Of these, 203,332 people have died as of Sunday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
One in four were in the U.S., which tragically has seen some 54,265 deaths.
The economic toll has been devastating, and social and political pressure is building on governments to re-open society rather than risk total economic collapse.
That said, Israel is faring far better than most countries — indeed, one might say it is leading the league in terms of containing the virus and saving lives.
Why does is Israel’s death toll 35 times smaller than Belgium’s? An analysis published this morning by The Jerusalem Post notes the reasonis in large part because Israel’s government responded to the threat much faster, imposing an escalating series of ever-tighter lockdowns, quarantines, business closures and restrictions on social interaction than Belgium or most other countries.
Based on the early trends experts were seeing, if Israel hadn’t acted fast, “today we’d have over 600,000 people [sick], over 10,000 on ventilators, and many thousands who would have ended their lives,” noted Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, director-general of Israel’s Health Ministry, specifically comparing the situation with Belgium.
Consider another comparison.
The State of Georgia in the U.S. has a population of some 10.6 million, also making it comparable in size to Israel.
for all those who are suffering in Israel, the U.S. and all over the world that the Lord would heal and comfort them
for all those who have lost a loved one, that the Lord would comfort them
for all those struggling with fear and anxiety to turn to the Lord for comfort and the Bible for answers
for protection and strength for all health care workers and first responders
for wisdom for our national leaders to know how best to contain/defeat the virus
for pastors to continue teaching the Word of God with clarity and compassion, and to know how best to minister to people with church doors closed
for all those who have lost their jobs and all who are struggling financially, and for the economy to recover quickly
for The Joshua Fund team to have both the wisdom and financial resources to continue investing in, strengthening and encouraging vital ministries in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the neighboring Arab countries