The NYC Health Department provided the following update to YWN on Motzei Shabbos:
We are writing to provide another update concerning COVID-19 case growth in Brooklyn and Queens.
As of today, the percent of tests returning positive results in areas of concern are as follows.
- Gravesend/Homecrest (6.73%)
- Midwood (5.22%)
- Kew Gardens (3.53%)
- Edgemere/Far Rockaway (4.03%)
- Borough Park (4.20%)
- Bensonhurst/Mapleton (3.81%)
- Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay (3.57%)
- Flatlands/Midwood (3.40%)
These areas account for over 23% of new cases citywide over the past two weeks despite representing just under 7% of the City’s overall population. The growth of cases in these ZIP codes is 3.3 times the citywide average over the past 14 days.
In addition to these 8 ZIP codes, an additional 4 ZIP codes are showing increased growth of cases and test positivity between 2% and 3%. These are:
- Rego Park (2.46%)
- Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok (2.36%)
- Kensington/Windsor Terrace (2.31%)
- Brighton Beach/Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay (2.21%)
Williamsburg remains an area where we are observing a faster increase in cases compared to other parts of the City, even though the test positivity rate is below 3% (1.72%).
We continue to monitor emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions. With COVID-19, increases in hospital visits generally follow an increase in cases. Data show we are starting to see an uptick in the number of hospitalized patients in at least one hospital in southern Brooklyn.”
Meanwhile, concerned about an uptick in coronavirus cases in certain Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations, the city’s health commissioner on Friday issued an order reiterating that private schools had to follow virus safety protocols.
The order from Dr. Dave Chokshi said non-public schools in the particular group of affected zip codes had to maintain 6 feet of distance between people, and that face coverings would be required in all buildings.
They would have to comply with the department’s protocols on opening and closing if a student or staffmember is confirmed to have the virus.
Earlier Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said four yeshivas have had to be closed.
Late Friday afternoon an urgent conference call was held between NYS Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein and more than 100 Yeshiva Administrators and Menahlim about the urgency of compliance in social distancing rules, or they will all be shut down.
Following the meeting, multiple Mosdos released urgent messages to their parent body.
Below are two of those audio clips:
BAIS YAAKOV OF BORO PARK:
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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18 Responses
They want to shut the schools. but if only 5000 people that have antibodies would go take a covid test they will all come back negative and the numbers would drop drastacly down to 1 percent. so the askanim should organise a big testing drive now for pepole who had covid have anti boddies and dont have symptoms. thats the best way to do it just play with the numbers
1. AN EASY SEARCH OF NYC.GOV shows that OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS have as High, and HIGHER rates of “Cases” than these Targeted JEWISH Neighborhoods.
How Sad, that our “Leaders” have utterly failed us and are allowing Jews as A Group to be the only GROUP TARGETED BY RACE and “NEIGHBORHOOD”. While Data on BLACKS, MUSLIMS, HISPANICS, etc Are not Even mentioned by Blasio and his DOH! By not Analyzing and Collecting Data By Group of Other Groups, The Statistical Data is then Skewed to MAGNIFY the Cases if JEWS! Can’t you see that??
2. “ Cases” does not mean sick. It means only TEST POSITIVE. The CDC acknowledged that COVID PCR Tests have as high as 90% False Positive rate. So 1000 can be 100, and only A few of those will get sick.
After a Letter was written to by the community to the “ Leaders” who have been pushing Masking and closures and encouraging Blasio to Violate our religious and civil Rights, there suddenly was reports of “ 3 JEWS DIED OF COVID LAST WEEK AT MAIMONIDES – NO DETAILS!”
How sad.
To use tragic deaths to promote your agenda.
WHY were Jews taken to Maimonides where so MANY DIED ON UNDER-STAFFED, UNMONITORED, BACTERIA-Laden VENTILATORS?
Did These People die on a VENTILATOR?
Were they Given STEROIDS and HCQ and that have helped Thousands?
Did they Die of OTHER ILLNESSES As People have Always Unfortunately died from, such as HEART ATTACK, CANCERS, STROKE, STAPH?
The Numbers have been Inflated by listing deaths from other causes as Covid.
Sadly, I did not see many masks over Shabbos. Yes, there were quite a few who complied but the vast majority didn’t yet. Likely, I hope it’s because the message did not get out there before Shabbos!
Yaapchik! Don’t post these types of messages, rather encourage your friends and family to comply!!! A g’mar chasima to all- May Hashem judge us favorably and remove these terrible decrees, the virus, the regulations and the terrible anti-Semitic air blowing in our midst!!
Yaapchik –
Not sure what you mean? The message has been “out there” for EIGHT MONTHS and your worried people didn’t hear the message before Shabbos??
Yaapchik-
They just don’t care AT ALL and seem to get enjoyment in getting other people sick just because a mask “inconveniences ” them!!
What is the point of reporting this? People are going to do what they want. And that’s how it should be. We as “people” have rights and that should never be taken away from us. These schools should stand up and fight for their rights – to stay open -.
Fake news
We are truly the “am k’shei oref”, a stiff necked people. No matter how many times we are admonished by great rabbonim to wear masks, so many of us just won’t listen.
We need more people like Tischler to step up against the Democrats who bully us. Vote Republican.
Six foot distance in private schools? That’s impossible.
Wearing masks outdoors when it was already paskened by the CDC that outside and as long as you’re not next to someone for x amount of time (i don’t recall the amount of time but it’s many minutes!) is okay?!
The mayor is looking to punish inzireh mentshin for “making him look bad” again. His sidekick Katz איז אויך א פערד!
leahlah, thank you for saying the truth.
We Jews are an easy target because not only are we hated by many anti-Semites, many frum Jews Jews themselves are targeting us as well. Shame on the our “leaders” for being quiet and not sticking up for us.
The data is out there on NYC gov website and everyone can see that the zipcodes with the frum communitites have the average amount of death retes and positive cases and many non-Jewish neighborhoods had much higher postivie cases and death rates. Let’s not be easy targets for these haters, Jews and non-Jews alike and no-one should be cowed by them whether you wear masks or not and whther you are against large weddings and praying with a large oilim or not because at the end of our day 1. our rates are average and 2. non-Jews are out there” protesting” gathering in large numbers, many of them not wearing masks, as well as gathering in parks, etc. only in NYC. In other regions non-Jews are not doing anything at all regarding covid regulations, so just leave us to live our own lives and start taking care of the real issues plauging NYS and in particluar, DeBlasio’s NYC which is going up in flames because of his ineptitutde. His fixation of us religious Jews will not make the real issues go away it’s just the lazy bum’s way of making him sound like a serious mayor while being goeaded by Jewish Jew haters fanning the flames of racism against Jews.
I have never been so ashamed to be a Frum Jew as I have reading these comments and similar forum boards in recent weeks.
What happened to us as Jews holding ourselves to the highest standards of responsibility and cautiousness?
What happened to us as Jews valuing life and the preservation of life above all else?
Rav Osher Weiss shlita said at the start of this pandemic, the Frum community should lead the way into lockdown and trail way behind in relaxing on the other side.
How has the Frum world become so wrapped up with right-wing conspiracy theories and Fake News?
Wether you agree if it’s necessary or not, wearing a mask is a fairly simple thing to do that every other demographic is doing in large numbers. Why are we the only ones who can’t be inconvenienced? What about the massive Bitul Torah and disruption to tefilah bitzibur that may insue due to people not willing to be inconvenienced? What about the colossal chilul Hashem now happening due to the perception that we don’t care about the health of the general public? All because people can’t be inconvenienced? On Erev Yom Kippur no less???
Thousands of people would be saved if the speed limits on highways would be 45 mph, is anyone willing to have that inconvenience? No because normal life has to continue
Mkylb, why are u ashamed? Bec a bunch of goyim are inflating the numbers and making us look bad? Don’t fall for their shtick.
Philosopher, you are so right. De Blasio is unfortunately in the lime light. His ineptitude as a leader is showing in full color. He encouraged not so peaceful rioting, looting, and defunding the police. Crime and shootings have soared and the economy is worse than by The Great Depression. What’s De Blasios solution? Divert attention from his failing leadership and come up with some fake news to blame the Jews. Easy target. And this loser finds himself in a win win situation. DON’T FALL FOR HIS BAIT.
Btw, many in our neighborhoods have not been wearing masks since end of May and the numbers were down for over 3 months. Unfortunately this virus comes and goes in waves and we would love for masks to help, but even the CDC claims it doesn’t really work, we just feel if we wear it that were in control. ONLY HASHEM IS IN CONTROL AND IN THIS AUSPICIOUS TIME WE SHOULD DAVEN FOR THIS PANDEMIC TO BE ERADICATED.