The number of patients on ventilators remained steady from Saturday; at 82. The total number of patients listed in serious condition dropped from 105 to 103. And another 66 patients were listed in moderate condition, with 6,160 listed as light or minor cases.

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A total of 310 patients were being treated in hospital facilities, with 1,591 at hotels and 3,512 at home.

Since Saturday, 437 corona patients have been given clean bills of health.

Thus far, a total of 16,193 Israelis have tested positive for the virus, 9,593 of whom have recovered.

The number of corona fatalities rose to 230 on Sunday after an 86-year-old man succumbed to the virus. The man was one of 22 corona victims who contracted the virus at a nursing home in Yavniel. He was hospitalized on April 23, and suffered from pre-existing health issues.

The Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa reported Sunday that two children hospitalized in the pediatric ICU – an 11-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy – have regained consciousness and are breathing on their own, without the aid of ventilators. Both have tested negative for coronavirus. The two will remain under observation, the hospital said. 

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As Israel prepares to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day this week, the popular initiative called "Memory in the Living Room" – in which Holocaust survivors share their story with young Israelis in a casual meetup in someone's home – will have to adjust because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Organizers of the project have already set up a special site aimed at offering a variety of ways to "host" Holocaust survivors through the online app Zoom.

Rivka Kahane was six-weeks-old when her parents gave her away to a Christian woman to avoid death. Israel later recognized the Dutch woman with the honor "Righteous Among the Nations" for her heroic act of compassion, in which she protected Kahane for two years and hid her real identity despite starvation and horrific conditions for both.

Kahane will be one of the survivors taking part in the "Memory in the Living Room" project this year. She told Israel Hayom that "this [online format] may be a bit challenging, but my testimony is stronger than anything else. Saving one's soul is akin to saving the entire human race."

Kahane coauthored a graphic novel on her experience as part of an effort to relay her testimony in simpler terms to schools. She recently met with several students who have been reading her book as part of their curriculum, giving them a more comprehensive insight into what it was like during the Holocaust.

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The number of people on ventilators currently stands on 118. In total, 167 patients are in serious condition and 145 in moderate condition. Some 3,247 Israelis have recovered from COVID-19. 

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Wolfson Medical Center in Holon reported that a 76-year-old woman with pre-existing conditions passed away. The woman was from a nursing home in Jaffa that has already had eight confirmed cases.

A 66-year-old Haifa man who was hospitalized one month ago also passed away Friday morning after being on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma. 

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem reported that an 84-year-old woman with pre-existing conditions passed away Thursday evening. A 96-year-old woman with pre-existing conditions passed away at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera.

On Thursday, the Israel National Security Council reported a decrease in the number of tests administered to detect the coronavirus: On Wednesday 9,269 tests were administered, compared to 11,718 on Tuesday.

The government could begin taking steps to ease the restrictions on the public on Sunday, reviving some of the country's economic activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes the final decision on the matter on Saturday night. 

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In a cabinet meeting on Thursday, most ministers said they were in favor of reopening the economy, at least gradually. The only attendees who sided with maintaining restrictions in place, with only slight adjustments, were Health Ministry representatives. Throughout the discussion, Netanyahu almost entirely refrained from taking a position. 

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The meeting was held with the help of the Zoom application, with some of the ministers attending from the cabinet room in the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, others from the Defense Ministry's Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv, and Netanyahu himself from an adjacent room at the PMO.

The prime minister accepted the National Security Council's recommendation. The recommendation was formulated with the help of a team of experts headed by Prof. Eli Waxman from the Weizmann Institute of Science, which integrated and balanced the positions of the health, finance, economy and defense ministries respectively. 

The prime minister decided to opt for a cautious, responsible and phased plan that will consist of opening businesses on a limited and measured basis. The Finance Ministry will formulate a pilot plan for several commercial industries that could reopen, subject to Health Ministry guidelines and certain criteria. Additionally, sports activities will be permitted for up to two people at a time and up to 500 yards from their homes, as will individual special education.

Over the next 48 hours, the professional teams will prepare proposals and map out industries that could participate in the pilot, along with detailed protocols for businesses and companies looking to reopen and behavioral guidelines for the public. Changes could be made in accordance with discussions that will be ongoing over the next two days.

With respect to recent discussions, the prime minister cautioned that any plan must be "gradual and responsible." The PMO said in a statement that the NSC "spoke with many countries across the globe on the matter [of easing quarantine restrictions] and learned about the various challenges and proposals. The prime minister and other ministers have been presented with all the alternatives throughout the discussions."

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said at Thursday's meeting that the economy must be revived as soon as possible and presented his own plan to that end. He stressed there was an urgent need to appoint a "national project manager with full authority to establish a mechanism for testing, researching and disseminating information."

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri presented a similar position and said, "We need to ease the quarantine and allow the economy to slowly return to normal. There are optimistic figures and we must let certain industries go back to work. I am very much in favor of lifting restrictions. However, we also need legislation requiring people to wear protective masks and gloves and to enforce it, in contrast to what is happening now. People who go into the public sphere without masks and gloves need to be fined. Easing the quarantine and the return to work must be done with a great deal of caution."

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, said: "We don't need to wait until we drop to 100 or fewer new patients per day to ease the quarantine. The standard should mainly be the number of patients in critical condition, and in that regard, the number has dropped significantly; therefore we need, and can, start lifting restrictions immediately."

Erdan added that the greatest concern was the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. 

"The two million people who will be fasting over the upcoming month traditionally break that fast every evening with large feasts, and what we decide here will affect the atmosphere and level of obedience from that perspective as well. This is why the most important thing over the next few days is to invest in dialogue with the Arab leadership in Israel because this month could precipitate large infection outbreaks that will necessitate a return to quarantine. Public relations and dialogue and of course enforcement  [are imperative] in conjunction with the Arab municipalities," he said. 

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There are around 16,000 nonprofit organizations in Israel. They employ hundreds of thousands of people – accounting for 16% of Israel's labor force –  and account for 6% of Israel's GDP.

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Following three national elections and in the absence of a national budget for 2020, the nonprofit sector has been operating under conditions of uncertainty that have affected its ability to provide even basic services. The COVID-19 shutdown has only increased this uncertainty and drops in the stock market are expected to affect the private donors and foundations, upon whom the organizations rely for their fundraising. 

Since the beginning of March, tens of thousands of nonprofit organization employees have been laid off. There has been a surge in the number of organizations seeking emergency loans. This includes nonprofits that serve Israel's most vulnerable: At-risk youth, battered women, the elderly, people with disabilities, populations with special needs and more.

The Emergency Fund for Nonprofits program includes provisions for immediate loans at a 3% interest rate, as well as loans of up to 400,000 NIS ($112,000) for up to 60 months, with a six-month grace period. Both with no requirement for guarantors. The loans can be applied for via a simple online process. 

In addition, Ogen is also offering bridge loans payable within 12 months, secured against government agreements, grants or other non-government funding commitments.

"The special terms for these loans were made possible by generous support from Bob and Trudy Gottesman, Lillian and Moris Tabacinic, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Federations of New York, Greater Miami, Detroit and Pittsburgh, and by Israeli supporters the Migdal Group, Boaz Raam and Shuki Ehrlich," the Jewish Agency said. 

Applications for loans are available via the Ogen website, www.ogen.org. Phone inquiries regarding loans should be made at 02-530-0780.

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Amikam and Appel saw couples getting married in micro-ceremonies, some of which included only the bride, groom, and an officiant. The couple decided that this was not the route for them. Instead, the couple went ahead and got married in front of 150 guests – via the Zoom video conferencing app.

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The ceremony included the chuppah (bridal canopy), the ceremony, and the traditional smashing of a glass, as well as a reception.

Bride Nofar said of her wedding: "Originally, we had planned a family wedding, but when the coronavirus broke out, we realized that we wouldn't be able to have an in-person wedding any time soon. We decided to organize a wedding quickly – before a total lockdown would be declared – and luckily our wedding planner from the 'Havaya' center, our families, and friends went along with the idea. We had a special, moving wedding."

Inbal Oren, deputy CEO of the Israel Hofshit-Be Free Israel movement, who manages the movement's Havaya center, said, "Even in the time of corona, under strict directives, couples are opting not to stop the surge that has taken place in Israeli celebrations in recent years. They are choosing to marry in creative ways, as their hearts see fit." 

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"Please come help us in New York now," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as the state's death toll climbed by more than 250 people in a day to a total of over 1,200, most of them in the city. He said an additional 1 million health care workers are needed to tackle the crisis.

"We've lost over 1,000 New Yorkers," Cuomo said. "To me, we're beyond staggering already. We've reached staggering."

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Even before the governor's appeal, close to 80,000 former nurses, doctors and other professionals were stepping up to volunteer. A Navy hospital ship – which was also sent to the city after 9/11 – arrived with 1,000 beds to relieve pressure on overwhelmed hospitals.

"Whatever it is that they need, I'm willing to do," said Jerry Kops, a musician and former nurse whose tour with the show Blue Man Group was abruptly halted by the outbreak.

He returned to his Long Island home, where he volunteered to be a nurse again. While waiting to be reinstated, Kops has been helping at an assisted-living home near his house in Shirley, N.Y.

The spike in deaths in New York was another sign of the long fight ahead against the global pandemic, which was filling Spain's intensive care beds and shutting millions of Americans inside even as the crisis in China – where the outbreak began in December – keeps easing.

More than 235 million people – about two of every three Americans – live in the 33 states where governors have declared statewide orders or recommendations to stay home.

In California, officials put out a similar call for medical volunteers as coronavirus hospitalizations doubled over the last four days and the number of patients in intensive care tripled.

"Challenging times are ahead for the next 30 days, and this is a very vital 30 days," President Donald Trump told reporters. "The more we dedicate ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis."

Meanwhile, in Europe, hard-hit Italy and Spain saw their death tolls climb by more than 800 each, but the World Health Organization's emergency chief said cases there were "potentially stabilizing." At the same time, he warned against letting up on tough containment measures.

"We have to now push the virus down, and that will not happen by itself," Dr. Michael Ryan said.

More than three-quarters of a million people worldwide have become infected and over 37,000 have died, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

The US reported more than 160,000 infections and over 3,000 deaths, with New York City the nation's worst hot spot. New Orleans, Detroit, and other cities also had alarming clusters.

"Anyone who says this situation is a New York City only situation is in a state of denial," Cuomo said. "You see this virus move across the state. You see this virus move across the nation. There is no American who is immune to this virus."

Some hospitals are now parking refrigerated trailers outside their doors to collect the dead. At two Brooklyn hospitals, videos posted by bystanders and a medical employee showed workers in masks and gowns loading bodies onto trailers from gurneys on the sidewalk.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US government's top infectious-disease expert, also warned that smaller cities are likely about to see cases "take off" the way they have in New York City.

"What we've learned from painful experience with this outbreak is that it goes along almost on a straight line, then a little acceleration, acceleration, then it goes way up," he said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

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One of the women, in her 50s, had a prior medical history and had been attached to life support at Sheba Medical Center in central Israel for the past week following cardiac and respiratory failure. 

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"She was hospitalized two weeks ago, and doctors fought for her life for over a week," said a hospital spokesperson. "Her condition worsened and, unfortunately, she passed away last night."

"We see a daily increase in the number of patients in serious condition, among them younger patients with no underlying conditions. There aren't many of them here, but they do exist," the spokesperson added.

The other victim, Tamar Peretz Levy, 49, from the central Israeli city of Lod, passed away overnight Monday at Shamir Medical Center near Tel Aviv. She had also suffered from previous medical issues. Levy, now the country's youngest coronavirus fatality, is survived by four-year-old twins. Her husband died of heart failure seven months after their birth.

Levy's sister-in-law has promised to take care of the twins. 

Lod Mayor Yair Revivo said most of Levy's relatives are currently in quarantine. Peretz herself had been hospitalized since last Thursday.

"Tamar was a hero, an engineer at Alta in the aerospace industry, who fought for many years to have a family and bring the twins into the world," Revivo said in a Facebook post.

As of Tuesday morning, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel was 4,831 – among them 95 in moderate condition and 83 in critical condition. Of those, 69 patients are on ventilators. Meanwhile, 163 Israelis have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and have been released home from hospitals.

On Tuesday, the Health Ministry urged Israelis to use makeshift protective masks, such as wrapping material around one's face, rather than stocking up on surgical masks amid a worldwide shortage.

Ministry Director Moshe Bar Siman-Tov said the ministry will release guidelines to the public on when and how to don masks.

"We're not telling the public to go around with surgical masks," he said, explaining that a piece of material would suffice.

The Health Ministry also said that Jerusalem has the most virus cases in the country, followed by Bnei Brak. Tel Aviv is in third place, with 278 cases.

On Tuesday morning, a 34-year-old patient attempted to escape a coronavirus ward at Tiberias's Poriya Hospital by jumping out of a third-floor window.

According to reports, the patient was in mild condition prior to his jump, which resulted in serious injuries that will require surgery. He was initially admitted to the hospital following a period of quarantine and had spoken to social workers several times, Channel 12 reported.

"We are repeatedly alerted to the serious mental consequences that may occur following the outbreak of the virus," Dr. Zvi Fishel, head of the Israel Psychiatric Association, said in a statement carried by the network.

Meanwhile, since last week, there has been a consistent decline in the rate of coronavirus infections in Israel, Prof. Gabi Barabash, former director of the Health Ministry and former director of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv told Channel 12 News.

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to self-quarantine after a parliamentary aide tested positive for the virus.

The prime minister later tested negative for COVID-19.

In a televised address issued prior to his test result, Netanyahu noted that "this evening I am speaking to you from the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem. Even though my medical tests have still not concluded, I have decided to enter into voluntary quarantine in order to set a personal example. The cameraman is six meters away," he said, adding, "I am continuing to work from home."

Israel will spend 80 billion shekels ($22 billion) to help the economy weather the coronavirus crisis and on Monday Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that he expects a gradual return of business activity after the Passover holiday next month. 

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According to the data: 24% of patients were contaminated while going to the places of prayer, while 5% caught the virus in yeshivot (centers of Talmudic studies). Other contamination hotspots include hotels (15% of infections), restaurants (12%) and supermarkets (7%). 

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In light of these figures, pressure has increased on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to ban prayers in the country's synagogues. 

At present, the Chief Rabbinate has prohibited gatherings of more than ten people in places of worship while stressing that the faithful should keep a distance of two meters between them and that confined areas should be ventilated. 

Several prominent rabbinical figures, including the religious-Zionist Tzohar Rabbinical Organization and Itim religious services advisory group, have declared themselves in favor of the total shuttering of places of worship – believing that the protection of public health is an obligation. 

Director of the Itim religious services advisory group Rabbi Seth Farber stressed that Judaism places the duty to save lives above all other commandments.

Faced with the spread of the pandemic, certain synagogues in the country have started to organize online services via the Zoom platform. 

The Chief Rabbinate has called for a day of fasting and prayer on Wednesday, March 25.  

This article was originally published by i24NEWS

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Governor of the Bank of Israel Professor Amir Yaron said that Israel would spend 90 billion shekels ($25 billion) to battle the corona crisis "in a short-term scenario," or 130 billion shekels "in a longer-term scenario."

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"Without health, there is no economy, but without an economy, there will be no health."

Yaron went on to explain that the extent of the economic blow would depend on government policies.

"I am in daily contact with the prime minister. Right now, the ball is in the Knesset's hands, and I am calling on the MKs to rise above political considerations," the governor said.

"This is the time to support businesses. To enable businesses to recover once the restrictions are lifted, we have to help the people who have been hurt and the ones who have been laid off," he added.

For now, the Bank of Israel has not lowered the interest rate, unlike many other countries, but on Tuesday Yaron said: "If things get worse in the financial markets, the Bank of Israel has additional monetary tools that it will not hesitate to employ." 

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