Coronavirus Updates

The Israeli Health Ministry reports that over the last day, 763 new patients have confirmed diagnoses of coronavirus infection. The number of active patients is 24,554, and the death toll has risen to 600.

New Zealand on Sunday marked 100 days without recording a new coronavirus case. Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield cautioned against complacency despite the achievement, saying: “We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand.”

Qatar’s coronavirus recovery stands at 97.15%, according to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker. Out of 112,650 total cases, 109,438 patients have recovered, with 182 total deaths as of Sunday.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday signed executive orders extending unemployment payments into next year for the millions of Americans out of a job due to the coronavirus pandemic. The extra $400 per week is less than the $600 passed by Congress earlier in the crisis. The president also signed an order to suspend the collection of payroll taxes for those making less than $100,000 annually.

The United States on Saturday passed the 5 million mark for total coronavirus cases, according to a Reuters news agency tally.

Israel will begin human trials in October on a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Thursday’s announcement was made by Defense Minister Benny Gantz during a visit to the Israel Institute of Biological Research in Ness Ziona, where he met with its director, Prof. Shmuel Shapira, for an update on vaccine progress.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday revised their list of COVID-19 travel recommendations, downgrading the risk level for 20 countries and territories.