Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that more than 14,000 people have been tested for coronavirus in the state of New York. There are 2,382 total cases of coronavirus in New York state with 1,008 new positive cases. “The numbers are going up. Hence the increased actions to reduce the spread, the density reduction,” Cuomo said. There are 549 people currently hospitalized in the city. Cuomo announced that the President Trump will be dispatching the USNS Comfort hospital ship to New York to assist with the health care capacity. Cuomo said it would be docked in New York City harbor. The President and Cuomo are also discussing the possibility of the federal government putting up mobile hospitals in New York to help with capacity, the governor said.

(Dr Bennett is a Board Certified Emergency Room Physician, NY Hospital of Queens, and also private practice in Queens) This is Ellie Bennett. You all know who I am and where I work. I just feel that I have to go on record. It is my medical opinion, and the same of all the infectious disease experts, that these minyamin are going to kill people. I know it is very difficult for you all to understand it because it seems like an innocuous gathering of 15 to 20 people. I will happily take any of you on a 5-minute tour of what is going on in my hospital right now. As of this past Thursday we had seven patients sick enough to be admitted. As of yesterday it was 30 and as of today it’s 50. Elderly people from our neighborhood are on ventilators in the ICU because of these minyanim.

As per the p’sak halacha of our daas torah, Rav Yechezkel Roth shlit”a, whose day to day guidance directs our organization, we will be suspending all deliveries of shiva chairs and gemach supplies effective immediately because of the coronavirus outbreak. There is no doubt that this is an עת צרה ליעקב and that it is incumbent upon each of us to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Rabbi Roth has made it very clear that there is no mitzvah for face to face nichum aveilim at this time, and that, for now, the telephone is the optimal way to comfort those who are sitting shiva. Furthermore, Rabbi Roth has instructed aveilim to sit shiva in separate rooms to prevent family members from infecting each other.

An urgent phone meeting regarding the spread of the Coronavirus conducted by the Whitehouse concluded moments ago at which dozens of Admorim and Rabbonim participated. Leading the meeting was Avi Berkowitz and a council for the President. Despite rumors on Jewish social media stating he would participate, President Trump and VP Pence did not participate […]

The situation in our communities in the tri-State area is very serious, and many people are still not grasping the severity of what is unfolding. Here are the facts, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: YWN has learned that more than 100 cases have been confirmed overnight in Boro Park, and there are close to 1,000 tests that are still awaiting results. Crown Heights has HUNDREDS and possibly thousands of cases, with some people already placed on respirators. The Five Towns has around 100 confirmed cases and over 1,000 awaiting results. Williamsburg has lots of cases. Many people in Flatbush are being tested this morning, and some Shuls have already been closed. A senior Boro Park Hatzolah Paramedic sent out a public message pleading with people to take action before it’s too late.

A one-year-old baby boy was Niftar on Monday morning, and the Health Department is awaiting test results for COVID-19. The 1 and a half year-old-boy, was identified as Michael Kameo Z”L. His family is a member of the Sephardic Community in Flatbush. Sources tell YWN that he was in the hospital last week for an upper-respiratory infection, but had been released and was home when he was found unresponsive on Monday morning. He was rushed to the hospital where he was R”L Niftar. The Levaya was held on Monday in Flatbush, and the kevura was in New Jersey. Health officials are not taking any chances, and are awaiting test results to see if the child had Coronavirus.

Cuomo vs DeBlasio – who is right? New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there are no plans to quarantine New York City, despite rumors and fears. “We hear New York City is going to quarantine itself — that is not true,” Cuomo said at a news conference, adding that cities would need to get state approval to make such orders. Earlier today, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he is “absolutely considering” ordering the city’s residents to shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic. “Right now we have taken a series of steps to reduce the number of people who are circulating around,” he said.

My name is Dr Daniel Roth. As a frum doctor in Lakewood, I am writing this to help people know what I believe they should be doing RIGHT NOW, based on halacha and on standard medical practice. These guidelines will protect yourselves, your families, the rest of our community, and will SAVE LIVES. If YOU practice these guidelines, you will be fulfilling your responsibility as a member of the klal. Every single person who follows these guidelines might actually be saving a life, even if others do not follow these guidelines. The fewer people the virus can reach, the fewer people it can infect and the fewer people it can be transmitted to. I believe it is the responsibility of every man, woman, and child to stay at home as much as humanly possible, without contact with other people.

There is some uncertainty regarding two issues that dozens of people in New York have asked YWN to clarify. We spoke with NYS Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein who spent the day in Albany, and answered both pressing questions to clarify for those asking. The first is school closures. Governor Cuomo today announced that he’s signing an executive order directing all schools in New York to close by Wednesday, March 18 for two weeks ending April 1. This includes all Yeshivas and other private schools. At that time, the state will reassess whether to extend the school closures further.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day instituted a state of emergency today. All public schools that serve grades K-12 are to suspend all classroom and extracurricular functions starting Tuesday. The closure will be for two weeks. Private schools must close starting Wednesday. Day’s order also mandates that universities, colleges and other public and private educational facilities shut to all students by Wednesday, except for resident students, who will be allowed to access dorms and dining facilities. Facilities that are solely dedicated to daycare, preschool and pre-kindergarten are exempt from this order. STAY UPDATED WITH BREAKING UPDATES FROM YWN VIA WHATSAPP – SIGN UP NOW Just click on this link, and you will be placed into a group.