The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel virus, originated in Wuhan, China before rapidly spreading around the world.
COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease, with a high rate of transmissibility. Symptoms of infection include fever, joint and muscle aches, respiratory distress, loss of the sense of taste, cognitive fog, fatigue, sore throat, and more. Senior citizens are most at risk of dying from the disease, though secondary pre-existing conditions like obesity can make some patients more susceptible to danger. In severe cases, patients undergo respiratory distress and require intubation on ventilators.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, governments have initiated several policies to prevent spread. Many countries have severely restricted flights or entry into their state, with some like Israel adopting color systems to rank the risk posed by each destination. Contact tracing has become the norm, with citizens being obligated to quarantine after they have come into contact with an infected person. Social distancing and mask mandates have also become popular in many countries to prevent spread of infection. Early in the pandemic, lockdowns were used to prevent interaction between the public, in a severe attempt to halt transmission. Perhaps most controversial were the introduction of coronavirus passports, which would allow vaccinated citizens to move freely with a new form of ID. Critics assert that coronavirus passports represent an extreme violation of liberties.
There is an ongoing debate as to the origin of the coronavirus. Initially, it was accepted that the coronavirus originated in a wet market in Wuhan, China, within bats sold as food. However, it has been suggested that the virus may have originated from a virus research lab in Wuhan.
Several pharmaceutical companies have developed innovative mRNA vaccines to counter the coronavirus. Pfizer, Biontech, Astrazeneca, Moderna, Sinopharm and others have produced vaccines, however there is ongoing debate about their efficacy against new strains of the virus. Other pharmaceutical companies have developed treatments and drugs to alleviate and combat coronavirus symptoms.
The coronavirus is prone to mutations, and has already produced several well known variants, including the Delta and Lambda strains. The pandemic and virus may also colloquially be known as corona and COVID.
A Brazilian hospital chain tested unproven drugs on elderly COVID-19 patients without their knowledge as part of an effort to validate President Jair Bolsonaro's preferred 'miracle cure.'
The broad unemployment rate in Israel reached 7.8 percent in the second half of August — An improvement for the first half of August, but a decline from July.
Rapid corona tests have one considerable benefit. This is what you need to know:
The Israeli volunteer organization stated the "helplessness" of the Health Ministry is why the aid is desperately needed.
This September marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The event did nothing to assuage my nervousness when it comes to flying.
Moments of crisis provoke within us some of the deepest questions. We can try to ignore these gnawing questions; pretend they don’t exist, or seek truth.
Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron was just 14 months on the job when the corona pandemic began. He looks back at the management of the crisis, and projects optimism about Israel’s economy.
The survey also showed that 94% of consumers in Israel buy pasta; 44% eat pasta between two to three times a week and 25% eat it once a week.
Nitzan Horowitz says former PM responsible for hospitals’ lack of resources, vows to fix • Green Pass eligibility changes Oct. 3, past 6-month recovery will need a booster shot.
A study conducted at the Sheba Medical Center using big data shows low immune response in such patients after two shots, but preliminary observations after the booster offer cause for optimism.
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