In Rockland County, 45 positive cases of coronavirus

A directive from Rockland County Department of Health Image by Rockland County Department of Health

By Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt March 19, 2020

Refuah Health Center in Rockland County Image by flickr

Rockland County officials released a statement tonight confirming a total of 45 positive cases of coronavirus in the New York county.

All those who had frequented the Ohr Chaim synagogue on March 8, the Church of Nyack on March 8, the L’Dor adult care facility on March 11 and March 13, and the Karlin Stolin Synagogue on March 11-13 are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

A directive from Rockland County Department of Health Image by Rockland County Department of Health

This comes amid a rapid rise in cases in the Orthodox Jewish community, with hundreds of positive cases in Westchester County, Boro Park and Williamsburg — in a society that is largely defined by constant social gatherings, whether in daily prayer services, regular Torah study, mikvahs or lifecycle occasions, and a week after many communities held Purim festivities.

Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt was the Life/Features editor at the Forward. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Salon, and Tablet, among others.

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