a stone-throwing attack in northern Samaria. The incident occurred when security forces were escorting suspected terrorists out of the area and came under a barrage of massive rocks. Even though the soldier was wearing a helmet, the size of the projectile was too large to protect him.
12-May-2020 The Global economic impact of COVID-19 is the worst since the Great Depression, and in some places, like the U.K. (going back to 1760), the decline is the worst ever. The latest country to report statistics is Australia where GDP will shrink more than 10%, the worst since record-keeping began.
12-May-2020 India has recorded its biggest daily spike in confirmed infections.
12-May-2020 The Palestinian Authority, taking advantage of the absence of Civil Administration inspectors during the coronavirus shutdown, is consolidating its takeover of “Tel Aroma,” a Hasmonean fortress in Samaria. “The PA’s most recent project has caused unspeakable damage to the antiquities at this unique site,” NGO Regavim reveals.
12-May-2020 The unemployment rate in Israel has risen to 27.6 percent, compared to 3.9 percent before the pandemic.
12-May-2020 Doctor Anthony Fauci, who often gave opposing points of view to those of President Trump, has expressed his concerns about removing restrictions too quickly. He will testify remotely before the Senate later today.
12-May-2020 The White House is considering more direct stimulus payments to Americans, while more than 20 million Americans have not yet received their first Federal stimulus checks.
12-May-2020 Anti-lockdown protesters entered a Subway sandwich shop in North Carolina with nearly a dozen of them carrying heavy weapons, including an apparent rocket launcher.
12-May-2020 The death toll in the U.S. has passed the 80,000 mark.
12-May-2020 President Trump has mandated the wearing of face masks in the West Wing of the White House, though he continues to refuse to wear one himself.
12-May-2020 A lack of respect for social-distancing in countries where lockdowns have been eased is causing concern for a second wave of the coronavirus. Pictures are emerging of crowds at shopping malls and in restaurants without face masks.
12-May-2020 South Korea has been one of the most successful countries in controlling the virus. It only took one infected person, who visited a number of bars and clubs, to threaten much of that hard work. At least 100 new cases have been reported among the more than 1,500 individuals who were in close proximity to the infected individual. The number of new infections is expected to grow. The re-opening of schools there has now been delayed.
12-May-2020 In spite of an explosive increase in new cases, Russia has allowed their lockdown rules to expire. Restrictions will be lifted beginning today. The death rate there had been relatively low, but it has begun to grow exponentially as well. Putin’s approval ratings have declined significantly.
12-May-2020 In Germany, the infection rate grew for the 3rd consecutive day. Restrictions may need to be reimposed.
12-May-2020 New cases continue to fall in New York. The State Governor has announced an easing of restrictions to begin on May 15th.
12-May-2020 Ukraine has begun to ease restrictions, allowing many businesses to open, including restaurants, but only if they serve customers at outside terraces and observe distancing rules.
11-May-2020 The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia continues to soar. There were nearly 12,000 new infections in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to more than 220,000 representing the third highest in the world, overtaking the U.K. and Italy. However, the death rate is lower than many other countries.
11-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 15,588; new infections, 226; total deaths, 972; deaths today, 20. The number in ICU is 255.
11-May-2020 The number of confirmed infections in Europe has surpassed 1.5 million.
11-May-2020 A team of researchers in Hong Kong have released a report detailing how the COVID-19 virus is 80 to 100 times more “effective” at infecting humans through the eyes and upper respiratory airways than SARS and the Bird Flu.
11-May-2020 Iran accidentally sunk one of its own navy vessels while testing a new anti-ship missile, killing dozens of sailors and injuring many more.
11-May-2020 U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff member, Gen. Joseph Lengyel, tested both positive and negative for the coronavirus.
11-May-2020 Railway services are slowly resuming in India for the first time in nearly 50 days.
11-May-2020 The number of confirmed virus deaths in the U.S. is nearing 80,000 but the latest daily toll, 776, was the lowest since March.
11-May-2020 Several countries where restrictions were eased are experiencing rising numbers of infections. China, Germany and South Korea are among the countries that have either reimposed, or are considering a reimposition of rules.
11-May-2020 In a major policy speech, Boris Johnson outlined the easing of restrictions in the United Kingdom. The “conditional plan” has met with mixed reactions. Regional authorities and leading politicians claim the wording is confusing and dangerous, lacking clarity and consensus. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have stated they will not follow the new guidelines.
10-May-2020 The “R-value” is the number of individuals that are infected by each person who has the virus. Any number less than 1 indicates that the virus is declining and any number greater than 1 indicates that the virus is spreading. After being less than 1 for some weeks in Germany, the number has gone above 1 again, causing renewed concerns.
10-May-2020 The number of cases in Russia continues to climb, with more than 11,000 in the past 24 hours, for a total that is now more than 200,000.
10-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 15,362; new infections, 231; total deaths, 952; deaths today, 26. The number in ICU is 242.
10-May-2020 A “second wave” is feared in South Korea after a spike in new cases. Officials believe the outbreak was caused by an infected individual who visited some popular night-spots, exposing more than 1,500 people.
10-May-2020 Three members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force have self-isolated after coming in contact with the two White House aids that tested positive for the virus. The head of the CDC, the FDA Commissioner and Doctor Anthony Fauci are in voluntary stay-at-home quarantine.
10-May-2020 The number of confirmed cases worldwide has now exceeded four million.
09-May-2020 It was a rather quiet day news-wise. No major events were reported.
09-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 15,131; new infections, 320; total deaths, 926; deaths today, 28. The number in ICU is 245.
08-May-2020 Another individual has tested positive in the White House, this time a personal aid to Vice President Pence. This is the second case in 24 hours, and raises concerns for the entire White House staff. As a point of interest, the current line of succession to the Presidency, after the Vice President, is Speaker of the House: Nancy Pelosi.
08-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 14,811; new infections, 312; total deaths, 898; deaths today, 22. The number in ICU is 232.
08-May-2020 Confirmed infections in Russia continue to climb with more than 10,000 new cases for the 6th day in a row.
08-May-2020 Lockdowns around the world have put a number of insect-harming practices on hold, creating a friendlier world for wild bees.
08-May-2020 France has begun to lift restrictions, but those in the Paris area and the hardest-hit North-East sector of the country will remain in effect. Incidentally, those two areas are where the vast majority of Bible Students in France are located
08-May-2020 The European Commissioner for Internal Affairs has proposed that Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia join the Schengen zone. The COVID-19 virus dealt a serious blow to the open border policy of the E.U. The new proposal would endeavor to apply a coordinated effort in lifting current restrictions which are now dictated by individual member countries.
08-May-2020 The death toll in the U.S. increased again on May 7th after nearly doubling the day before. The new total now exceeds 75,000.
08-May-2020 Some airlines will begin to check passengers’ temperatures before allowing them to board flights. Temperature checks are also being incorporated at a number of airports as a part of passenger security screening.
08-May-2020 History shows that the second wave of the 1918 Spanich Flu epidemic was far worse than the first. The cause is widely believed to be due to premature lifting of restrictions on public gatherings. There are fears that the same thing will happen with the coronavirus if adequate precautions are not taken.
08-May-2020 The Israeli Knesset will swear in the new Unity Government on May 13th. A number of existing laws were changed to accommodate the unique new arrangement, including extending the government’s term to 4-1/2 years.
08-May-2020 A personal valet of President Donald Trump has tested positive for the coronavirus, necessitating daily testing of all White House staff. So far Trump and Pence have tested negative.
08-May-2020 China has announced that it will support the World Health Organization (WHO) investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
08-May-2020 Several major corporations, including Google and Facebook, have announced that they will allow employees to work from home until the end of the year. In a related matter, education leaders across the U.S. (AFT and AEI) have put forth plans for schools that include remote learning, perhaps for years. It appears that “work from home” and “learn from home” will likely become part of the “new normal” for the foreseeable future.
07-May-2020 Unemployment claims in the U.S. rose by another 3.2 milion bringing the new total to some 33 million. More than one in five households in the U.S. is struggling to provide enough food, while 40% of homes with children were “food insecure.”
07-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 14,499; new infections, 392; total deaths, 876; deaths today, 18. The number in ICU is 234. The trend is difficult to predict.
07-May-2020 COVID-19 Deaths in the U.S. more than doubled during the past 24 hours, to 2,333 compared to 1,015 on May 5th.
07-May-2020 In a reversal of any earlier statement, the White House now says that the Coronavirus Task Force will not be disbanded, but rather “re-shaped.”
07-May-2020 Israel is preparing to carrry out 100,000 antibody tests on its citizens to more accurately determine the extent of “herd immunity”, and to prepare for a possible 2nd wave.
07-May-2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo now says that the U.S. is not certain regarding the origin of the COVID-19 virus.
07-May-2020 Germany has removed nearly all restrictions. All shops are permitted to reopen. Families can meet and eat in public. People can visit relatives in care homes. Students will return to school before the summer break.
06-May-2020 The European Commission has warned that the E.U. faces a “recession of historic proportions” ranging from 6.5% to 10% declines in member State economies. This pressure puts the single currency [Euro] under threat.
06-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 14,107; new infections, 270; total deaths, 858; deaths today, 31. The number in ICU is 244.
06-May-2020 Russia continues to see high numbers of new infections, seeing more than 10,000 cases for the fourth day in a row.
06-May-2020 The German central government continues to work with State leaders on removing additional restrictions. In Austria, the lifting of restrictions has not caused an uptick in infections.
06-May-2020 The death toll in the United States from COVID-19 has now exceeded 70,000.
06-May-2020 The Israel Institute for Biological Research has developed an antibody that attacks the coronavirus, defense officials said Tuesday. At a press conference Monday night, Prime Minister Netanyahu cautioned that the work is ongoing and not final.
06-May-2020 In a surprise move, President Trump has announced that the Coronavirus Task Force will be disbanded. The 22 member group was chaired by Vice President Mike Pence and included individuals such as Doctor Anthony Fauci and Doctor Deborah Birx.
05-May-2020 A trial is underway in South Africa to test whether the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis might be effective against the coronavirus. There is currently no evidence to support such effectiveness.
05-May-2020 A number of major cities around the world, including New York, have closed miles of city streets to vehicular traffic, and turned them into pedestrian malls.
05-May-2020 The United Kingdom has overtaken Italy to report the highest official death from coronavirus in Europe: more than 32,000.
05-May-2020 There are increased concerns that the recent relaxation of restrictions in the U.S. and other countries could lead to a surge in new cases as well as deaths. Some researchers have increased their estimates for U.S. deaths to more than 130,000.
05-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 13,837; new infections, 325; total deaths, 827; deaths today, 24. The number in ICU is 244.
05-May-2020 India has reported its largest one day spike in new infections at more than 3,900. This may be the result of increased testing.
05-May-2020 Nearly one-third of Australian mobile phone users have downloaded the government authorized contact-tracing app.
05-May-2020 The death toll in the United States from COVID-19 rose by 1,015 in the past 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. The number is the lowest one-day figure in a month.
04-May-2020 More and more countries, including France, are implementing video surveillance in public places to enforce social distancing.
04-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 13,512; new infections, 349; total deaths, 803; deaths today, 23. The number in ICU is 243.
04-May-2020 The Sister who works at a care home in England has recovered from the virus and has gone back to work. A younger couple living in England have been infected, but their condition does not appear to be serious.
04-May-2020 France, Italy and Spain have registered the lowest daily death tolls in several weeks. Austria, Australia, India, Italy, Poland, the U.S. and other countries are gradually emerging from lockdown. At the same time, the virus is surging in Russia.
04-May-2020 Latest statements from the U.S. Government repeat the conclusion that the COVID-19 virus was from nature (not engineered), but that it probably did escape from a research lab in Wuhan. There is still no concrete evidence to support the latter speculation.
04-May-2020 The global death toll is nearing a quarter of a million and total infections have topped three and a half million.
04-May-2020 Expert assessment, including a Department of Homeland Security report, concludes that China intentionally concealed the severity of the coronavirus from the international community in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak.
04-May-2020 Catholic bishops in Germany “made themselves complicit” in Nazi crimes according to a report by the German Bishops’ Conference.
03-May-2020 There are only a handful of Bible Students in Russia, and none of them have been infected by the virus, but the general infection rate and death rate there are now among the highest in the world. There were more than 10,000 new cases in the past 24 hours.
03-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 13,163; new infections, 431; total deaths, 780; deaths today, 25. The number in ICU is 255. Today’s new infections are much higher, while yesterday’s were extremely low. The real figures are probably the average of the two.
03-May-2020 Scientists have concluded that some “false positives” are a result of dead lung cells from a previous infection.
03-May-2020 Visitors to the U.K. may be required to download the contact-tracing app in order to enter the country. This concept may be adopted by other countries as well.
03-May-2020 For the first time in 20 years, the Sea of Galilee is full after an unusually rainy winter. The lake provides about 25% of Israel’s fresh water needs. The water level increased by 13 feet in the past two years.
03-May-2020 The number of deaths from COVID-19 continue a downward trend in several hard-hit countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the U.K.
03-May-2020 Three recent studies show that blood pressure drugs do not make individuals more susceptible to the coronavirus. This is contrary to rumors that have circulated on the internet in recent weeks.
03-May-2020 Based on information from the CDC in the U.S. the number of COVID-19 deaths there is probably higher by 9,000 or more.
03-May-2020 Thousands of shops have been allowed to open in Austria, including those in Malls, barbershops and beauty salons.
03-May-2020 The U.K. will roll out its government authorized contact-tracing app by mid-May. It will be similar to one already implemented in Germany.
02-May-2020 France has extended their state of emergency until July 24th. Some measures will be lifted during that time on a regional basis.
02-May-2020 India is the latest country to make a government authorized contact-tracing app available. All public and private sector workers will be required to use it. In Australia, more than four million people have downloaded the contact-tracing app, where it is voluntary. A number of other countries are considering a similar arrangement.
02-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 12,732; new infections, 165; total deaths, 755; deaths today, 29. The number in ICU is 265. Weekend figures are often lower due to fewer tests being conducted.
02-May-2020 Pandemic experts are consistently warning that the coronavirus could last up to two more years, and that the second wave could be worse than the first.
02-May-2020 Scientists working for the US military have designed a new Covid-19 test that could potentially identify carriers before they become infectious and spread the disease.
02-May-2020 The White House has blocked Dr. Anthony Fauci from testifying on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 virus.
02-May-2020 The Gilead antiviral drug Remdesivir was granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19.
02-May-2020 Kim Jong Un appeared at the opening of a fertilizer factory in North Korea, ending a three-week absence that fueled speculation of his death.
01-May-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 12,567; new infections, 327; total deaths, 726; deaths today, 31. The number in ICU is 249.
01-May-2020 Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts that millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be available to the general public by January.
01-May-2020 About half of U.S. States are easing restrictions after Federal orders expired on April 30th.
01-May-2020 More than 140,000 treatment courses of the new drug Remdesivir will be available by the end of May.
01-May-2020 Australia has had tremendeous success in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, social distancing restrictions will begin to be lifted there on May 8th.
01-May-2020 A more favorable milestone has been passed today: More than one million people have recovered from the virus worldwide.
30-Apr-2020 U.S. Intelligence has concluded that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically engineered. This does not eliminate the possibility that the virus escaped from the Wuhan Bio lab.
30-Apr-2020 The Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishustin, has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
30-Apr-2020 Germany has relaxed restrictions by allowing children’s playgrounds and museums to reopen, and church services to resume under strict social distancing and hygiene rules.
30-Apr-2020 Unemployment claims in the U.S. have now exceeded 30 million.
30-Apr-2020 Today marks the fourth day in a row that the number of new cases has risen in Germany. However, the infection rate has dropped to .75 after being briefly above 1 which is the level at which new infections continue to rise.
30-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 12,240; new infections, 262; total deaths, 695; deaths today, 20. The number in ICU is 221.
30-Apr-2020 With projections showing a well above average Atlantic hurricane season, disaster experts are raising concerns about the government’s capacity to simultaneously manage the coronavirus crisis and a landfalling hurricane.
30-Apr-2020 The COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. has now surpassed 60,000 which is more than 25% of the total worldwide.
30-Apr-2020 An experimental treatment from Japan, Avigan (Favipiravir), has begun human clinical trials in Israel. Recovery times were cut from 11 days to 4 days in early tests.
29-Apr-2020 A German company working with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has begun human trials of a potential Covid-19 vaccine that could supply millions of doses by the end of the year, according to the two firms.
29-Apr-2020 A new trial of Gilead Sciences Inc’s drug Remdesivir, which helped patients who were treated early, has been acknowledged by Dr. Anthony Fauci. This is in contrast to an older Chinese study where mortality rates were higher, but in that study the drug was administered late, was conducted on a much smaller test group, and was not allowed to go to completion..
29-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 11,978; new infections, 362; total deaths, 663; deaths today, 13. The number in ICU is 247.
29-Apr-2020 The U.S. State Department has declared that they would be ready to recognize an Israeli application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
29-Apr-2020 More than 10% of the population of Australia has voluntarily downloaded the government-sponsored contact tracing app.
29-Apr-2020 Only three states (MI, ND and NE) and the District of Columbia will have enough staff to do necessary contract tracing once restrictions are lifted.
29-Apr-2020 The total number of confirmed cases in the United States has now exceeded one million. None of the 50 States has met the recommended guidelines for reopening (a 14-day drop in cases).
28-Apr-2020 Shortages of meat products in the U.S. will continue to worsen as producers are forced to euthenize pigs, chickens and other livestock due to a breakdown in the supply chain and the closing of major meat-packing plants due to the coronavirus.
28-Apr-2020 Austria has announced further steps to relax its lockdown. Stay-at-home orders will be allowed to expire on April 30th. Public gatherings will be limited to 10 persons.
28-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 11,616; new infections, 277; total deaths, 650; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU is 243, with very few requiring a ventilator. It is still too early to say with confidence that the peak has been passed, but the numbers look very promising.
28-Apr-2020 France will begin to relax restrictions beginning May 11th. Germany, which started relaxing restictions last week, has seen an increase in the infection rate.
28-Apr-2020 The Jenner Vaccine being produced by Oxford University had significant positive results in tests on rhesus monkeys last month. As reported eariler, this vaccine has already entered human trials. Tests on 6,000 participants will be completed before the end of May. This opens the door for millions of doses becoming available by September.
27-Apr-2020 Speculation continues to swirl around the condition of Kim Jong Un. The latest comes from a former North Korean Party senior member who defected. He claims that Kim was injured in a missile test conducted on April 14th.
27-Apr-2020 Corporate giant Tyson Foods has warned that the food supply chain for meat products in the U.S. is in danger of breaking down.
27-Apr-2020 The easing of restrictions in many countries around the globe has medical experts worried about a second wave of the coronavirus. The biggest unaswered question that remains is whether those who recover have immunity or not.
27-Apr-2020 A group of top scientists and billionaires in the U.S. have formed Scientists to Stop Covid-19 and liken their work to the Manhattan Project. The group has compiled a confidential 17-page report that calls for a number of unorthodox methods against the virus.
27-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 11,339; new infections, 303; total deaths, 631; deaths today, 23. The number in ICU is 227.
27-Apr-2020 The number of confirmed infections has now surpassed three million globally.
27-Apr-2020 India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs and vaccines in the world. Half a dozen firms there are working on COVID-19 vaccines, including Serum Institute which is the largest in the world. They have partnered with Oxford University to mass produce one of the most promising candidates, which is already in human trials.
27-Apr-2020 In the U.S. the death toll is now above 55,000 while confirmed cases is approaching the one million mark. A number of States have eased lockdown restrictions.
27-Apr-2020 In Australia, more than one million users have downloaded a new Government sponsored contact-tracing app in the past 24 hours. A few States have begun a gradual relaxing of restrictions.
27-Apr-2020 Italy will begin easing restrictions on May 4th. People will be allowed to visit relatives in small numbers and parks will reopen. Other restrictions will remain in place.
27-Apr-2020 The Jewish Agency estimates that the COVID-19 crisis will prompt a largescale Aliyah from many hard-hit countries. They expect as many as 100,000 to return once travel conditions permit.
26-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 11,036; new infections, 401; total deaths, 608; deaths today, 33. The number in ICU is 236.
26-Apr-2020 The worst nuclear accident in history took place 34 years ago today at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
26-Apr-2020 Is Kim Jong Un dead? The Vice Director of Hong Kong Satellite Television claims that a “very solid source” backed the rumors. A Japanese magazine claims he is in a vegetative state after a stent surgery went wrong. But nothing is certain until North Korea makes an official statement. Kim has disappeared from public view in the past.
26-Apr-2020 Boris Johnson will resume his official duties on Monday, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed on Saturday.
25-Apr-2020 The global death toll has now exceeded 200,000. Total confirmed infections is nearly 3 million.
25-Apr-2020 The official hospital death toll in the United Kingdom is now over 20,000.
25-Apr-2020 Growing evidence indicates that at least some of those who recover from COVID-19 do not have immunity. This limits long-term hopes to creation of an effective vaccine.
25-Apr-2020 Though not FDA approved, off-the-shelf asthma drug Singulair has shown promise as a Coronavirus Treatment, say Doctors at Coney Island Hospital.
25-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 10,635; new infections, 218; total deaths, 575; deaths today, 23. The number in ICU at 235. The trend continues to be promising.
25-Apr-2020 Israel’s Knesset is busy passing special legislation to change numerous laws governing the function of Prime Minister. This is prompted by the Unity Government agreement that will see rotating 18-month periods in office.
25-Apr-2020 Confirmed cases in the U.S. have now exceeded 900,000 and deaths passed the 50,000 mark, more than the next two highest countries combined: Italy and Spain. At the same time, those two countries reported their lowest number of daily deaths in more than a month.
25-Apr-2020 Reuters reports that China has dispatched a team of medical experts to North Korea to advise on the health of Kim Jong Un. Conflicting reports on his status continue.
25-Apr-2020 Yesterday in Romania the balance of those still infected dropped for the first time. This is another hopeful sign that the peak has been reached.
24-Apr-2020 The medical research community is looking everywhere for a possible coronavirus cure. The latest unexpected candidate is nicotine patches. Testing is planned in France.
24-Apr-2020 Poland will keep schools closed for another month, until May 24th. Phase II of easing restrictions will be considered next week.
24-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 10,417; new infections, 321; total deaths, 552; deaths today, 25. The number in ICU at 241.
24-Apr-2020 As a result of strict border controls and robust social distancing rules, Australia has had some dramatic and positive results, with only 13 new cases in the entire country.
24-Apr-2020 Injecting or ingesting disinfectant is dangerous and potentially fatal.
24-Apr-2020 Virus researchers say there is virtually no chance that the new coronavirus was released as result of a laboratory accident in China or anywhere else. Evidence still points to bats as being the source of the virus.
24-Apr-2020 Speculation that Boris Johnson will resume his official duties next week is unconfirmed. He contracted the coronavirus and was in ICU for a number of days, but has now fully recovered.
24-Apr-2020 A Chinese trial of the drug Remdesivir gave negative results, with higher death rates of those taking the drug compared to those receiving a placebo. The drug also has significant negative side-effects.
24-Apr-2020 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are nearing the 50,000 mark. Confirmed cases are over 860,000.
24-Apr-2020 A Sister who works in a care home in Cardiff (Western England) has tested positive for the coronavirus.
24-Apr-2020 So far there are a few confirmed cases amongst Brethren in the U.S., but none of those is severe at this point. One elderly isolated Brother in Canada, residing in a care facility, was reported to have the virus, but no new information is available.
23-Apr-2020 Italy continues to show declining numbers in current confirmed cases and those in ICU.
23-Apr-2020 Deaths from malaria are expected to double in Africa this year because of disruptions to the supply chain for medicine and insecticide due to the coronavirus. Nearly 760,000 people could die from the disease.
23-Apr-2020 Unemployment claims in the U.S. now represent more than 15% of the total workforce, as another 4.4 million filed for benefits last week, bringing the total to 26.4 million.
23-Apr-2020 The producers of Zoom conferencing software will make a major release this week (version 5.0) that includes enhanced security and encryption.
23-Apr-2020 Nearly half of all COVID-19 deaths in Europe were in care facilities.
23-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 10,096; new infections, 386; total deaths, 527; deaths today, 19. The number in ICU dropped dramatically from 288 down to 236.
23-Apr-2020 Confirmed cases in India continue to rise rapidly.
22-Apr-2020 Confirmed infections in the County of Maramures (Baia Mare, Sighet) represent less than 1% of the total in Romania. However, today’s number increased by 15% over yesterday’s total, representing a fourfold daily increase compared to the past several days.
22-Apr-2020 Restrictions in Romania will begin to be relaxed gradually after May 15th. It will no longer be necessary to have a signed document with personal data and the reason for leaving the residence. Masks will still be required in public places, and all other restrictions will remain in place.
22-Apr-2020 Clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine have begun in the U.K. and Germany.
22-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 9,710; new infections, 468; total deaths, 508; deaths today, 26; the number in ICU, 288. These numbers are significantly higher compared to the past several days.
22-Apr-2020 In one month, Romania has collected more than 78 million euros after issuing about 200,000 fines to those breaking various lockdown restrictions.
22-Apr-2020 Germany has seen a slight increase in new cases for the second day in a row, after the easing of some restrictions.
22-Apr-2020 In India, 69% of all those who have tested positive for COVID-19 had no symptoms.
22-Apr-2020 Confirmed cases in the U.S. surpassed 800,000 and saw the highest daily death toll to-date with more than 2,800 deaths attributed to the coronavirus.
22-Apr-2020 The Director of the CDC (U.S.) has warned that the second wave of coronavirus could be worse than the first, as it will take place at the same time as the seasonal flu.
22-Apr-2020 The U.S. ban on immigration will last for 60 days and will suspend the issuing of all Green Cards during that period.
22-Apr-2020 In France the number of patients in ICU declined for the 13th consecutive day.
22-Apr-2020 Italy is now considering gradually easing some lockdown restrictions after May 4th.
21-Apr-2020 The number of active infections in Italy fell for the second day in a row.
21-Apr-2020 Confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide have surpassed 2.5 million.
21-Apr-2020 Acute world hunger will double in 2020 as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus. The United Nations has described the threat as one of “Biblical proportions”.
21-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 9,242; new infections, 306; total deaths, 482; deaths today, 31; the number in ICU, 245.
21-Apr-2020 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has not been seen publicly since April 11th. He was absent at North Korea’s most important holiday celebration on April 15th. The U.S. National Security Council is “monitoring intelligence” that Kim is in grave danger after undergoing surgery. The South Korean Government denies these reports, but a group of North Korean defectors that run The Daily NK, published a report that he had heart surgery on April 12th.
21-Apr-2020 Amid the Pandemic, Italian prosecutors warn that Mafia groups are cementing their power, and not only in Italy, but throughout Europe.
21-Apr-2020 Political rivals Netanyahu and Gantz signed a last-minute agreement to form a unity government in Israel. The two will take turns serving as Prime Minister for 18 months, with Netanyahu serving first. Consequently an unprecedented fourth election will not be necessary.
21-Apr-2020 Demonstrations against the lockdown continue in a number of States in the U.S., with one Militia leader in Illinois threatening to “reopen it ourselves” if restrictions are not lifted. Protests have been held in other countries as well, including India and Russia.
21-Apr-2020 The price of U.S. future oil deliveries for May went negative for the first time in history, meaning that oil suppliers must pay buyers to take oil off their hands, as much as $37 a barrel. Trading bounced back to slightly above zero over night.
21-Apr-2020 About a dozen U.S. States have announced plans to relax lockdown rules.
21-Apr-2020 President Trump announced that he will sign an executive order suspending all immigration to the U.S. because of the coronavirus, and for economic reasons.
20-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 8,936; new infections, 190; total deaths, 451; deaths today, 17; the number in ICU, 261.
20-Apr-2020 India has begun to ease some restrictions in selected States. France has decided not to relax measures yet. A number of States in the U.S. plan to partially remove their lockdowns. Germany and Poland previously announced a lifting of some restrictions.
20-Apr-2020 There is a slowing trend globally in Australia, France, Italy, Spain, New York State and the U.K.
20-Apr-2020 Blood Plasma trials continue to be conducted in various countries around the world, including the U.S. and U.K., but results on effectiveness are not yet available.
20-Apr-2020 The death toll in the U.S. has surpassed 41,000 with nearly 750,000 confirmed cases, by far the most of any country in the world.
19-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 8,746; new infections, 328; total deaths, 434; deaths today, 17; the number in ICU, 256. These continue to be encouraging numbers, but as mentioned before, weekend statistics tend to be lower.
19-Apr-2020 [Kent University, Great Britain] A potential drug that can kill cancer cells has been discovered in willow trees, sparking hopes of new treatment for childhood cancers. It comes more than a century after aspirin was discovered in the same plant.
19-Apr-2020 The U.S.-Canada border will remain closed for another 30 days.
18-Apr-2020 The death toll in France is now over 19,000. However, the number of people being treated in ICU dropped for the 10th consecutive day.
18-Apr-2020 Large scale protests against restrictive measures have begun to take place in a number of States in the U.S., apparently fueled by a perceived endorsement from President Trump. What started in Michigan has spread to Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia and Kentucky. Additional protests are planned in Maryland, Wisconsin, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
18-Apr-2020 Good news from Italy as the situation there continues to improve. More than 2,500 patients were declared cured and dismissed from the hospital in a single day.
18-Apr-2020 A Stanford University study found that the rate of infection in California may be 50 to 85 times higher than reported. The random blood sampling was of 3,330 healthy individuals. If this study stands up to peer review, it would prove that the vast majority of people who get infected do not get sick, or have a very mild case. Consequently the death rate for COVID-19 would come out to be much lower.
18-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 8,418; new infections, 351; total deaths, 417; deaths today, 17; the number in ICU, 248. These are encouraging numbers, but weekend statistics tend to be lower.
18-Apr-2020 Ironically, just as Germany is announcing plans to ease restrictions, reports indicate that cases of COVID-19 have risen for the past four days. This was not clear in recent reports which stated that the infection rate continued to drop.
18-Apr-2020 According to the United States Constitution, the upcoming election cannot be delayed beyond January 20th, 2021, when the current term expires. If the election is not held by then, the presidential line of succession would be followed. Because the terms of others on that list will also expire, the next eligible individual is currently the President Pro Tem of the Senate, Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
18-Apr-2020 Texas has become the first State to announce plans to loosen restrictions beginning April 20th.
18-Apr-2020 Contact-tracing apps may be made mandatory in certain countries in the future. The U.S. Government is hiring “tens of thousands” of people to perform contact-tracing directly with coronavirus patients.
17-Apr-2020 The Philippines Government has threatened the imposition of martial law if the population does not adhere to restrictions. More than 120,000 people have been cited in the capital of Manila in the past month.
17-Apr-2020 The infection rate in Germany continues to drop. As in the U.S., each State has the authority to impose restrictions (or not). Consequently, some States have tight restrictions, and others have almost none, and so, the experiences of the Brethren have varied widely with some continuing to work, without protection, in close quarters with colleagues, while others are only permitted to work at home.
17-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 8,067; new infections, 360; total deaths, 400; deaths today, 13. The number in ICU increased to 258. Plotting a trend is difficult as dramatic changes up and down have taken place almost daily.
17-Apr-2020 Controversy and confusion regarding the origins of the COVID-19 virus continue. Scientific research still points to the virus having natural origins. (Genome mapping specifically shows it was not genetically altered.) Many Government Bio labs around the world have samples of highly infectious diseases, and it is possible that such a sample of the COVID-19 virus was being studied at a lab in Wuhan, and escaped. There is no conclusive evidence at this point.
17-Apr-2020 Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has asked the Knesset to form a new government after talks between Netanyahu and Gantz failed. Such a move has never succeeded in the past. If it fails again, after a three-week negotiating period, it will force a fourth national election.
17-Apr-2020 The drug Remdesivir has proven successful in early trials, with patients recovering quickly after being treated with the drug. Remdesivir is not a vaccine, but a treatment, so does not prevent the virus.
17-Apr-2020 Antibody Plasma Therapy, using the antibodies harvested from recovered COVID-19 patients, is being implemented in a number of countries around the world, including Romania.
17-Apr-2020 The White House Task Force on the COVID-19 virus has revealed a three phase program for relaxing lockdowns on a state-by-state basis. Some States may qualify immediately, others must first meet certain criteria.
17-Apr-2020 Australia has extended its lockdown for at least another four weeks. Use of a mobile tracking app has sparked controversy amid privacy concerns. An agreement with New Zealand may open borders between the two countries.
16-Apr-2020 “Community cohesion” (concern for the welfare of neighbors) has risen in some countries during the crisis without compromising social-distancing guidelines.
16-Apr-2020 Plunging pollution levels globally have resulted in clear skies, and views of nature that many people have not experienced in their lifetimes.
16-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: Total infections, 7,707; new infections, 491; total deaths, 387; deaths today, 25. This is the 2nd largest daily increase of new infections to-date. The number in ICU remained nearly constant at 243.
16-Apr-2020 The midnight deadline has passed in Israel without a Unity Government coalition, setting the stage for an unprecedented fourth election.
16-Apr-2020 Poland has begun to relax restrictions by opening parks and forest areas. The number of customers allowed in shops is likely to be increased in the near future.
16-Apr-2020 For the first time since 2002 there were no school shootings in the U.S. in the month of March, this due to the many closings across the country.
16-Apr-2020 Deaths in the U.S. have now exceeded 30,000. A sudden surge in the number of deaths in New York State is due to a change in the reporting method.
16-Apr-2020 The U.K. is expected to announce a three week extension to the lockdown there.
16-Apr-2020 Australia has succeeded in “flattening the curve” but calls for a more extensive surveillance regime are being considered. A mobile contact-tracing app similar to what was used successfully in South Korea is voluntary at this point. Many other countries are considering similar measures.
15-Apr-2020 Romanian workers are being flown into the U.K., on special charter flights, to work on British farms at risk of losing their crops of early summer fruits and vegetables. Not enough workers could be recruited locally.
15-Apr-2020 A study of 150 countries published in Forbes magazine ranked Israel as the safest country from coronavirus, with Germany 2nd and Australia 4th. At the other end of the scale, Italy was considered the riskiest with the U.S., U.K., and Spain following closely behind.
15-Apr-2020 Italy continues to see an encouraging slowdown to the virus. The number of new reported cases today was the lowest since March 13th, and the number in ICU has gone down for the 12th day in a row.
15-Apr-2020 The death toll continues to mount in France, passing 17,000, but daily hospitalizations decreased for the first time, and the number in ICU has gone down for the seventh day in a row.
15-Apr-2020 German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in talks with State Governments to ease rules of movement from May 3rd. Small stores will be allowed to open beginning next week.
15-Apr-2020 Today’s numbers for Romania: Total infections, 7,216; new infections, 337; total deaths, 362; deaths today, 20. This is an adjusted death toll, as yesterday’s number was actually higher than originally reported.
15-Apr-2020 Sister Genevieve Wawrzynowski, 96 years old, died in the hospital from the coronavirus on April 13th. She is the mother of Sister Cristina Liberda. She was a resident in a senior care center in Northern France.
15-Apr-2020 Researchers at Harvard University have concluded that some kind of social distancing measures may need to remain in place until 2022.
15-Apr-2020 The International Monetary Fund has warned that the coronavirus crisis could trigger the worst global financial disaster since the Great Depression.
15-Apr-2020 The death toll in Germany is now more than 3,000 out of about 128,000 cases while the recovery rate is more than 50%.
14-Apr-2020 Several Brethren in France who were infected (or who had all the symptoms) are now in recovery. The mother of one Sister there died, but the cause is not certain.
14-Apr-2020 Another existing drug shows promise in treating COVID-19. Ivermectin is a rather unlikely candidate, as it has been used in the past to treat head lice. Preliminary studies in two separate locations have shown lower mortality and reduced healthcare resources needed in those treated with the drug.
14-Apr-2020 Lower numbers in Germany have been attributed to lower testing rates over the Easter holiday, but Tuesday was the fourth daily decline, showing a definite trend.
14-Apr-2020 Swords to plowshares in Isael: the company that manufactures Arrow missiles is now producing ventilators for coronavirus patients.
14-Apr-2020 The President of Romania has announced a continuation of the national state of emergency for another month. The decree will be signed later today and, if approved by Parliament, will remain in effect until May 14th.
14-Apr-2020 Today’s numbers for Romania: Total infections, 6,879; new infections, 246; total deaths, 342; deaths today, 24. These are encouraging numbers, showing a downward trend.
14-Apr-2020 Austria is gradually easing restrictions, allowing more stores to open. Poland will start to ease restrictions beginning this Sunday. Italy has also decided to allow some retail businesses to open.
14-Apr-2020 An old Polio vaccine is being repurposed to fight the COVID-19 virus. Early testing has given promising results. Short-term immunity could be provided for several months or more. Though not a long-term solution, the oral vaccine is proven safe, and can be made available in large quantities and at a low cost. FDA approval is pending for specific use against the coronavirus.
14-Apr-2020 The lockdown in India has been officially extended to May 3rd in an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
14-Apr-2020 If no vaccine is available, a second wave of COVID-19 in the U.S. would likely hit in the Fall, potentially disrupting National elections. This according to leading expert Doctor Anthony Fauci.
14-Apr-2020 Early reports from Brethren in the SouthEast indicate that some propery damage was experienced, but that there have been no personal injuries in the recent outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather.
14-Apr-2020 The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented global surge in digital surveillance, researchers and privacy advocates around the world have said, with billions of people facing enhanced monitoring that may prove difficult to roll back.
14-Apr-2020 Off-again, on-again negotiations for a Unity Government in Israel are on again as Gantz and Netanyahu claim “significant progress” in talks. The legal deadline for a solution is looming after a 48-hour extension was granted by President Reuven Rivlin.
14-Apr-2020 Coronavirus cases worldwide are now more than two million. The U.S. is approaching 700,000 cases, while Spain is a distant second with 170,000 cases. Almost 120,000 people have died from the virus.
14-Apr-2020 A new fast, simple and inexpensive blood test to determine new infections and immunity to COVID-19 has been developed by a Wisconsin medical company. The test has FDA approval and is available nationwide.
14-Apr-2020 The United States Postal Service (USPS) has struggled financially for many years. It now faces the difficult choice of either going private, or going out of business.
14-Apr-2020 Two experimental vaccines developed in China have been approved for human trials. There are now five vaccines in human trials globally, with more than 70 in various stages of development.
14-Apr-2020 The lockdown in France has been extended until May 11th. Italy continues to see declines in new infections and those in ICU, but the number of deaths was slightly higher yesterday. The Russian Government is considering deploying the Military to cope with the growing crisis there. The lockdown will continue indefinitely in the U.K.
14-Apr-2020 The White House backtracked on an earlier threat to fire Doctor Anthony Fauci.
14-Apr-2020 The Sea of Galilee has seen sinking water levels for decades, but that has changed dramatically in the past two years. This crucial source of fresh water for the region is nearing full capacity.
14-Apr-2020 The Governors of many States in the U.S. have banded together to coordinate planned reopenings as COVID-19 appears to have peaked.
14-Apr-2020 A raging forest fire near Ukraine’s Chernobyl has spewed smoke with high levels of radiation over a wide area.
13-Apr-2020 The White House has threatened to fire Doctor Anthony Fauci, the lead expert on the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force.
13-Apr-2020 The State of Illinois had the lowest number of coronavirus deaths in six days, a hopeful sign that the peak there may have been reached.
13-Apr-2020 The number of new cases in Romania today is 333, for a total of 6,633. The number of deaths is now 318, for a daily count of 12 which is down significantly, and the lowest since April 6th.
13-Apr-2020 More than half of Germany’s infected have recovered. This is one of the highest recovery rates in the world.
13-Apr-2020 A Professor at Oxford University says that a new vaccine will be available to the public as early as September, if clinical trials go well. There are currently more than 60 vaccines and treatments being developed around the world.
13-Apr-2020 Another gauge of severity is deaths per million of population. Spain has the highest at 350, followed by Italy at 322; Belgium at 314; France at 202 and Britain at 145. Romania by comparison has 15 deaths per million population, but it is much earlier in the virus cycle. The U.S. has a death rate of 67 per million.
13-Apr-2020 The FDA has added its voice to other national experts stating that the U.S. is nearing the virus peak.
13-Apr-2020 New York State’s daily death toll dropped slightly on Sunday.
13-Apr-2020 The European Union Commission President has said that elderly people and those at high risk may have to remain in isolation until sometime next year. The exact age range was not specified.
13-Apr-2020 Yesterday Italy saw its lowest daily death toll in three weeks. France saw a slight drop in hospital deaths, and a decrease in the number of patients in ICU. The prognosis for the U.K. is rather bleak, as numbers continue to increase. The Government’s Senior Scientific Adviser predicts that it will overtake harder hit countries in the near future.
12-Apr-2020 Doctor Anthony Fauci says that restrictions can slowly begin to be lifted in the U.S. sometime in May.
12-Apr-2020 Police in Moscow are using facial-recognition cameras to catch quarantine-breakers.
12-Apr-2020 U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been released from the hospital, but will not resume his official duties as yet.
12-Apr-2020 Today’s statistics for Romania: 6,300 total infections, 310 new infections, and 306 total deaths. Weekend counts of new infections are typically lower due to fewer tests being made. Nevertheless, the number of those in ICU is down, and the number of deaths by day have decreased slightly for several days.
12-Apr-2020 Italy will soon surpass 20,000 deaths. The U. K. is approaching 10,000 deaths. Another good website for complete COVID-19 statistics is https://wuflu.live/.
12-Apr-2020 Radical religious groups continue to defy law-enforcement in various places around the world. A group of Nihangs (Sikh religion) in India attacked the police and seriously injured one of them. Such incidents in other countries have resulted in additional restrictions on the groups involved.
12-Apr-2020 Of the seven leading candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine, only one is in human trials at this time. Two new treatments are in clinical tests, and seven existing medications are going through clinical trials for use against the virus, with some already obtaining FDA approval. The most promising is Favirpiravir which has shown promising results in patients with severe symptoms in China.
12-Apr-2020 The United States now has more coronavirus deaths than any other country in the world. The number of infections there are more than the next three highest countries combined.
11-Apr-2020 Parts of Africa are threatened by the biggest locust outbreak some countries have seen in 70 years. Now the second wave of the voracious insects, some 20 times the size of the first, is arriving.
11-Apr-2020 Gantz and Netanyahu squabble as gridlocked Israel is set to miss the government deadline for a unity government. This could force an unprecedented fourth election.
11-Apr-2020 An elderly isolated Brother in Newfoundland, Canada, has contracted the virus.
11-Apr-2020 Was the COVID-19 a manufactured virus that escaped from a lab in China? Careful research from verifiable scientific sources is imperative. There is a great deal of unscientific information being spread on the internet.
11-Apr-2020 Brazil is the first country in the Southern Hemisphere to exceed 1,000 deaths per day.
11-Apr-2020 Due to a continued increase of cases in India, the lockdown there has been extended indefinitely.
11-Apr-2020 The statistics for Romania: 5,990 total infections, 523 new infections (the highest daily figure to-date), and 282 total deaths. These figures may not reflect an actual daily tally, as yesterday’s infections were extremely low by comparison (265). The average of those two is probably more accurate (394) in context with the daily trend.
11-Apr-2020 The W.H.O. warns of a “deadly resurgence” if coronavirus controls are lifted too soon.
11-Apr-2020 Gilead Sciences published preliminary results of its antiviral drug Remdesivir. Its test group of 53 is too small to draw any conclusions, but two-thirds of those treated improved and eight got worse. The most significant finding was the resultant side effects in more than half of all those treated.
11-Apr-2020 According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, today should be the “peak day” for COVID-19 in the U.S., assuming social distancing remains in place until the end of May. Doctor Anthony Fauci agrees, while Deborah Birx, another member of the U.S. Government task force, puts the peak still in the future.
11-Apr-2020 Antibody testing for the COVID-19 virus is under development in many countries, and plans for widescale implementation are already going forward in Germany and the United States. Such proof that someone has recovered from the virus, and is presumably immune, is the proposed basis for an “immunity passport” which would allow those individuals to return to the workplace.
11-Apr-2020 The global death toll has passed 100,000 with 1.6 million cases. The U.S. now has more than half a million infections, and recorded more than 2,000 deaths in a single day, the first country to do so.
11-Apr-2020 For some people infected with COVID-19 the difference between life and death can be something as simple as having the patient lie on their stomach instead of on their back. Called “proning” the technique has proven effective at ICU facilities around the U.S.
11-Apr-2020 Italy’s quarantine will remain in place until at least May 3rd.
11-Apr-2020 Why does Germany have a lower coronavirus death rate than other countries? (2.3% compared to Italy at 12.8%, U.K. at 12.1%, France at 10.6%, Romania at 4.9% and the U.S. at 3.7%) Large-scale testing is one factor, but discipline and respect for social distancing is most important. In German States with stricter adherence to rules, the death rate is lower.
11-Apr-2020 Zoom, a mainstay for many Bible Student online meetings around the world, has been working aggressively to resolve security issues with their teleconferencing software. Be sure to keep your Zoom app updated.
10-Apr-2020 Romania became the first country to ban cereal products for export. The tendency toward protectionism has alarmed those countries dependent on food imports.
10-Apr-2020 Crowds defied restrictions at markets in Bucharest in order to prepare for Easter. Police and Gendarmes had to intervene. Two of the markets were closed.
10-Apr-2020 The CDC (USA) is planning to use “very aggressive” contact tracing to contain the spread of COVID-19. This would involve surveillance of all individuals who have the virus and all those who had contact with them either directly or indirectly.
10-Apr-2020 The Government of Israel intends to ban flights and gatherings until September.
10-Apr-2020 The virus seems to be leveling off or declining in major hotspots around the world, including Italy, Spain, New York and California. The global peak is estimated to occur in about two weeks. Government officials have also estimated the end of April as the peak in Romania.
10-Apr-2020 Romanian statistics: Deaths 257, total infections 5,467, and new infections 265. It is too soon to draw any conclusions, but the number of new infections is down significantly from yesterday (441). The number in ICU is up slightly from 178 to 183.
10-Apr-2020 Despite a nationwide lockdown, infections continue to soar in India.
10-Apr-2020 Officials have threatened to close the international airport in Cluj, Romania, after nearly 2,000 people trying to enter the facility were filmed standing shoulder-to-shoulder, some without face masks. Several charter flights scheduled for today were cancelled by authorities.
10-Apr-2020 Due to dramatic decreases in air pollution, people in India can now see the Himalayas for the first time in decades. Global pollution is the lowest since record-keeping began.
10-Apr-2020 According to the Director of the CDC, the “new normal” for the foreseeable future (at least 18 months) will require all workers to have their temperature taken before entering the workplace, wearing face masks at all times, and practicing social distancing on the job.
10-Apr-2020 Leading health expert, Doctor Anthony Fauci, has revised the expected death toll in the U.S. downward to about 60,000 from a previous estimate of as high as a quarter of a million.
10-Apr-2020 A New York doctor successfully healed around 500 patients using a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin (Z-Pak), and zinc sulfate. The National Institutes of Health finally launched an official clinical trial after weeks of controversy.
10-Apr-2020 The global death toll is nearing 100,000 with more than one and a half million infections. The U.S. is the current epicenter of the virus.
10-Apr-2020 U. K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is out of intensive care, but remains hospitalized.
09-Apr-2020 Romanian statistics: Deaths 229; infections 5,202; new infections 441. This is a disappointing increase and the highest number of new cases since April 3rd.
09-Apr-2020 The world has no shortage of food, rather a problem with distribution, but shortages may become a problem if the crisis continues for many months. In many countries dairy farmers are forced to dump their milk, and vegetable farmers are forced to plow under fields of fresh produce, all due to “disruption in the supply chain”.
09-Apr-2020 The city of Cluj, Romania, will be monitored by drone to verify compliance to isolation regulations.
09-Apr-2020 The daily death toll in the U.S. hit another record high yesterday of 1,973 with 779 of those deaths in New York State. The U.S. is now the worst affected country globally with a total of nearly 15,000 deaths and approaching half a million infections.
08-Apr-2020 Romanian statistics: Deaths 209; infections 4,761; new infections 344. The number in ICU declined for the first time. Several hospitals with serious problems have been taken over by the Military.
08-Apr-2020 Inovio Pharmaceuticals is the latest company to begin human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine (INO-4800).
08-Apr-2020 Hydroxychloroquine may not help everyone with the Coronavirus, but it has proven effective for some. One high-profile case is the rapid recovery of a Michigan State Representative. When properly administered, the risks are low.
08-Apr-2020 Smartphone tracking is likely to be implemented in many countries, including the U.S. and Europe. There are privacy concerns that “far reaching data-gathering powers” from mobile phones, combined with newly expanded police power to detain people, could be used as a “means of social control.” Similar projects in China and Israel resulted in the central collection of massive amounts of personal location data. The Government in India is currently tracking some 2,000 mobile phones of people who participated in a religious event that sparked massive COVID-19 outbreaks across the country.
08-Apr-2020 In the U.S. deaths continue to increase, with the latest daily total approaching the 2,000 mark. Infections are now over 400,000.
07-Apr-2020 “Normalcy” in society cannot happen until a vaccine becomes available to the general populace. Preventative measures and restrictions such as bans on large gatherings; social distancing; face masks; hand-washing; working at home; etc., will need to stay in place until then. How long will that take? Dr. Anthony Fauci and other experts estimate that a vaccine will not be available for at least one year.
07-Apr-2020 U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in stable condition, and has not required use of a ventilator.
07-Apr-2020 MIGAL Galilee Research Institute in Israel has produced the active component of a coronavirus vaccine that could enter human trials by June 1st. This is a progress report on what was mentioned about two weeks ago. Many other projects are ongoing globally with rapid progress being made on multiple fronts.
07-Apr-2020 The number of infections in Romania is now 4,417, while deaths rose to 182. Though this is an increase in infections compared to the past 2 days, the trend is still downward.
07-Apr-2020 France recorded its highest daily death toll on Monday (833). No further word on Brethren there who tested positive or are awaiting test results.
07-Apr-2020 Another new treatment drug, EIDD-2801, is showing promising results. Though similar to Remdesivir, administration is much simpler, as EIDD-2801 can be taken as a pill, whereas Remdesivir is given intravenously.
07-Apr-2020 Labor shortages due to coronavirus complications are threatening the food supply in the U. S., as seasonal foreign workers are prohibited from entering the country.
07-Apr-2020 U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now in Intensive Care after his condition worsened over night.
07-Apr-2020 An experimental Japanese drug, Avigan, is being tested in Israel as a treatment for COVID-19 patients.
07-Apr-2020 The number of deaths in the U.S. has now exceeded 10,000, with infections passing 350,000.
07-Apr-2020 Political chaos in Israel as talks for an emergency unity government broke down.
06-Apr-2020 The number of infections in Romania is now 4,057, while deaths rose to 157. This is now the 2nd day when the rate of new infections (193) went down. All residents in the County of Maramures must now wear face masks in public. Five other counties have also imposed the additional restriction. All the current and latest restrictions have been extended by another month, until May 15th.
06-Apr-2020 New cases in Australia have shown a steady decline. Germany had its fourth straight day with a decline in cases.
06-Apr-2020 Tesla Motors has produced prototypes of a new state-of-the-art ventilator made from off the shelf parts, mostly from their line of electric vehicles.
06-Apr-2020 The “Achilles heel” of the COVID-19 virus may have been found according to Scripps Research. An antibody from the blood of recovered SARS patients has shown a promising interaction against the new virus.
06-Apr-2020 Some good news from New York: new infections and deaths both dropped for the first time. Numbers in Italy continue to decrease as well, with the lowest death toll in two weeks reported on Sunday.
06-Apr-2020 There are hundreds of Brethren in many countries of Africa. Due to inadequate healthcare facilities and substandard sanitary conditions, once the coronavirus begins to spread there it will lead to a “complete collapse of economies” throughout the continent.
06-Apr-2020 U. K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to the hospital “as a precaution” due to his infection with the coronavirus.
05-Apr-2020 The latest statistics in Romania may contain a glint of hope. The number of infections rose by 251, the smallest daily rise since April 1st. And the number of deaths increased by 7 to 148, the smallest daily increase since March 30th. It remains to be seen if this is a statistical anomaly or a trend.
05-Apr-2020 The virus seems to be reaching its peak in several countries, including Australia, Italy and Spain, a hopeful sign for those countries. Patients in Intensive Care decreased for the first time in Italy. In the U.S. cases continue to climb, with more than 300,000 infections and over 8,000 deaths.
05-Apr-2020 Lack of protective equipment may force the USPS to shut down. In addition to regular mail, nearly one-third of all Amazon packages in the U.S. are delivered by the USPS.
04 -Apr-2020 A London area hospital has closed its doors to all new patients, including emergency room services, due to running out of oxygen. Such shortages are predicted in many hospitals around the world due to the high demand prompted by the Coronavirus.
04-Apr-2020 The latest statistics from Romania: 3,613 infections, 141 deaths. New restrictions were announced today for certain areas of Romania, made necessary by lack of respect for restrictions currently in place.
04-Apr-2020 Many new terms are being invented because of the current situation. One of them is the “immunity passport” which could eventually be used to allow individuals who are proven immune to COVID-19 to return to the workplace and society in general.
04-Apr-2020 Why would a mob attack health care workers who were trying to perform COVID-19 tests at private homes? Doctors were spat on and chased away by a stone-throwing mob in a Muslim neighborhood in India. The motive is unclear. This was not an isolated incident.
04-Apr-2020 More than 90% of Americans are now under “stay at home” orders. This compares to roughly 50% on a global average. An unexpected result of decreased human activity worldwide is a dramatic reduction in background vibrations picked up by seismographs. This makes earthquake detection more accurate.
04-Apr-2020 A therapeutic antibody has been developed by a laboratory in the U.S. and will begin clinical trials on humans in August. The advantage of a therapeutic antibody is that it can be produced in large quantitites very quickly once it has been proven effective.
04-Apr-2020 The daily statistics from Italy continue to offer some hope. The number of deaths is slowly decreasing, while the number of those who have recovered is increasing. The elderly Sister who tested positive for the virus appears to have a mild case according to local Brethren.
03-Apr-2020 Dairy Farmers in the U.S. are being forced to dump their millk, not due to lack of demand (which has soared) but by lack of the means of transportation and processing.
03-Apr-2020 Total infections in Romania rose by the largest daily amount to-date (445) and now stands at 3,183. The death toll in Romania increased by 22 compared to yesterday, for a total of 116. By comparison, the latest one-day figure in the U.S. was 1,169 pushing the overall total there to more than 6,000.
03-Apr-2020 A Sister in the Portland, OR area has been confirmed with the virus. She is a nurse, and is already in the recovery phase. There are unconfirmed cases of Brethren who have the symptoms, but due to circumstances have not been tested. This involves Brethren from the U.S., France and Moldova.
03-Apr-2020 Global efforts to find treatments for the COVID-19 virus are being hindered by pharmaceutical companies refusing to share all of the data on potential candidate treatments that they hold.
03-Apr-2020 “Medical annexation” of the disputed territories in Israel may be necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
03-Apr-2020 The number of confirmed cases worldwide is now over one million, but the true number is probably more than ten million, as a relatively small percentage of the world population has been tested for the virus.
02-Apr-2020 The President of the Microbiology Society in Romania has stated that restrictions may need to remain in place until May 15th. After that they could be gradually removed.
02-Apr-2020 A shortage of COVID-19 test kits is causing serious delays in Bucharest and other cities around the world.
02-Apr-2020 New unemployment claims in the U.S. skyrocketed to 6.6 million, double the record-setting figure from last week.
02-Apr-2020 The number of infections in Romania increased by 278 for a total of 2,738, with 94 deaths.
02-Apr-2020 Another vaccine, this one from Germany, has been developed and should be ready for use sometime this Fall.
02-Apr-2020 The use of existing medication hydroxychloroquine, to treat COVID-19, continues to show promising results in many countries around the world.
02-Apr-2020 Daily deaths in Italy are still high, but continue a downward trend. New infections in Italy have hit a “plateau” according to officials.
02-Apr-2020 More than a quarter of a million Romanians have returned home from other countries, with 50,000 of those returning from Italy. There are deep concerns about how many may have brought the virus with them. This scenario exists in many other countries as well.
02-Apr-2020 The U.S. emergency stockpile of medical equipment has been depleted.
02-Apr-2020 Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are near the one million mark globally, with more than 200,000 of those in the U.S. The death toll globally is nearing the 50,000 mark.
02-Apr-2020 The President of the Philippines has ordered the Police and Military to shoot violent protesters.
01-Apr-2020 The number of infections in Romania increased another 215 for a total of 2,460, with 85 deaths.
01-Apr-2020 There are now more than 40 COVID-19 vaccines in development around the world. Three of these have entered clinical trials with humans. The earliest a vaccine will be available is Fall of this year, and would be given to vulnerable groups such as health care workers.
01-Apr-2020 A number of our Brethren are in the health care field, and are on the “front lines” of the fight against COVID-19. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
01-Apr-2020 Current deaths in the U.S. are now over 4,000, but projected deaths continue to rise, with the latest estimates ranging from 100,000 to a quarter of a million.
01-Apr-2020 Additional unconfirmed reports are coming in from France, India, Italy and the U.S. of possible infections among Brethren. Confirmed cases include an Elderly Sister in Italy, and a Sister in France who died from the virus over 2 weeks ago.
31-Mar-2020 75% of people in the U.S. are under some form of lockdown.
31-Mar-2020 The death toll in Romania has risen to 80, with total infections of 2,245.
31-Mar-2020 Hopeful signs are emerging from the hardest hit countries of Italy and the U.K. where the virus seems to be slowing down.
30-Mar-2020 Another trial has been approved by the Romanian Government, this time for an American drug against the Covid-19 virus. A previous trial was approved for a drug from the U.K.
30-Mar-2020 A family with children in Tulun, Siberia, has been diagnosed with the virus. One of our Sisters worked at a school in that area, but the schools have been closed for some time, and all residents are ordered to stay in their homes, so there is little possiblity that the virus would have spread from there.
30-Mar-2020 The first reported case of COVID-19 amongst the Brethren in Italy is an elderly Sister in a Senior Care Facility.
30-Mar-2020 Romania has placed price-controls on all utilities as well as gasoline and diesel fuel. No more than 3 persons are permitted in a personal vehicle. Infections rose to 1,952 and 44 deaths.
30-Mar-2020 A Sister in the Paris area, a healthcare worker, has tested positive for the virus. A consecrated married couple from the same Ecclesia as Sister Irine Buzala (Eastern France), who died from the virus on March 14th, have symptoms of the virus. As reported earlier, they have not been checked as there are too many potential cases, but their fever is not too high, and they are self-isolating. There is no confirmation of any cases in other countries.
30-Mar-2020 Italy continues to see a gradual downward trend both in deaths and in new infections. The numbers are still very high, but there is hope the peak has been reached. Very preliminary data from the U.K., Spain and NYC show a possible slowing trend, but the peak has not yet been reached in those places.
29-Mar-2020 The total number of infections in Romania is now 1,760 with 308 new cases in the past 24 hours. Deaths are now at 38.
28-Mar-2020 News from France: a couple among the Brethren there have symptoms, but there are too many cases for them to be checked. Their fever is not too high, so they will self-isolate. They are trusting in the Lord’s overruling. There is another possible case in the U.S. but it has not been verified as yet.
28-Mar-2020 The total number of infections in Romania is now 1,452 with 160 new cases in the past 24 hours. Deaths are now at 30.
28-Mar-2020 A largescale study in Iceland showed that 50% of people who tested positive for the virus had no symptoms. This supports the New England Journal of Medicine findings that the actual death rate from COVID-19 is much lower than originally thought. Dr. Anthony Fauci (key adviser to the U.S. Government) has publicly acknowledged these new findings.
28-Mar-2020 The New England Journal of Medicine published a report Thursday showing the death rate from COVID-19 at 0.28 percent, which is about twice that of the common flu, but exceptionally lower than SARS (9 percent) and MERS (36 percent).
28-Mar-2020 After several days of hopeful signs that the death rate was slowing in Italy, the count on Friday was the highest to-date: 919.
27-Mar-2020 Critical care beds per 100,000 people show Germany in first place in Europe with a ratio of 29.2 while Austria is 3rd with 21.8 and Romania is not far behind with 21.4 in 4th place. Countries with higher death rates have lower ratios: Italy 12.5; France with 11.6; Spain with 9.7 and the U.K. is in danger with a ratio of 6.6 near the bottom of the list.
27-Mar-2020 Boris Johnson has become the first World Leader to be confirmed positive with the COVID-19 virus.
27-Mar-2020 The death count in Romania is at 24 this morning, and the infection count has risen to 1,292. This represents the largest increase to-date.
27-Mar-2020 The epidemic which started in the East of France has now spread to the Paris area. This is where many of our Brethren in France live.
27-Mar-2020 Moderna Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Cambridge, Mass., has already shipped the first batches of its COVID-19 vaccine for human testing.
27-Mar-2020 Scientists in Great Britain are trainings dogs to detect COVID-19 in people without symptoms. Similar programs in the past have been successful in training dogs to detect bacterial infections, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and other health issues.
27-Mar-2020 Manufacturers all over the world are retooling in order to produce much-needed supplies like ventilators, hand-sanitizer and face masks.
27-Mar-2020 Clinical trials are now underway in New York using varieties of Chloroquine. Preliminary results show promise not only in treating COVID-19, but also in preventing it. Also in New York, a pharmaceutical company is working with Monoclonal Antibodies harvested from the blood of recovered patients. This is a proven method in treating other diseases. They expect human trials to begin in early June.
27-Mar-2020 The political landscape in Israel changed again over night as the main opposition party splintered over disagreements on a unity government. This opens the way for Netanyahu to form a coalition.
27-Mar-2020 Two companies are developing COVID-19 test kits that can give quick results. A U.K. firm has a prototype that can give results in 10 minutes, and only costs $1, but it will not be ready until June. A German company has a kit that gives results in 2-1/2 hours. It will be available in April.
27-Mar-2020 The U.S. now has more COVID-19 cases than any other country in the world. But the death rate per million is still low.
26-Mar-2020 A report regarding Brethren from many areas in Texas indicates that all are doing well, and no one has been affected by the virus as far as they know. Most of those who are still working are able to do so from home, and the rest are retired.
26-Mar-2020 The small group of Sisters in Siberia have their usual health problems due to age, etc., but they are trusting in the Lord in this current crisis. There are no immediate problems with the virus in their area.
26-Mar-2020 U.S. Unemployment claims last week of 3.3 million broke a previous record of 695,000 set in 1982. “The economic ailment is far worse than the physical disease.”
26-Mar-2020 A previous announcement from the Romanian Minister of Health has been denied by the Government, and the minister has been dismissed and replaced. He announced, without authority, a program to test the entire population of Bucharest for COVID-19.
26-Mar-2020 Somber photos come from Southern Italy of a convoy of military trucks full of caskets of the dead. While half of the provinces are seeing a slowing in the rate of new infections, poorer areas in the south are seeing a rise in deaths.
26-Mar-2020 The latest figures for Romania: 1,029 infections and 18 deaths. More than 5,600 persons were stopped and fined in Romania yesterday due to failure to observe the new restrictions.
26-Mar-2020 The French President announced that the Army will be called upon to assist in enforcing restrictions.
26-Mar-2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) continues its “Global Megatrial” of existing drugs for treatment of the COVID-19 virus. There are 4 candidates which show the greatest promise. One of those (Remdesivir) is owned by Gilead Sciences. They have given up their special status which will allow for generic versions of the drug if tests against COVID-19 prove effective.
26-Mar-2020 The U.S. Senate has passed the 2 trillion dollar stimulus package. It now goes to the House for approval, and then will be signed into law by the President.
26-Mar-2020 The death toll has risen to more than 21,000 worldwide, and the number of cases is approaching half a million. Italy has more than 7,500 deaths which is nearly double that of Spain (3,600) and more than China (3,300). Romania now has 17. The highest rate per million of population is San Marino (619) followed by Italy (124) and Spain (78). Death rates per million for a few other countries where we have Brethren: Australia .5; Austria 3; France 20; Germany 2; India .01; Romania .9; USA 3.
26-Mar-2020 Though the death rate continues to be very high in Italy, the trend is slightly downward. There are still no reports of infections among Brethren in Italy or elsewhere in the World.
26-Mar-2020 Research on COVID-19 in Italy has revealed that it is very slow to mutate compared to other viruses. This is good news for the long-term effectiveness of any vaccine once developed.
25-Mar-2020 Latest statistics from Romania: Infections at 906, deaths at 14, more than 100,000 in isolation or quarantine. The Romanian Military has placed 10,000 troops and military equipment on the streets to assist police in enforcing the lockdown.
25-Mar-2020 Current list of U. S. States with “shelter in place” orders: CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, OH, OR, MA, MD, MI, NJ, NM, NY, PA, WA, WI, WV. Many other States have ordered all non-essential businesses to close.
25-Mar-2020 Confusion in India as Police disrupt the food supply due to unclear rules from the Government.
25-Mar-2020 The number of quarantined in Maramureş went from 3 on Monday to 421 today. This is the County of Baia Mare and Sighet where about 40% of all Brethren in Romania reside.
25-Mar-2020 The FDA has expedited treatment of seriously ill COVID-19 patients using blood plasma from recovered individuals.
25-Mar-2020 The full lockdown in India has resulted in widespread panic-buying.
25-Mar-2020 Romania has clarified the new orders. Those over 65 will be allowed out of their homes between the hours of 11:00AM to 1:00PM. Much confusion resulted from the original statement which mentioned no such exception. Other details released today include the requirement of a completed form, giving a legitimate reason, for anyone leaving home at any time.
24-Mar-2020 India is the latest country to go into full lockdown.
24-Mar-2020 The entire country of Romania is now in lockdown. Anyone over 65 is not allowed out of their home for any reason. We are waiting for clarification on the details. The Army will be used to enforce the rules. The number of infections rose dramatically again by 186, bringing the new total to 762. Those in quarantine or isolation (almost 90,000) will be under electronic surveillance.
24-Mar-2020 Current list of U. S. States with “stay at Home” orders: CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, LA, OH, OR, MD, MI, NJ, NY, WV.
24-Mar-2020 U.S. Airlines are preparing for a total shutdown of passenger service.
24-Mar-2020 The death toll in Romania is now eight. Infection statistics will come later in the day.
24-Mar-2020 Testing on new vaccines against the COVID-19 virus continue in many countries, including the U.S., Japan and China. Effectiveness could be determined in a matter of weeks, but mass production of any vaccine will take at least a year to 18 months.
24-Mar-2020 The U.K. has gone into full lockdown for at least three weeks. The strict new measures will be enforced by the Police.
24-Mar-2020 The U.S. Military is preparing to set up field hospitals in New York and Seattle.
24-Mar-2020 The County of Maramureş has imposed a 24-hour curfew, and the strictest measures yet regarding outside activities. This is the County where Sighet is located. A new map of Romania has been included on the home page with our County shown in green. Senior citizens will have exclusive access to grocery stores from 7AM-11AM.
24-Mar-2020 News from Brethren in Venezuela underscores the severity of the situation there. Many, including Brethren, are out of work. Life in Venezuela was already difficult before the virus, due to political instability.
24-Mar-2020 Nearly a million Australians have become unemployed “over night”, according to the BBC. No reports yet on how Brethren have been affected.
23-Mar-2020 The death count in Romania is now 7, with more than half of those coming in the last 24 hours. Tighter restrictions went into effect today.
23-Mar-2020 Non-critical patients, elective surgery patients, etc., are being dismissed early from all hospitals in Romania to make room for expected COVID-19 patients.
23-Mar-2020 There are hopeful signs that the rate of increase in infections in Germany is finally slowing down.
23-Mar-2020 India has grounded all domestic flights. International flights were already grounded.
23-Mar-2020 The number of infected has risen dramatically in Romania during the past 24 hours, from 433 to 576. Tighter restrictions went into effect today.
23-Mar-2020 Italy has announced even tighter restrictions on leaving homes, travel, businesses permitted to remain open, etc. There are early signs that this approach is beginning to work, as for the first time, Sunday, the number of deaths dropped from the day before. Monday, the number of deaths dropped again, a very hopeful sign.
23-Mar-2020 Still no news of any Brethren around the world being infected, even in Italy which is hardest hit. If anyone has updated information, please tell us.
23-Mar-2020 Lousiana and Delaware were added to the growing list of States mandating “stay at Home” rules. (CA, CT, DE, IL, LA, OH, MI, NJ, NY)
23-Mar-2020 The National Guard has been activated in three States hardest hit by the virus: CA, NY and WA. There are Bible Students in all three States.
23-Mar-2020 An elderly Sister in Cluj, Romania, finished her course yesterday, but not due to the virus. This will be a difficult experience for the Cluj Brethren in view of new restrictions allowing only 8 persons at funerals.
23-Mar-2020 Political instability in Venezuela is complicating the COVID-19 situation, in turn having a serious financial impact on the handful of Brethren there.
23-Mar-2020 Political infighting is hindering efforts to combat the effects of the virus in several countries, including the U.S. and Israel. This is eerily similar to what happened in the French Revolution.
23-Mar-2020 Military vehicles are on the streets of Morocco enforcing the “stay at home” order. There are very few Bible Students there, and they have to remain hidden to a large extent as Christians are often persecuted in Morocco.
22-Mar-2020 Ohio has been added to the growing list of States imposing a “stay at home” order. Nearly one-third of all Americans are under such orders.
22-Mar-2020 Germany has tightened its restrictions for meetings outside work or home to 2 people. Angela Merkel has been put in quarantine after contact with a doctor who tested positive.
22-Mar-2020 Romania experienced its first deaths due to the virus. Three individuals who were in critical condition, with underlying causes, died today. The number infected has risen to 433 from 378 last evening.
21-Mar-2020 Romania has expanded the restrictions under the state of emergency to be in force for a period of as long as six months. By Military Order: All indoor Malls will be closed. Groups no larger than three persons will be permitted anywhere indoors or outdoors unless they are members of the same immediate family. Leaving the home is only permitted for strict necessities during the hours of 6AM – 10PM, and is forbidden from 10PM – 6AM except for special cases with special written authorization. Funerals and weddings are allowed a maximum of 8 persons in attendance.
21-Mar-2020 Romanian supermarkets are making arrangements to switch to home delivery by the end of this coming week.
21-Mar-2020 New Jersey has imposed a “stay at home” order.
21-Mar-2020 All residents of India are being asked to observe a one-day nationwide curfew on Sunday from 7AM to 9PM local time.
21-Mar-2020 The new total number of infections in Romania is 378 compared to 308 yesterday. Almost 60,000 are in isolation or quarantine. Tighter restrictions are to be announced shortly.
21-Mar-2020 A national curfew in Germany is imminent, as State Governments have failed to apply a consistent policy. So-called “Corona parties” have been held by large groups of young people in defiance of urgent requests to avoid such gatherings.
21-Mar-2020 In spite of conflicting news stories, top oncologist Dr. William Grace (NYC) validates the effectiveness of using the anti-malarial / arthritis drug Chloroquine Phosphate for treating COVID-19. It is particularly effective in seriously ill older patients. This drug is already available.
21-Mar-2020 Work continues internationally on the use of a treatment that is more than a century old: infusing victims with the blood serum of recovered patients. This treatment is already approved and local blood banks could make harvested serum available within a matter of weeks.
21-Mar-2020 The U. S. Army Corp of Engineers has begun converting hotels and dormitories into ICU-like facilities. As many as 10,000 beds will be available in three to four weeks.
21-Mar-2020 The military has been called in to enforce the lockdown in Italy.
21-Mar-2020 Connecticutt has ordered nonessential workers to stay home. CA, IL and NY have imposed similar orders.
21-Mar-2020 Clinical trials of a new vaccine developed in Great Britain against COVID-19 are expected to begin in Romania in less than a month.
21-Mar-2020 Illinois became the latest State to issue “stay at home” orders.
20-Mar-2020 The official number of infections in Romania is now 308, up from 277 yesterday.
20-Mar-2020 The Romanian Secretary of State for Health has recommended that all residents stay in their homes for a period of 8-10 weeks, except for absolute necessities.
20-Mar-2020 The German Army is preparing to “join the fight” against COVID-19 due to an exponential rise in infections.
20-Mar-2020 The Indian Prime Minister has asked all citizens to stay at home. Public transportation has been curtailed. There are nearly 4,000 Brethren in India.
20-Mar-2020 New Vaccines, treatments, and potential cures are being developed at record speed in several countries around the world. Preliminary trials have produced positive results. Most promising is the use of off-the-shelf medications such as Chloroquine and Remdesivir. Scientists in Israel are preparing to announce a successful vaccine.
20-Mar-2020 South American countries are beginning to impose tighter restrictions. We have a few Brethren in South America, mainly in Brazil.
20-Mar-2020 California’s complete “shelter in place” rule is expected to be followed by a number of other States in the U.S. Law enforcement will not be used at this time. The Majority of Brethren in California live in the southern part of the state which has been most heavily affected.
20-Mar-2020 The Romanian Government has announced that patients with COVID-19 will be treated at home if the number of cases becomes excessive. The official number of infections remains at 277 this morning, but that statistic may not be current.
19-Mar-2020 Clinical tests in Italy provide some hope for a virus cure. The existing antiviral drug Remdesivir has proven effective in limited trials. Tests in several other countries with existing anti-viral treatments have shown promise.
19-Mar-2020 Many conventions have been either cancelled or replaced with online conventions. The same is true of weekly meetings. This is taking place in many countries. As mentioned earlier, Brethren are preparing to celebrate the Memorial online as well.
19-Mar-2020 The army is building a new field hospital in Romania which will be complete in 5 days. It will be used primarily for COVID-19 patients.
19-Mar-2020 The number of infections in Romania rose to 277 from 246 last evening. Numbers globally are available at the link shown in the left column.
18-Mar-2020 Things continue to be calm here in Sighet. The streets are nearly empty, and the grocery stores are not much different than normal. A few items are scarce, but there are no drastic shortages.
18-Mar-2020 The U.S. Government projects a potential unemployment rate of 20% due to the virus.
18-Mar-2020 Italy’s healthcare system is nearing collapse due to overload from the virus. There are still no known cases of Brethren in Italy with the virus.
18-Mar-2020 The Romanian Government is considering a proposal to freeze prices on basic foods and medicines.
18-Mar-2020 Infections continue to rise in Romania, with the new total this morning at 246 compared to 217 last evening.
18-Mar-2020 Romania is a country of about 25 million people, with over 1,000 Brethren. Government experts are warning that between 500,000 and one million people will be laid off from work because of the virus. This will no doubt affect many Brethren. And this scenario is certain to play out in many other countries as well.
18-Mar-2020 The U.S. / Canadian border has been closed to all non-essential traffic. The biggest impact on Brethren will be in the Seattle / Vancouver area.
18-Mar-2020 Australia has banned all international travel. Gatherings of more than 100 persons are also banned.
17-Mar-2020 The State of Washington has banned all gatherings over 50 people. Non-essential businesses must cease operations. Residents over 60 years of age or those with underlying health conditions are requested to self-isolate.
17-Mar-2020 Romania has now ordered all indoor religious services, non-essential businesses and public places to close. Spain was added to the list of countries for which all international flights are suspended. Outdoor gatherings of 100 persons or more are also prohibited. Supermarkets have strict limits on the number of customers that can be in the store at one time.
17-Mar-2020 Croatia has instructed all workers to work from home. Stricter rules may be forthcoming tomorrow.
17-Mar-2020 In Romania the number of infections increased dramatically in the past 24 hours, from 168 to 217. The number in isolation or quarantine has risen to more than 23,000.
17-Mar-2020 A nationwide lockdown has been implemented in Israel, similar to what is in place in France.
17-Mar-2020 Russia has extended the ban on foreigners to May 1st. The original ban was in place until the end of March.
17-Mar-2020 All French residents are required to fill out and print a form, justifying their movements, if they leave their home.
17-Mar-2020 Ukraine has banned all inter-city rail, air and bus services. Local transports are limited to 10 passengers. International borders were already closed.
17-Mar-2020 The U.K. has apparently increased the period of self-isolation in certain cases to 12 weeks.
17-Mar-2020 The number of infections rose to 184 over night in Romania. There are now almost 20,000 either in isolation or quarantine.
17-Mar-2020 The State of New Jersey has closed all non-essential businesses, and has mobilized the National Guard to combat the spread of COVID-19. Non-essential travel is highly discouraged between 8PM and 5AM daily.
17-Mar-2020 Nationwide lockdowns have been implemented in several countries where Brethren reside, including France, Italy and Ireland. There are only a handful of Brethren in Ireland.
17-Mar-2020 The headline: “Life put on hold” is a reality for many Brethren as well as hundreds of millions of people around the world. More and more world leaders are admitting that restrictive measures may be necessary “for months”.
17-Mar-2020 The Australian Brethren are all virus free at this point. Many meetings are now online only. That includes meetings in the Philippines.
17-Mar-2020 Many Ecclesias around the World are preparing to celebrate the Lord’s Memorial online.
16-Mar-2020 The White House is urging Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 persons.
16-Mar-2020 Russia has banned entry to all foreigners. The annual visit to our Sisters in Tulun for Memorial will not be possible.
16-Mar-2020 France has imposed sweeping new restrictions. All residents must stay at home except for essential reasons. Penalties will be imposed on those who violate the rules. All borders are closed. The Army will be used to transport the sick to hospitals. A special force of 100,000 Police will be used to enforce the new rules.
16-Mar-2020 Canada has closed its borders to all foreigners. There are more than 100 Brethren scattered across Canada.
16-Mar-2020 The U.K. has implored their citizens to limit personal contact, stop all unnecessary travel, avoid restaurants and other public places, and avoid using public transportation. These measures are not mandatory, but may be made so in the near future.
16-Mar-2020 Germany has announced additional restrictions. Many shops will be closed or will operate on limited hours. Personal travel will be limited, including within Germany.
16-Mar-2020 The situation in France continues to “deteriorate very rapidly” and is beginning to overwhelm healthcare facilities. Though public officials deny such plans, the next step in restrictions would be total lockdown similar to what is taking place in Italy, where we also have Brethren.
16-Mar-2020 The State of Bavaria, Germany, has declared a State of Disaster. This is an additional level of severity beyond a State of Emergency and could include asking the German Armed Forces for assistance. There are a few elderly Brethren in this area. All events public and private are also banned in Hamburg where we have a small group of Brethren.
16-Mar-2020 The President of Romania stated today that additional restrictions will be gradually implemented under the State of Emergency declared on Saturday. Rumors that residents are not permitted out of their homes, and could risk a 4,000 Euro fine, are not true.
16-Mar-2020 The U.E. has banned all non-essential travel into the Schengen borderless travel zone by citizens of non-EU countries.
16-Mar-2020 The main island of Luzon, Philippines is now under “enhanced community quarantine” and a State of Calamity, restricting all residents to their homes. There are brethren on five islands [Luzon, Mindinao, Leyte, Cebu, and Siargoa]. The healthcare system in the Philippines is very poor.
16-Mar-2020 The number of infections in Romania have increased to 168, with more than 15,000 in isolation and another 3,000 in quarantine. There have been no deaths so far.
16-Mar-2020 The situation in France is “deteriorating very fast” with the number of cases requiring hospitalization doubling every 3 days.
16-Mar-2020 Brethren report that there are no Brethren infected so far in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar or Pakistan. Until now the Ecclesia meetings in India are permitted.
16-Mar-2020 All travel between Moldova and Russia is now prohibited. Local Brethren tell us that the situation in Moldova is worse than what is being reported on the official news.
16-Mar-2020 So far in all of Europe there has been only one known case of COVID-19 amongst the Brethren. It resulted in the death of a Sister in France. Elsewhere the Brethren are under many restrictions, but are generally healthy.
16-Mar-2020 In the U.S. — the Center for Disease Control [CDC] recommends against gatherings of 50 or more. Of perhaps greater significance is their expectation that such restrictions will be necessary for up to 8 weeks.
16-Mar-2020 Dupage County IL, near Chicago, registered its first case of Covid-19 at a hospital where one of our Sisters works.
16-Mar-2020 Several Brethren have been affected by the recent international travel bans, either being unable to travel, or facing 14 days in quarantine upon arrival at their destination.
16-Mar-2020 A state of emergency has been declared in Australia in most areas where Brethren live, including Brisbane, Perth, Queensland and Sydney.
16-Mar-2020 Croatia has raised the threat level to 3 after two doctors at a main hospital in Zagreb were infected, requiring the evacuation of the entire facility.
16-Mar-2020 California, Ohio and Illinois have mandated closure of all restaurants, bars and other non-essential businesses.
15-Mar-2020 Germany has added Austria and Switzerland to border closings. France was already on the list.
15-Mar-2020 There are over 1,000 Brethren in Romania. The majority are in high risk categories: older than 65; with pre-existing medical conditions; living in villages with few or no professional medical care facilities.
15-Mar-2020 Moldova has prohibited all religious services with the exception of funerals. There are about 100 Brethren in Moldova.
15-Mar-2020 Austria has reduced the maximum number for public gatherings to 5 persons.
15-Mar-2020 The infection count has risen to 139 in Romania.
15-Mar-2020 European governments have promised that supermarkets would remain open with adequate supplies. They did not plan sufficiently for the problem of closed borders, as a significant percentage of products are brought in from other countries in the E.U. Some supermarkets in Sighet are only allowing 2 customers in at a time.
15-Mar-2020 Romanians are being told to prepare for restrictions that could last “for several months.” Under the state of emergency declared by the Romanian President a wide range of additional severe restrictions could be put in place at any time.
15-Mar-2020 The closing of all non-essential commercial establishments has been imposed in additional countries where we have Brethren, including Austria, France and Italy.
15-Mar-2020 Border restrictions have been put in place between Germany and France. In the past there have been close relations between German and French Brethren. There are fewer than 100 Brethren in each country.
15-Mar-2020 Infections in Romania rose to 123 over night.
15-Mar-2020 London is preparing to institute measures as in time of war. There are fewer than 100 Brethren in England, mostly in the London area. Many are from Romania and Moldova who work in the U.K.
14-Mar-2020 France has ordered all non-essential locations used by the public to close. Citizens are requested to go out as little as possible. There are about 100 Brethren in France.
14-Mar-2020 The President of Romania has declared a State of Emergency. This allows for “the restriction of certain fundamental liberties, with the exception of human rights”. What this means in a practical sense remains to be seen.
14-Mar-2020 New restrictions in Romania limit gatherings to no more than 50 persons.
14-Mar-2020 Many Ecclesias around the World are forced to meet online as their regular places of meeting are closed due to the virus.
14-Mar-2020 Panic buying is rampant across the U.S. with many common products difficult to keep stocked in stores.
14-Mar-2020 The Spring Convention in Germany at the end of March has been cancelled. Contingency plans are being made for the General convention at the end of May. The meetings are cancelled in Ludwigshafen near Frankfurt. The situation in Germany is complicated by the fact that the Central Government cannot make decisions for the entire country. Local States within Germany have the power to make certain decisions.
14-Mar-2020 Sister Irine Buzala from Alsacia, France, who was diagnosed with Covid-19 a few days ago, has died in the hospital.
14-Mar-2020 The number of infections in Romania have risen to 109. The government has raised the threat level to 3, which means that all hospitals will prepare to only treat Covid-19 patients in their infectious disease section.
14-Mar-2020 There are now more than 100 infections in Croatia, with about 5,000 under quarantine or other supervision.
14-Mar-2020 Brethren in several places in the U.S. have reported panic buying, with long lines, and increasingly aggressive behavior.
14-Mar-2020 More countries in Europe where Brethren live have closed their borders in whole or in part including Austria, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
14-Mar-2020 The situation continues to worsen in Italy, but so far the Brethren are all well.
14-Mar-2020 The status of many Bible Student Conventions around the world is now in question, including the International Convention in Poland.
13-Mar-2020 Additional countries where there are Brethren have closed their borders. Ukraine has closed all its borders to foreigners. Moldova has closed many border crossings to Romania.
13-Mar-2020 Romanian President Iohannis Klaus has requested citizens to cancel all non-essential travel.
13-Mar-2020 Romania’s entire government has gone into quarantine after one of the Senators became infected.
13-Mar-2020 Brethren in France have cancelled upcoming conventions on March 22 and April 12,13. All Ecclesia meetings in Paris are now online only. Brethren have been asked by their companies to work at home as much as possible. There is no change in the condition of the Sister near Alsacea who is still in the hospital with the virus.
13-Mar-2020 The Chicago Ecclesia Sunday meeting is cancelled. Panic-buying in the area has created shortages of some essentials.
13-Mar-2020 In Germany they have imposed restrictions on purchases in some places where Brethren live: only one roll of toilet paper per person; 2 cans of food; 1 kg. of flour; 1 kg. of rice; etc.
13-Mar-2020 Many border crossings in Romania have been closed, including the one in Sighet with Ukraine.
13-Mar-2020 The total now stands at 81 infections in Romania. The number in isolation or quarantine has risen to more than 15,000.
12-Mar-2020 Total number of infections in Romania have risen to 49 over night.
11-Mar-2020 Romania has instituted many new restrictions including a prohition against all gatherings of more than 100 persons. This will mean no Bible Student Conventions during the duration of the ban. The public are being asked not to use public transportation unless strictly necessary. All companies with more than 100 employees have been given rules regarding varied starting times for their firms (to avoid congestion on public transport).
11-Mar-2020 Moldova has closed all its nurseries, schools, colleges and universities for two weeks from today.
11-Mar-2020 Cucerdia Convention in Romania [17 May] is cancelled.
11-Mar-2020 Croatia reports hundreds of new infections.
11-Mar-2020 Romania has implemented border restrictions. Public meeting restrictions will be announced later today. All schools are closed throughout Romania until March 22nd.
11-Mar-2020 The total number of infections in Romania is now 36. More than 11,000 persons are in home isolation or quarantine.
10-Mar-2020 The Polish government has banned all meetings over 1,000 persons. Depending on the length of this ban, it could affect the International Convention.
10-Mar-2020 The total number of infections in Romania is 17, with 5 of those now testing as cured / negative.
09-Mar-2020 The first case of Coronavirus amongst the Brethren has been reported in Alsacia, France. An older Sister is in the hospital there in grave condition.
09-Mar-2020 The Austrian Government has banned all indoor meetings of more than 100 persons. The Bible Students Regional Convention in Austria [April 4,5] has been cancelled.