As the community struggles to deal with the spread of Coronavirus, schedule changes and school closures, it’s important to stay calm, be well informed and follow the advice of professionals.
The OU has launched a page on their website to keep the community updated with the latest guidelines and will update the page regularly. The information can be found here https://www.ou.org/covid19/. Experts advise that if you have no symptoms and have had no contact with someone who has tested positive, you should go about your business and there is no need to restrict your activity. Remain vigilant and if you develop a fever or cough, stay home and contact their doctor.
It was reported yesterday that the rabbi of Young Israel of New Rochelle, Rabbi Reuven Fink, has been diagnosed with Coronavirus. Rabbi Fink has been in self-quarantine since being in contact with his congregant Lawrence Garbuz, who is still hospitalized in Manhattan with the virus. Rabbi Fink also teaches two classes at Yeshiva University, and two of his students have tested positive as well, but although first advised to quarantine, the other students in his classes have been updated that since Rabbi Fink was asymptomatic and any contact was causal, they no longer need to self quarantine, reported the YU Commentator.
Yeshivat Frisch closed its doors Friday until after Purim next week, since some students were exposed to the virus when they had contact with students in other schools who have tested positive. All activities in the school have been canceled or postponed until Wednesday.
Yeshiva He’Atid Head of School, Rabbi Tomer Ronen, is currently in self-quarantine since his wife, Deganit Ronen, is head of school at Westchester Torah Academy, which was one of the first schools to close last week.
The New York State Department of Health informed Westchester Day School that they have a confirmed case of COVID-19. All WDS students, faculty and staff were directed by the NYS DOH to self-quarantine for a two week period. Parents and siblings of WDS students who do not attend WDS and other family members are not required to quarantine unless they develop symptoms.
Young Israel of New Rochelle has informed their members that the New York State Department of Health revised their self-quarantine guidance to include all those present in shul on February 29, due to a newly confirmed case of COVID-19.
All YMSSA inter-school league games have been suspended at least through March 13, at which time the situation will be reevaluated. MYHSAL officials are in consultations to determine if a uniform approach to high school inter-school games and competitions can be adopted until the current situation resolves itself. YU has canceled its Sarachek tournament as well. The YU Maccabees basketball game is going on as scheduled, but host Johns Hopkins University has banned spectators from the game due to Coronavirus concerns.
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades has canceled its Purim celebration scheduled for Sunday morning, in an abundance of caution. The Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah event has been postponed as well, as people are being discouraged from gathering in large numbers.
Rabbis are advising their constituents that individuals exhibiting symptoms should not come to shul and to speak to your individual rav regarding any questions concerning Shabbat, Parshat Zachor and Purim.
