COVID-19 Once Again Spiking in Jewish Neighborhoods, Precautions Must Be Taken

By Yehudit Garmaise

The New York City Health Department today shared concerning news that neighborhoods with large frum populations are, unfortunately, once again spiking with cases of COVID-19. Dave A. Chokshi, MD, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, implored all New Yorkers, with the only exception that children under the age of two should not wear masks: otherwise, all New Yorkers must now take precautions such as wearing masks in public, washing hands continuously and thoroughly throughout the day, keeping six feet of social distances, avoiding crowds to help to keep COVID-19 from running rampant once again throughout the city.

 Dr. Chokshi also asked that anyone who feels ill or has come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID, should kindly isolate at home to prevent further transmission of the virus.

The Health Department offered that is could provide accommodations and necessary resources to people who find it difficult to isolate safely at home, if necessary.

 Boro Park, Williamsburg, Midwood, Far Rockaway, and Forest Hills are the neighborhoods that have presented higher proportions of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 than populations in adjacent neighborhoods.

  In addition to larger trends of coronavirus infections in frum communities, the New York City Health Department’s disease investigators are receiving what they refer to as “signals” or warning signs of potential clusters of COVID-positive patients in smaller sections of Jewish neighborhoods.  

 Dr. Chokshi reiterated that COVID-19 can be, unfortunately, transmitted both from child to adult and from adult to child. Health workers are now seeing patients who appear to have become infected with the virus from family members who live in the same households.

The Jewish neighborhoods were particularly hard hit during the worst weeks of the pandemic back in March, Dr. Chokshi remembered.

  “We never want to return to those awful days,” said Dr. Chokshi with empathy, as he reminded Jewish community members that past infection with COVID absolutely does not guarantee future immunity from the virus.

  “The science has not yet established that any population of New York City has reached herd immunity,” Dr. Chokshi emphasized in a notice to the press. “We also have no idea how long immunity might last after recovery from COVID-19.”

 Finally, Dr. Chokshi added that all New Yorkers should be getting tested. Readers can find nearby testing sites by going to nyc.gov/covidtest, or by calling 311.