How the synagogue in New York found itself in the epicenter of the spread of coronavirus and what happens there

The Orthodox Young Israel synagogue in New Rochelle, NY, is quarantined after coronavirus was confirmed in one of their parishioners. Since believers cannot gather in the temple, this week they hosted an online party in honor of Purim. About how people live in a special infection zone Covid-19, the publication said. USA Today.

What's going on

On March 3, a coronavirus was confirmed at a parishioner of the Young Israel synagogue in New Rochelle, New York. After that, it was decided to create the first quarantine zone in the city in the city due to the Covid-19 virus. Today, 108 people who have visited the synagogue or live in this city are already infected with the coronavirus.

The synagogue posted a letter on its website saying the following: “We were exemplary citizens. We closed our synagogue and all our membership after one (confirmed. - Ed.) cases ”, - the report said.

Schools, houses of worship, and other public places where a large number of people gather will be closed until March 25, according to a directive from the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo. In particular, schools were closed in New Rochelle and the neighboring village of Takaho in Westchester County.

Some members of the synagogue are wondering why, even for those who passed the negative test, did not contact the patient and was not sick himself, the community remains in general quarantine. Moreover, such restrictions were not applied to neighboring communities, where cases of Covid-19 were also found. “None of those who had symptoms were asked to conduct self-quarantine, except for members of the Young Israel synagogue from New York, unless you were in very close contact with someone who confirmed the virus,” - said one of the representatives of the synagogue, who did not want to give his name.

Local officials said they recognize the disappointment of parishioners and synagogue representatives, and realize how this restriction has affected people's lives. According to assembly member Amy Paulin, there is no reasonable explanation for why quarantine touched people who were not in contact with Covid-19 patients. “Maybe there is a reason for public health, but we don’t know about it because no one is explaining it to them or to me.” - said Pauline.

At the same time, she added that, along with other officials, she was shocked by the determination of the synagogue members. According to her, given the quarantine imprisonment, parishioners showed their best qualities in such a situation. “I’ve never seen a group of people come together like this group in such a difficult situation,” - she noted.

Parishioners visit each other, bringing food that is left under the door, the source said.

What preceded the introduction of quarantine

It all started on March 3, when one of the parishioners, a lawyer from Manhattan, confirmed the coronavirus. He spent four days at the New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in nearby Bronxville. Then the man was transferred to the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

After that, a prophylactic quarantine was announced at the Westchester County Department of Health for about a thousand people associated with the synagogue who might have been in contact with the patient.

Since then, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community has increased dramatically.

On March 10, the state governor announced the creation of a special zone of infection with a coronavirus infection with a radius of 1,6 kilometers in the city of New Rochelle. According to the governor, there is probably the largest infection center in the United States.

On the subject: New quarantine zone to be created in New York due to Covid 2019

Cuomo said US National Guard troops would be sent to the quarantine zone to deliver food to quarantined residents and to sanitize public places.

In turn, the mayor of the city of New Rochelle Noam Bramson said that the military will not perform military or police functions. He emphasized that “this is not an exclusion or quarantine zone”, therefore “no one is allowed to enter.”

“We have 108 business in New Rochelle. There are only 36 in New York. New York is 100 times the size of New Rochelle. " - Cuomo said on March 11 to MSNBC, explaining the decision. He also added that the ban applies only to large mass gatherings, where, obviously, the virus spreads the fastest.

State Senator Shelley Mayer, whose quarantine area includes, praised Young Israel for its response to the outbreak. "They behaved with great dignity, calmness and responsiveness to science," - Mayer noted.

The senator also added that such restrictions had a great effect on the city, but she understood why the Cuomo administration took these actions. “I think Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, has accepted what he believes is the right scientific position, - Mayer stressed. - I understand why the governor did this because we must be guided by science. ”

How long will the quarantine last?

According to Cuomo, the quarantine zone will exist until March 25. This, he said, will not allow the virus to spread further within New Rochelle and beyond.

As of March 10, the number of cases in New Rochelle was 62% of all 173 in the state and about 13% of the total number of cases of coronavirus in the United States.

He said that effort is literally a matter of life and death. No one has died of a coronavirus in New York, but Cuomo has repeatedly expressed concern about older people and those who have breathing problems.