NYC Health Dept Issues Warning About COVID-19 Upticks in Orthodox Areas in Bklyn & Queens

TJV News

Fox News reports that the NYC Health Dept has issued warnings about an uptick in Coronavirus cases in several Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Bklyn and Queens. An increase in those testing positive for Covid-19 are in such neighborhoods as Flatbush, Midwood, Homecrest, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Borough Park, and Williamsburg in Brooklyn and the Edgemere/Far Rockaway section of Queens as well as the Kew Gardens section. Health department officials have said that all non-essential businesses should be closed and that enforcement agents will monitor the social distancing guidelines in private schools. Dr Mitchell Katz of the NYC Health Department said that the spread of Covid in these neighborhoods is particularly dangerous because of the traditionally large gatherings that take place during the Jewish holidays. Sunday eveningmarks the beginning of Yom Kippur and next Friday begins the festive holiday of Sukkot in which large groups gather inside bamboo huts for parties. The Health Department will be driving through the affected neighborhoods on Friday, with public address systems attached to vehicles. They will be issuing warnings in both English and Yiddish, calling upon everyone to strictly adhere to the health department guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing.