In public warning, Health Ministry director says infection rate rose to 6%
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| Health minister warnin |
Health Ministry director general Chezy Levy speaks during a press conference at the Health Ministry in Jerusalem on July 13, 2020. (Screen capture/YouTube)
Report by Top New Global News
Chezy Levy says Coronavirus Committee decision to reverse government’s shutting of gyms, pools regrettable, asserts his office looking to avoid having to order statewide lockdown.
Likud bulldog vows ‘disciplinary measures’ against Shasha-Biton; stops short of calling for her axing
Likud coalition whip Miki Zohar says he just finished a conversation with Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, during which he decided to take “disciplinary measures” against Coronavirus Committee chairwoman Yifat Shasha-Biton, after she voted to reverse the government’s decision to shutter gyms and pools.
For the time being, legislative proposals will not be put before Shasha-Biton’s committee for debate, Zohar says. It is not clear what authority the Likud whip has to strip the panel of its authority.
However, Zohar notably has dropped any mention of removing Shasha-Biton from her post.
WHO says no return to normality for ‘foreseeable future’
The World Health Organization warns that there could be no return to normality any time soon, as too many countries have been bungling their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In light of a daily record of 230,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the WHO on Sunday, the UN health agency says that the pandemic is only going to get worse, unless people stick to the basics of physical distancing, handwashing, and wearing masks.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that countries that have been easing their way out of lockdowns are now witnessing a resurgence of the virus because they were not following proven methods to reduce risk.
“I want to be straight with you: there will be no return to the ‘old normal’ for the foreseeable future,” Tedros tells a virtual news briefing.
“Let me blunt: too many countries are headed in the wrong direction.”
“The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many governments and people do not reflect this.”
He says mixed messages from leaders have been undermining trust.
If governments do not roll out a comprehensive strategy to suppress transmission of the virus, and if populations do not follow basic public health principles, “there is only one way this pandemic is going to go,” he says.
“It’s going to get worse and worse and worse.”
The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 570,000 people and infected more than 12.9 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
“Although the number of daily deaths remains relatively stable, there is a lot to be concerned about,” says Tedros.
He says there were four scenarios playing out around the world.
They are: countries that were alert and avoided large outbreaks, those that got a major outbreak under control, those that eased restrictions and are now backsliding, and those that are in an intense transmission phase.
Tedros says the epicenter of the virus remains the Americas.
Yesh Atid MK realizes he’s addressing wrong protest midway through speech
Yesh Atid-Telem MK Moshe Ya’alon speaks passionately in favor of the social workers protesting outside the Knesset, only to find out that he is addressing a different demonstration of deaf activists.
The sign language interpreter signals to Ya’alon that he is talking to the wrong crowd and the lawmaker does his best to smile the gaffe off before speaking on the importance of recognizing the rights of Israel’s differently abled citizens.
Days before scolding panel chair for voting to reopen gyms, Miki Zohar claimed to support move
Footage has emerged from a Saturday evening interview that Miki Zohar gave to Channel 12, in which the Likud coalition whip can be heard voicing his opposition to the government’s decision to shutter gyms.
Zohar can be heard saying that the gyms have been operating carefully, according to government guidelines and have the capacity of remaining open without risking a major outbreak.
Gantz announces 3 classified military projects are winners of Israel’s security prize
Defense Minister Benny Gantz announces this year’s recipients of Israel’s top security prize: three classified projects involving the military, Mossad spy agency, Shin Bet security service, Defense Ministry and defense contractors.
In addition, a lifetime achievement award was presented to a senior Mossad officer who can only be identified by the first Hebrew letter of his name: Aleph.
The nature of the projects that won the prize this year remain largely classified.
One was led by the Mossad, the Rafael defense contractor, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israel Defense Force’ visual intelligence Unit 9900. Another winner was a project led by the Israeli Aerospace Industries, with assistance from the IAF, Defense Ministry’s research-and-development department, Rafael, and the Elbit Systems defense contractor. The third project to receive the award this year was a joint effort by the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence.
In addition, “Aleph” of the Mossad will receive a lifetime achievement award for his “years-long contribution to the security of the state and for his initiative [in developing] many technological solutions, while displaying outstanding talent, creativity, curiosity and courage,” the ministry says.
In public warning, Health Ministry director says infection rate rose to 6%
Health Ministry director Chezy Levy warns that Israel is in the midst of a growing wave of infections, with the number of seriously ill patients climbing to 183 — 54 of whom are on ventilators.
Since midnight, there have been 932 new confirmed cases, he says during a press conference at the Health Ministry.
He says his office has increased testing to 27,000-28,000 a day, but it has still resulted in a roughly 6% infection rate.
“I am worried about the increase in numbers, and I am not sure we all understand just how significant the increase has been,” he says.
Levy says he regrets the decision by the Knesset’s Coronavirus Committee to reverse the government’s shuttering of gyms and pools, adding that he will work to limit its scope as much as possible.
The Health Ministry director says he’s still working to appoint a “coronavirus commander” to lead the government’s effort to combat the pandemic but that talks with former Central Command head Roni Numa ended with no agreement.
“We need to understand the degree of infection we’re currently seeing. When there was a recurrence in other countries their government ordered shutdowns. We want to avoid having to do that,” he says.