Interesting Psak: fasting on Tisha B'Av

Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau paskened that this year on Tisha B'Av, because of the expected extreme heat along with the issues of CoronaVirus, sme people should not be fasting.

Rav Lau said that anyone who has tested positive for CoronaVirus must not fast, even if he feels fine

Anyone with fever above 38C must not fast.

Anyone with symptoms of CoronaVirus such as weakness, lack of smell, coughing, etc, must not fast

Anyone n the process of recovering from CoronaVirus must not fast

Anyone who has already recovered form CoronaVirus but still feels weak must not fast

Anyone in quarantine but with symptoms, must fast. if he feels any weakness he should drink bshiurin (37ml of water every 9 minutes). If he gets weaker he should eat as regular

Everyone should be extra cautious regarding hygiene including washing hands with soap and using alcogel

Anyone who is not supposed to fast should not even start the fast and should eat regularly

Anyone instructed to eat should eat only one dish per meal, and only eat what is necessary

Even if not fasting, all other customs of mourning should be kept

This year because of the need to minimize the time spent out in public and the extreme heat expected, the saying of kinos should be kept to a minimum. Kinos can be said in private and it is not necessary to say them in shul. In public the only kinos to be said are "Shabbos Suru Mimeni", "tzion Halo Tishali", and "Eli Tzion", The rest can/should be said at home privately.

Be healthy and may our mourning turn to joy.

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