Jewish Community Reels as Contagious Coronavirus Spreads Rapidly

By Lieba Nesis

A study released this past weekend by the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirmed that the coronavirus exists not only in the respiratory droplets of patients but also in the air, toilet seats and hallways outside patients’ rooms.  Consequently, researchers concluded even those mildly ill can contaminate surfaces and create aerosols that can pose “risk for transmission” lasting for up to three hours.  While the CDC maintains the virus is primarily spread through the  respiratory droplets of a person sneezing or coughing, this study conclusively points to the contagiousness of this disease through other means.

Paradigmatic of the danger of airborne transmission was a Skagit Valley Chorale meet-up on March 10th in Mount Vernon Washington, one of the disease hotspots.  Members social distanced, used hand sanitizers, brought their own choir sheets and did not hug or shake hands.  Nobody could recall anyone coughing or sneezing nor were any participants sick.  Two hours later the group went home, and 45 out of 60 became sick with confirmed positive tests in 28 members and two deaths.

This unbelievable statistic manifests that even when following guidelines 75% of a group come down with the virus.  A couple of theories posit that the singing produced an excess of respiratory droplets leading to increased transmission, however irregardless these results are astounding.  While masks might be advised due to these findings, there is little data that flat surgical ones stop the acquisition of the virus from others.  However, they  prevent those infected from spreading their germs and help reduce the transmission of infections to a certain degree.  Doctors and health care workers are always supposed to wear face gear since they are in imminent contact with infected individuals.   A study on the SARS outbreak in 2003 found that mask-wearing was 68% effective as compared to hand-washing which was 55%.  Recommendations from the CDC  might soon include wearing a mask and gloves when heading outside.  As for the Jewish community, those who attend synagogue or gather in groups have been shown to produce clusters of the virus.  The chanting of lyrics and the intense socialization compound the likelihood of transmission as germs are flying around with few precautions.  Therefore, Prime Minister Netanyahu has prohibited all gatherings of over two unrelated people and urged Israelis to hold “lockdown seders” consisting only of family members.

While ultra-orthodox jews make up only 10% of Israel’s population they account for 50% of coronavirus hospitalizations.  As of Monday Israel has 4,695 cases with 16 deaths.  Similarly Jewish communities in Teaneck, the Five Towns, Lakewood, Boro Park, Monsey and New Rochelle are reporting thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.  The orthodox community is defined by its social bond which encourages socializing and mixing with one another as we prepare for the holidays and our weekly Sabbaths’.  However,  if we don’t stop interacting in groups there will undoubtedly be more funerals to come-without anyone able to attend due to the current pandemic.