The NYC Health Commissioner has written a letter to Orthodox Jewish media outlets on Sunday night, regarding an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the Jewish communities.
As YWN has previously been reporting, there is an uptick in cases in various Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. While the overwhelming majority of the cases are seeing mild to no symptoms at all, there have been some cases of hospiizations and even some patients in the ICU and on respirators.
The following is the full letter by NYC Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi:
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to share concerning COVID-19 news that I hope you will convey to your readers in your ongoing coverage.
In recent days, we have observed heightened rates of COVID-19 in many neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations. The neighborhoods that have presented higher proportions of positive COVID-19 tests – when compared to adjacent areas – include the Forest Hills and Far Rockaway sections of Queens as well as the Midwood, Williamsburg and Borough Park sections of Brooklyn.
Moreover, we are receiving what we refer to as “signals,” in smaller sections of these neighborhoods where there are anomalous spikes in cases.
Following up on our conference call, we continue to see transmission in New York City and it appears to be happening more in communities that encompass your coverage areas than in many other parts of the city. COVID-19 can be transmitted from an adult to a child and we are seeing transmission within households from adults to children in some of these communities.
The neighborhoods experiencing transmission were particularly hard hit in the worst weeks of the pandemic this past spring and we never want to return to those awful days.
We also must emphasize that these communities’ past experience with COVID-19, does not guarantee immunity from future transmission. The science has not yet established that any section of New York City has reached herd immunity or even how long immunity lasts after someone has recovered from COVID-19.
All New Yorkers, including children, must adhere to the Core 4, which includes washing hands, wearing face coverings (if older than two years of age), maintaining distance and staying home if ill. Everyone must also avoid large gatherings and safely isolate if exposed to someone who was found to have COVID-19. If safely isolating at home is difficult, the city can provide accommodations or additional resources. All New Yorkers should be getting tested. To find a testing site go to nyc.gov/covidtest or call 311.
We know everyone in these areas shares our deep concern for their families, friends and neighbors and we urge all New Yorkers to do their part to help us keep COVID-19 at bay.
Thank you.
With appreciation,
Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, NYC Health Commissioner.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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28 Responses
but are they sick? no. so there really are called ‘cases.’
and dr scott atlas of stanford says nyc has reached herd immunity
Dear Dr. Chokshi,
The risk and/or danger of contracting the Wuhan-virus has been greatly diminished due to various studies regarding the efficacy of the so-called “Hydroxy Protocol”.
Some of these successful studies/trials were conducted by leaders in the field of epidemiology.
The risk-factor may be now considered low enough to allow the general population to go on with their lives without the severe limitations you propose.
The studies and reports are various and numerous, and have been conducted in multiple countries.
(The ‘smorgasbord’ of failed studies all have one thing in common. They glaringly neglected 1 or 2 of the simple steps the protocol requires.)
Below, please find 2 (out of dozens of) links.
Many more links can be found easily via Google.
Sincerely,
An ordinary citizen (not a medical professional) whom ironically is better informed than you apparently are.
https://americasfrontlinedoctorsummit.com/references/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l6y3L_KGb1ilMW0FaP4VZsd7WvX2IU3z/view
Totally not a chillul hashem. Just shows were smart enough to know that the cdc etc are democratic organizations creating contradictory policies in order to destroy the economy. The data is all meaningless anyways, no worse than other common illnesses.
This almost sounds like a warning. Not good at all! I hope all our shuls remain open thru Yom Tovim!
This sounds just like Nazi Germany, singling out Jews. Without a doubt, there are cases all over NY. Coronavirus is here to stay just like the flu, it’s the new reality, but not only between Jews, but all over the US and the world. But whom will they single out, you can all say it together, “THE JEWS”!
Am I surprised we are the only community that is disregarding every covit 19 guideline such as social distancing and masks.
So why is no one wearing a mask.
This is what transpires, when stubborn hotheads on 13th Avenue and other Frumie neighborhoods are too arrogant to comply & wear face-masks and social distance, claiming Corona is all over for them.
Jews, especially frum Jews, have done a great job donating plasma. But for the rest of the actions needed to contain and diminish Covid-19, not so much. Jewish leaders must lead, and the frum must listen better.
For all the people who want to downgrade our community should stand corrected there are so many goyim who don’t social distance or wear a mask stop blaming only us. I live on a goyisha / neighborhood and i see all the block parties they have and mock covid. when I go to stores and see them arguing not to put a mask. So its not only as like someone else comment they will always want to find excuse to blame the jew
I live in Lakewood and nobody is wearing any masks even in crowded shulls this is the height of arrogance and ignorance there is no reason we should not wear any masks in crowded areas.
We will start crying anto semitism when the ose down our schools and shulls becuase we are ignorant and arrogant.
For all the people who want to downgrade our community should stand corrected there are so many goyim who don’t social distance or wear a mask stop blaming only us. I live on a goyisha block / neighborhood and i see all the block parties they have and mock covid. when I go to stores and see them arguing not to put a mask. So its not only as like someone else comment they will always want to find excuse to blame the
When we can trust our health officials we might listen. Unfortunately, we just don’t trust them. Opening day camps while closing sleep away? Allowing “peaceful” gatherings but not religious ones? Sorry, first build trust, then request compliance.
For those who think this is overblown, I know two people who have been in the hospital over a week and have had a name added. I’ve been told that one of them is on a respirator. These are people in their 50’s and 60’s. Please daven for Chaim Nachman ben Mindel and Ruchama Devorah Leah bas Rochel.
Yet Many of our Doctors Don’t give Hydroxychloroquine Zinc and Azithromycin
It makes NO SENSE!
How many people died because of their ignorance?
Every responsible yid should be taking
Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D
It’s interesting to watch people who are so busy with the mask and yet they take nothing to actually build their immune system.
Zinc and Vitamin D in your system blocks the virus even if you get it. Vitamin C can help Zinc get into your cells better
Huju yes because of the high rates of disease in our community and yes the numbers are rising quickly no masks no social distancing what fo you expect
For those who give the lame excuse that goyim are not wearing masks just like us ,since when do we follow what the goyim do ,do they have an obligation like us to make a kiddush hashem? Do they have the obligation of ineshmartem meod?
“Sorry, first build trust, then request compliance.”
So, you dont trust for example Rav Elya Brudny shlita who actively encourages mask wearing? At the very east, dont mock, those who do.
1. Yes, people who did not have it yet, those with compromised immune systems, anyone exposed to people sick with covid-19, etc. must practice social distancing and wear a mask.
2. The amount of people per population, did not necessarily go up. It is up per tested. If only those definitely sick and exposed to sick test the percentage is higher. Prior, most people with colds, allergy, flu etc tested themselves. Now no one wants to test. Only those that must test, either for work purposes or not to quarantine purposes get tested. The release of the count should be how many people tested in each neighborhood according to population and how many new cases according to population.
3. There are many false positive, (read all the articles about the specificity and accuracy of the test. In addition there were studies done about reinfection. One of the findings show that if one is exposed to SARS-CoV-2, live virus can be found on the tissue membrane. This does not necessarily make the person ill with Covid-19. His body can be fighting it. If he has had antibodies to this disease, his body just manufactures the antibodies again and it kills the virus before making the person sick. If one is exposed to any virus this can happen. It is not a new phenomenon. It happens to those exposed to measles, chicken pox etc. If one tests themselves once exposed but not infected they can have the virus present but they are not ill. They can not transmit the virus since the virus load is low. We need to have a better test that tests if the person has it in their blood not on the nasal mucus, which is our fist line of defense and catches many many many things.
Let’s all use our seichel and live normally but yet as always we must live carefully.
Is Israel, most frum people who I see are wearing masks. I don’t see that it’s slowing things down, but I wear it and keep social distancing anyway as a symbolic hishtadlus and daven that Hashem should protect me, my family and all of Am Yisrael.
If you Google “how many people died of covid in new york” it brings up a graph that delineates those deaths. Going backward from September 5th, the deaths each day have been ”
9, 2,5, 7, 5, 3, 1, 8, . . . and it’s been pretty low like this since the middle of June. Cases are just cases, and deaths have been low.
To those in serious condition in hospitals and to the families of the deceased the low number of deaths are meaningless. If all of us had worn masks and social distanced since Purim the virus would be gone from our communities.
1. Chillul Hashem
2. People that say “Religious in Israel wear masks and it’s not helping” how do you know what would have happened if they wore masks even less than they do?
3. If its remotely possible that your actions will kill others you should not take a chance and protect others. Even if there is a 0.2% chance that a masks helps you save a life, you need to wear it.
4. The same community that refused measles shots and causes the death of an innocent flight attendant is now the community that thinks they know what to do in this case.
5. My sister works in the ER, there is a slight (small for now) uptick in cases. I hope things return to normal, but she says the days are starting to feel like the early days of covid right before things got out of hand.
6. I pray you guys show some respect to other human lives, as is the hatred against us is rising, why fan the flames and risk other peoples lives and your own while doing it. Be a chochem with other things, don’t play games with what already caused the death of so many.
If you are concerned about getting covid, you can take Quercetin (a supplement from the health store) with zinc. It acts in a similar way to Hydroxychloroquine, but it is a supplement with less risk. You can also take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar every day. Taking one dose of Hydroxychloroquine every two weeks has also been found to prevent doctors(!) who treat Covid-19 patients from catching it even when exposed (if you have access to it).
Wise-guy is right. There is a cure for covid that they are ignoring. I wear a mask out of respect for those that feel it has value or in public places that I know will make a kiddush Hashem, but honestly it slows the spread at best and it’s not the real answer. We don’t need masks if we are following prophylactic protocol and curing those who get it. MANY people who are getting now, are just people who “kicked the can down the road” and never got it the first time around.
One additional point, if someone feels sick, don’t wait. Assume it’s covid – check oxygen levels and take preventitive measures withint the first few days (hcq or quercetin, with zinc etc).
yaakov doe, my heart goes out to the people who suffered and are suffering from covid, but please see my post. There are many people who did everything “right” and got it anyway. Masks and socail distancing are not the real answer a and inevitably it would have gotten into our communities from other places since it’s all over the world. In any case, there is no way that every type or person, with every type of personality will be able to always follow these rules, so going down that road is really never going to happen. There are people who went to extremes to avoid getting it, and got it anyway. The only way to go is with HCQ and Quercetin and careful monitoring of Oxygen right away if necessary. Lets stop blaming other people and pointing fingers.
To my frum brothers and sisters
Not wearing a mask is simply selfish
Even if you don’t believe the doctors or don’t believe the health officials
Wearing a mask protects others
So don’t come to rosh hashana and tell HaShem how great your Ben Adam lechaveiro is if you don’t wear a mask
Hashem knows better
During the height of the BLM protests our “liberal leaders” kept on instigating racism and pointing out that Black people had a disproportionately higher rate of the coronavirus compared to the rest of the population. So make up your minds, Blacks or lehavdil Jews???