Dear Community,
First and foremost, despite this fast escalating crisis, we urge you not to panic. We understand that the concerns are real and that we cannot possibly have the answers to this unprecedented crisis. As promised, we continue to compile and disseminate relevant information based on direct feedback received from within the community.
QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES:
As many may have heard, there have been a surge of positive cases in the community since our last bulletin. As previously advised, more testing results in more positive cases. To clarify, Achiezer cannot and will not identify names of community members who have tested positive. This is solely at the discretion of the infected individual. We have now confirmed that every section of Far Rockaway, each of the Five Towns and North Woodmere has positive cases of COVID-19. We have spent several hours compiling concrete quarantine guidelines for the community, which are accessible on the homepage of our website. Quarantine is burdensome, difficult, and, in some cases, scary. However, per advice from numerous physicians, if we do not abide by these guidelines, we will be looking at a prolonged spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community.
ELDERLY, VULNERABLE and IMMUNOCOMPROMISED:
Per our guiding physicians, we implore the elderly population to stay at home. After discussions with the leadership of both Gourmet Glatt and Seasons (who are inundated with requests), we hope to have a plan in place to enable delivery options for this population. In the interim, if any such community members have any urgent needs, please contact [email protected] or (516) 791-4444 ext. 125 and our team will do its best to assist you.
TESTING:
Yesterday’s drive through test clinic, provided by ASISA Urgent Care, enabled 100 community members to be efficiently tested. We will be conducting another clinic tomorrow. If you’d like to be tested, please complete the attached form. Please wait twenty four hours to hear back from Achiezer personnel for further direction regarding this clinic. Please understand that there is a massive shortage of tests within the State. There are also strict Department of Health guidelines which we must adhere to. As such, not every applicant will be approved.
GUIDELINES:
In response to the numerous requests for concise guidelines on quarantining, please note the following prepared specifically for our community:
*If you have had DIRECT CONTACT with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine yourself. DIRECT CONTACT means you were within 6 feet of them for a time period of approximately 5-10 minutes. Additionally, hugging/embracing/kissing is considered DIRECT CONTACT (despite being shorter than 5-10 minutes). There is an even a greater risk if they were experiencing symptoms such as cough and fever.
*If you fall under the above category, you must quarantine yourself from 14 days from last known exposure.
* If the symptoms of the COVID-19 patient developed more than 48 hours after you were in contact with them, we do not know if you must quarantine, as even people without symptoms may transmit disease.
However at the very minimum you must self-monitor: each morning assess how you feel – if you do not exhibit any symptoms (I.e., fever, aches, cough), then quarantine is not required but strong social distancing is required.
* If a family member is in quarantine due to exposure with a COVID patient, they must use their own bedroom, bathroom and be sure to eat and sit separately for the duration of their quarantine period; ideally this person should also remain in a separate room.
Please note that these guidelines were culled with close consultation of leading infectious disease experts from New York’s largest hospitals including Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt; in response to the growing case outbreak within our community and the hundreds of inquiries which have subsequently poured in.
If you have case-specific inquiries, we urge you to consult with your primary care physician.
[PHOTO CREDIT YWN]
If you feel sick don’t go