By Larry Gordon
Until a few days ago, it seemed that while the coronavirus, officially termed COVID-19, was an increasingly difficult global problem, the damage from the spread here in the U.S. was serious but minimal.
Then the stories began to encompass our community. First, an Orthodox Jewish attorney from New Rochelle was diagnosed with the virus. After a couple of days it was discovered that his wife, his son, his daughter, and a neighbor who drove him to the hospital are also infected.
The Five Towns and Far Rockaway Hatzalah organization as well as Hatzalah groups around the city are coordinating their protocols with the New York City and State Departments of Health as well as with the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to local doctors here in the Five Towns, the symptoms are similar to the flu, and because this winter has seen rather widespread cases of the flu, and considering the barrage in the news media, many medical workers are taking precautions and assuming that each case is coronavirus until testing is done and the diagnosis is discounted.
According to Baruch Ber Bender of Achiezer, there is some disagreement about how to proceed in face of the outbreak. He says that there has been some discussion about asking people to self-quarantine, especially the elderly, but the New York City and Nassau County Health Departments are not recommending such a move at this time.
There has been additional talk about people not going to shul if they have an extenuating health issue, in which case the virus can be particularly damaging. Others in the community have stated that protocols are being put in place to close yeshivas if the situation warrants.
Members of Hatzalah here in the Five Towns as well as around the city are being given an orientation on how to handle suspected cases of COVID-19. They are being issued protective gear and have been instructed to inform the hospital they are heading to that they are dealing with a possible coronavirus case if that is their determination.
In Israel, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau said on Wednesday that for now people should refrain from kissing mezuzahs when entering or exiting rooms as these types of droplets are one of the sure ways the virus is being passed on to others.
We are at the early stages of the spread of COVID-19, and health officials are working with alacrity to stem the tide of the spread.
There is a sense that the panic about this matter is largely being fueled by the media, constantly in search for the next big and shocking story. This is a perfect example of that self-serving disservice.
