The following is a joint statement from the Crown Heights Schools on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 12 pm:
Dear Crown Heights Parents,שיחיו
As of this morning, there are 3 confirmed cases that tested positive for COVID-19 in the Crown Heights Community. All are doing well, but they each have had a very extensive exposure to the community.
There are many young people presenting with mild flu-like symptoms who have been tested and are awaiting results.
All the schools in Crown Heights had a joint conference call this morning at 10am with professionals and Rabbonim.
We were advised that all local schools be closed because we expect, or may already be in the midst, of a very large outbreak in the community.
All Crown Heights schools will be closed as of 12pm today until further notice, under the guidance of all the Rabbonim of the Crown Heights Beis Din.
There is no reason for panic or worry. We are taking action as a precaution to keep the vulnerable members of our community safe. Professionals advised that young children should not visit the elderly and that everyone should take extra precautions and stay home as much as possible.
It is very important to note that many children who are carrying the virus will not even appear sick. We need to keep them home regardless, to stop the spread.
Our children will look to us as to how to react to this situation. It is our job as parents and teachers to model calm behavior and to reassure our children by talking to them about bitachon and safe health practices.
If you yourself are struggling with anxiety about this, please reach out to a friend or professional to help you with how to talk to your kids. This is an ongoing situation. Joint efforts are being made to develop home-learning opportunities so that we may continue our sacred mission of teaching Torah to our children. We will do our best to keep the community updated on new policies and when schools can re-open.
Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos and Besuros Tovos,
The Crown Heights Schools
Who are the 3 people. We don’t need names but where do they work or go shopping bps we can know what to do next
It doesn’t really matter if they (unknowingly) gave it to 2, 10, 20 people who gave it to the next people etc.
You know what to do, stay away from people for a while, wash your hands, and wait it out.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/02/study-confirms-vitamin-d-protects-against-cold-and-flu/
And possibly quarantined
why not just put everyone in lockdown
Perhaps the shules should be closed for the time-being?
This was inevitable, the Shuls should have been closed last week already.
I advised the gabboim to do so 2 weeks ago but……… wulld not listen
in Melbourne ligit all shules are closed and made minyonim of 10
How many need to get sick before someone states the obvious….770 is the worst place to be right now
There are probably hundreds of people in crown heights who will be positive if tested. This is not to panic anyone, it’s to do the opposite. Calm down, you will Iyh be fine. Just follow the guidelines and leave the rest to the Airbeshter
Sanity…bless you!
Time to start shutting down shuls, it’s the easiest way to transmit.
Bergen county Rabbinic council forbade to go to minyanim, and all public gatherings, to slow the traffic at hospitals; Italy was overwhelmed with such.
Should also make sure people wash their hands before preparing food
They should wear gloves
I hope everyone has always been washing their hands…
How are they affected?
So many little pesach cleaning helpers will be home😉
where can one get tested??
I spoke to my Doctor’s office this morning. Testing is available only if ordered by the physician when the patient is exhibiting fever, coughing, difficulty breathing or other indicators of this flu. They want you to start off self medicating from your own home if you feel sick. Bottom line, testing is available but very restricted at this time.
By the next week or two it should be a lot more readily available.
If we knew where these people went the past few weeks, we can also self quarantine.
Whoever thinks they can control this thing it’s not possible, do your best and trust in Hashem.
One idea to the point..
If they closing the school at 12 why didnt have early dismissal for all schools in CH
The kids need to get home somehow
Apparently some schools are not closing. Which principals signed off on this?
Pls close 770 right now, it’s potentially vvv serious
Dear Parents,
As of today, Friday 11:45 AM, Beth Rivkah Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool will remain open.
This is in effect until we receive written direction from the New York City Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene. (Which we still have not received.).
Please continue to check your emails for further updates as they become available.
Wishing you and your family a healthy and peaceful Shabbos.
They emailed parents today! saying they are staying open…. please explain.
Preschool, and the Headstart programs are run by the government. The rest of the school is not.
Headstart is a “Public School” in that it is government run. When Public schools close, they will too. Unless there is a confirmed case IN HEADSTART. Then they will close long enough to disinfect.
Extensive exposure means we can all assume we’ve been exposed. Its not necessary to know who has it or where they were. There are just going to be more positive cases every day and it will be impossible to trace all the exposure…
Just do your best to follow the guidelines given. Wash hands. Stay low. Keep your kids low. Refrain from visiting the elderly. Don’t panic.
Do your bit and trust Hashem to do His!
Wise words. Yes! So true
This scarce testing is dangerous. Everyone showing mild symptoms should be tested and isolated until results come in. We need to stop passing it to protect our weak and elderly.
Dr.Rosen, please speak up with instructions on how to test.
Its not a matter of who the infected are, rather they should publish a list of places (stores, schools, shuls etc) and times those 3 people were at, so others who were at those same locations at the same time can take the necessary precautions and be quarantined.
…
In israel dates and times and places people who have corona are published so all those in those places when the sick person was there are aware and can go to self quarantine for 14 days
A friend had to convince her Crown Heights grandmother “Bubby, you do NOT need a manicure”
Is Ohelei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch the only school not closing?
Please stay at home unless you absolutely have to go out. Otherwise many of our seniors will be affected…
Is 770 Yeshiva still opened?
Why aren’t they part of the Crown Heights Schools?
I might argue that no one should go to 770, or anywhere, except the bachurim in 770 (unless they have respiratory medical conditions), who should continue to learn, daven, and say tehillim with even more a shturem.
There are many American 770 bochurim which aren’t isolated from elders.
All Crown Heights should quarantine
And help not to spread it
770 must be closed immediately
Has anyone tested negative for this virus ? Or have all tests come back positive
why is 770 not closed? what does it take for people to wake up and realize that is the worst place for spreading disease
The Chinese were able to accomplish what the Romans , Greeks , Assyrians , Spaniards , Germans , Amalek were not able to do. Quickly shut down Jewish institutions worldwide.
It wasn’t the Chinese it was Hashem – think about this!