By Moshe Frank – COLlive.com
Sitting in his office piled with documents and signs, Dr. Robert Feldman has been fielding calls and visits in recent days from concerned residents about the outbreak of coronavirus in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood.
Dr. Feldman, 79, has been practicing for 47 years as a pediatrics specialist and retains a calm demeanor even though COVID-19 has reached epidemic proportions in frum communities with many people affected.
“We came through the swine flu, we came through the bird flu, we came through the SARS, and many similar illnesses – its the publicity that’s causing the scare more than anything else,” he said in an interview with COLlive.com on Tuesday.
But Dr. Feldman then added, “Yes, this is a deadly virus… The common flu which is going around now even more than coronavirus can be just as deadly as the coronavirus.”
He said that the statement that only elderly people are at-risk isn’t true. “It can be any age – if your immune state is deficient… If someone has diabetes or has cancer and is 6 years old, their immune system can be shot – especially if they are taking medications.”
What is most threatening for people is being in close proximity to each other and sharing the air, he said.
“We need to use commonsense,” he said. “Keep the windows open – its the best treatment. Don’t go into a small enclosed store that has no ventilation.”
Dr. Feldman also addressed health instruction to stay at home. “Staying home is a very confusing term. If you take a walk around the block or sit on your front porch, that’s healthy because you are outside in the air.”
He didn’t want to express his opinion about the closure of shuls in the neighborhood. While the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway remains open to crowds, others such as Beis Shmuel Chabad Congregation notified its members all minyanim and classes “will be suspended until further notice.”
He said it was a decision of the rabbonim regarding the shuls, but he did address the use of mikvah by men, saying that the danger is “not so much the mikvah water. It’s the small enclosed area that you’re in.”
Dr. Feldman said that he is working together with Lenco Diagnostic Laboratory Services and Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC) to open testing labs in Crown Heights.
Until now Hatzlah ambulances rushed people to nearby hospitals for treatment and others attempted to be tested on their own. He said this new effort, which might begin later this week or next week, will allow for community-wide screening with results available in 2 hours.
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So with everyone closing themselves in…be sure to get fresh air open windows
You are the best!! We really appreciate you!!! In times of emergency you are the voice of calm and inspire confidence!!!!Your tireless work and long hours on behalf of our community does not go unnoticed. Thank you so much!!! Yasher Koach!!! We love you!!!
Moshiach now!!!
Thank you Dr. Feldman for all you do for our community! It is noticed and appreciated! May you be blessed with all the Rebbe’s brochos ad bli dai!
How can one build immune system not to be a candidate for the virus ?
Eat Mediterranean diet, get enough sleep, fresh air…everything that people were supposed to be doing all along but now much more important to be strict about
Search on google “how to build immune system”
Thank you Doctor Feldman
thank you Dr Feldman
“He said that the statement that only elderly people are at-risk isn’t true. “It can be any age – if your immune state is deficient… If someone has diabetes or has cancer and is 6 years old, their immune system can be shot – especially if they are taking medications.” This is so important for everyone to understand and listen to Dr Feldman, its many many young people at risk as well, obviously people with a previous health condition are staying inside, but its also the people that live in the same household as them need to stay inside so… Read more »