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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday evening (Thursday, 16 July 2020), convened the Cabinet to discuss and decide on interim steps to prevent a general lockdown in light of the sharp increase in the morbidity of the coronavirus.

For the Prime Minister's remarks at the start of the meeting, please click here.

The Cabinet decided on the following restrictions – which were approved as an order to amend and uphold the validity of "Emergency Regulations (Restricted Activity) -- on the recommendation of the Health Ministry and the National Security Council:

The order takes effect at 17:00 today (Friday, 17 July 2020). Pending Knesset approval, and pursuant to law, the restrictions will take effect today as per the above.

General restrictions (seven days a week, effective at 17:00 today, Friday):

* Closure of gyms and studios for exercise or dance, except for use by competitive athletes, as defined in the order.

* Restaurants and eateries – takeaway and delivery only, no on-site seating.

* Restaurants and eateries in hotels – The number of people present will be limited to 35% of the maximum number allowed in order to permit the continued operation of the hotel.

Weekend restrictions (to take effect from 17:00 on Fridays until 05:00 on Sunday)

* There will be no restriction on leaving one's home.

* During the weekend, being on beaches shall be prohibited (except for this weekend, 17-18 July, when beaches shall remain open).

* During the weekend, stores, malls, open-air markets, hair salons/barbershops, beauty parlors, libraries, petting zoos, museums and display spaces, pools, tourist attractions and cable cars shall be closed.

This restriction shall not apply to stores providing essential services: Places for the sale of food, pharmacies and stores most business of which is the sale of hygiene products, opticians and labs for the repair of communications devices.

This restriction shall not apply to swimming pools at hotels that are designated for hotel guests only in order to allow hotels to provide the main ancillary services to their guests, during weekends as well).

In addition to the Cabinet decision and pursuant to the policy of reducing gatherings, the following actions were agreed on:

1. The Health Ministry Director General will sign an order prohibiting gatherings that will allow up to 10 people to meet in closed areas and up to 20 people in open areas (except places of work and nuclear families). This will take effect at 17:00 today (Friday, 17 July).

2. The Cabinet authorized the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister / Alternate Prime Minister – following consultation with the ministers of Finance, Health and Education – to decide regarding restrictions on the education system. The decisions, upon being made, will be issued to the public.

3. Reduction of reception at government ministries – transition to online services (subject to legislative changes where appropriate).

4. Government ministries: Reduction to 50% presence in ministries – responsibility of the Civil Service Commissioner and the Finance Ministry Wages Director.

5. Closure of dining rooms at places of work – takeaway service only.

 

Violation of any of the above restrictions shall constitute a criminal offense.

 

Photo Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (archive). Photo: GPO/Amos Ben Gershom. 

 

 

 

 

 

PM Netanyahu Convenes Corona Cabinet for Further Discussion of Necessary Restrictions in Light of High Morbidity Data

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Monday, 29 June 2020), convened the Corona Cabinet for further discussion of the necessary restrictions in light of the high morbidity data.

The Corona Cabinet ministers decided unanimously on the following steps to restrict social gatherings:

* Event halls and cultural events: Up to 250 in attendance

* Circumcisions and funerals: Up to 50 in attendance

* Weddings:

Until 9 July 2020 – Up to 250 in attendance.

The public and hall owners are called upon to hold weddings in open spaces as much as possible.

From 9-31 July 2020, up to 250 in attendance in an open area. Indoor venues may be used up to 50% capacity and no more than 100 people.

* Houses of worship and other gatherings – up to 50 people.

* Higher education – Transition to online exams (except for instances agreed to between the Education Ministry and the Council for Higher Education.

* Work in the public sector – 30% work from home (as per the arrangements to be determined by the Civil Service Commissioner and with administrative flexibility for ministry director generals).

 
 Photo Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (archive). Photo: GPO/Amos Ben Gershom
 
 

 

 

 

 

Technion scientists mobilized in the worldwide effort to find solutions for the current global health crisis

Researchers in more than 20 Technion labs are working round the clock to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Their research includes early detection and diagnosis of the virus, development of a vaccine and therapies, and designing robotic solutions for remote monitoring and care of patients.

“Technion is at the forefront of science and technology worldwide, and during this time of crisis, we are collaborating closely with the health system and the hospitals in order to find immediate solutions to the challenges they are facing,” said Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan. “We are working on advanced diagnostic techniques, personalized medical treatment, technologies that enable pinpointed drug delivery, treatment protocols based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, data mining and Big Data management, developing robots for remote medical care, and more. Technion’s added value is apparent in the close interaction between medicine and engineering at our university, and in the interdisciplinary collaborations that are generating rapid and sophisticated solutions to help fight COVID-19.”

 

Technion emergency projects include:

Diagnostics

Prof. Hossam Haick, Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering: His lab is developing a diagnostic test for pre-symptomatic coronavirus carriers. Research focuses on two approaches: diagnosing the virus with a breath test, and monitoring the virus with an inexpensive patch adhered to the arm or chest.
Prof. Roy Kishony, Faculty of Biology: Pooling method for accelerated testing of COVID-19.
Prof. Amit Meller, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering: Identifying and quantifying viral RNA using nanopores.
Prof. Moran Bercovici, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Innovative and rapid diagnostic test using blood and saliva.


Vaccine development

Prof. Avi Schroeder, Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering: Developing a vaccine for coronavirus based on a vaccine for shrimps, he invented at Technion – and is being commercialized by his Technion start-up ViAqua Therapeutics.
Prof. Zaid Abassi and Prof. Oded Lewinson, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine: Prof. Lewinson is developing recombinant ACE-2 receptors in collaboration with Prof. Ofer Mandelboim of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The aim is to develop antibodies for ACE-2 receptors on which the coronavirus attaches itself to the host organism’s cells.


Therapeutics

· Prof. Josué Sznitman, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering: Innovative technology for delivering drugs to the lungs. Especially suitable for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the principal cause of death among coronavirus patients.

Prof. Roee Amit, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering: Developing an ointment to treat coronavirus infections.
Prof. Marcelle Machluf, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering: Trapping the coronavirus using the existing nano-ghost technology developed in her lab.
Prof. Avi Schroeder, Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering: Developing a targeted drug for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), based on existing drug delivery methods.


Aids for medical teams

Prof. Eyal Zussman, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Developing filters and coatings using nanometric fibers.
Prof. Yotam Bar-On, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine: Virologist specializing in COVID-19 – expert advice to medical teams.
Prof. Shai Shen-Orr, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine: Identifying infected individuals based on their immune response; monitoring disease progression and complications in infected individuals; triage for the aged population and predict those with higher risk of complications or death. Additional collaboration is to develop rapid cell-based diagnostics for infections.

Prof. Shady Farah, Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering: Developing anti-viral disinfectants.
Prof. Shie Mannor, Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering: Artificial Intelligence research to evaluate the patients' condition and the progress of the disease, in collaboration with Prof. Uri Shalit, Davidson Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management and Prof. Joachim Behar, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering.
Prof. Alex Bronstein, Faculty of Computer Science is developing ultrasound for lung imaging. The researchers are adapting inexpensive ultrasound sensors in order to identify infections in the lungs caused by the coronavirus. Prof. Ron Kimmel, Faculty of Computer Science and Doron Shaked of General Electric are collaborating on this project.
Prof. Ezri Tarazi, Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning: Design and produce novel protective equipment for medical personnel using 3D printing; establishing a national network of designers who will plan and produce products for immediate use in the COVID-19 crisis.


In addition, Technion researchers and Rambam Health Care Campus medical staff are working together in high gear on numerous emergency projects. This collaboration is led by Technion VP for External Relations and Resource Development Prof. Alon Wolf, Rambam Director-General Prof. Michael Halberthal and former Rambam Director-General Prof. Rafi Beyar

 

 http://www.technion.ac.il/

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An exciting gesture of the Jewish community in Porto to the state of Israel: The Jewish Community of Oporto, Portugal, will donate all proceeds from the Video On Demand film "The Light of Judah" to the Food Bank of Israel.

Supported by B’Nai B’rith International and in memory of Shimon Reem Biton, who died on Ethiopian Airlines flight 302.

Available with Hebrew subtitles and produced by Portuguese director Luís Ismael, The Light of Judah is based on true events, portraying the historic relationship between Jews and Catholics in the Middle Ages, during the Inquisition and in modern times, from the expulsion to the return of citizenship for Sephardic Jews.

The film is part of an interfaith project, in conjunction with the Catholic Diocese of Oporto, to fight anti-Semitism. This initiative has received financial and practical support from Jewish philanthropic families as well as B'nai B'rith International.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in the demand for meals from people who have lost their jobs as a result of the global economic downturn.

 

 

Today in the Bishop’s Apostolic Palace, the film and project were presented by the leadership of the Jewish Community of Oporto, headed by the President of the Jewish Community of Oporto, Dias Ben Zion, and the Catholic Bishop of Porto, Dom Manuel Linda. Also attending: the President of the Jewish Community of Lisbon, a Councilman from Porto Municipality, the president of the Food Bank of Porto, and the three catholic charities who will also receive the proceeds from the Portuguese viewings of the film. At the presentation, Prof. Hugo Vaz and Michael Rothwell – from the Community's history Centre – made a brief summary of the film and there will be a moment of remembrance for the memory of Shimon Reem Biton.

On March 10, 2019, a Boeing 737-Max crashed in Ethiopia, causing the death of 157 people, including Shimon Reem Biton, a Sephardic Jew of Moroccan origin, who was in the process of obtaining Portuguese nationality. Even after this disaster, the deceased's sister wanted to fulfill his wish to be Portuguese, but then it was too late.  This way the name of Shimon Reem Biton will be forever associated with the film "The Light of Judah”. According to his sister, Yaffa Biton, “Shimon was born on June 2nd, so this is the best birthday present our family can receive”.


B'nai B'rith President Charles O. Kaufman said, "B'nai B'rith endorses its brothers' and sisters' stalwart efforts in Oporto to fight hunger in this beautiful city and Israel in the face of hardships associated with COVID-19. The Jewish community in Oporto is working in the tradition and spirit of emergency services in which our organization has engaged since its founding in 1843. We have proudly promoted and executed recent pandemic relief services throughout the world." 

From the board of the Jewish community of Oporto, Gabriela Cantergi said, "We are proud of the work that many people and organizations are doing around the world to remedy this pandemic situation and serve humanity and encourage others to help."

The Bishop, Dom Manuel Linda and the President of the Jewish Community of Oporto, Dias Ben Zion.  

Photos Courtesy: CJP/CIP

 

 

 

 

The Cabinet has approved emergency regulations to reduce the spread of the corona virus in Israel. These include a further limiting of going out into the public sphere, the imposition of restrictions on public transportation and more.

 

The Cabinet, last night, approved emergency regulations to limit activity in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Israel. The regulations include a further limiting of going out into the public sphere, the placing of responsibility on employers, the closure of non-essential shops and the imposition of restrictions on public transportation.

The regulations will take effect at 17:00 today (Wednesday, 25 March 2020), for a period of seven days.

According to the new emergency regulations, it will not be permitted to leave one's place of residence or regular domicile and go into the public sphere except or one of the following actions or objectives:

1) An employee going to permitted work, according to the regulations

2) Purchasing food, medicines, essential products and receiving essential services

3) Receiving medical treatment

4) Donating blood

5) Legal proceedings

6) Demonstrations

7) Going to the Knesset

8) Receiving treatment by social services


9) An individual or people who live in the same residence may leave said residence for a short time but may not venture more than 100 meters from said residence.

10) Providing medical assistance to a person in distress or who needs assistance

11) Prayer in an open space, funerals, weddings or circumcisions and women going to immerse in a mikveh provided her arrival is coordinated in advance.

12) Taking a minor to a designated educational framework (as per health regulations) for the children of essential workers

13) Transferring a minor, whose parents live apart, by one parent to the home of the other parent

14) Transferring a minor, when the parent responsible for him or her must attend to an essential need and when there is no one at the place of residence to assume responsibility for the minor

It was also decided to reduce public transportation to 25% of what currently prevails, as per the directives of the Ministry of Health.


Taxi services will be permitted for one passenger only or an additional accompanying person for medical treatment. Passengers will sit in the back; the windows of the vehicle shall be open.

The regulations stipulate that in the public sphere and in workplaces, a distance of at least two meters shall be maintained between individuals. Essential travel in private vehicles shall be limited to two passengers. Transportation to places of work shall be permitted subject to the limitations.

It is further determined that employers shall be responsible for taking temperatures at the entrance to the workplace. Anyone whose body temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or higher shall not be allowed to enter.

Food and newspaper delivery services shall be allowed to operate as will be essential services for home maintenance, electronic goods, communications services and medical devices. Online sales with home delivery is permitted for all types of products. Delivery personnel shall place the delivered items outside the door of the residence.


Businesses that sell food for consumption outside the premises where it is prepared and which is sent by delivery service only, pharmacies, optometrists or any shop the main occupation of which is the sale of hygiene products, will operate while maintaining a distance of two meters between individuals and preventing crowding. At no time will there be more than four customers per active cashier in the shop.


It is determined that violating the prohibitions will constitute a criminal offense; violators shall be subject to administrative fine. The regulations provide the police with the authority to enforce these instructions.

The final wording of the emergency regulations shall be published forthwith upon the completion of the necessary corrections by the relevant professional authorities.

In addition to the above, it will be underscored that there is a mutual need to adhere to the rules in order to defeat the spread of the virus. Individuals aged 60 and over, especially the elderly and at-risk groups, must remain at home and avoid risking themselves by going out.