New York State health officials have taken extraordinary steps to stop Monday’s planned ultra-thoracic oxide wedding that could have brought 10,000 guests to Brooklyn near a coronavirus hot spot in New York City.
The state health commissioner personally intervened that the sheriff’s deputies had ordered the Hasidic Synagogue on Friday, warning that health protocols must be followed, including limiting gatherings to less than 50 people.
On Sunday, Synagogue, Congregation’s Yatev Lev de Satmar accused state officials of making “uncontrolled attacks” on the wedding, where the rabbi of the synagogue, Zalman Lib, was to marry the grandson of Titelbaum. The congregation said the ceremony and meals would be limited to “close family members”, while people would only be invited to attend “for a short period of time.”
The synagogue said the marriage would continue, but it would be limited to a small group of family members. Congregational Secretary Chaim Jacobovitz said in a statement, “It’s sad that no one checked our plans before they attacked us.
The state health commissioner, Dr. Howard A. Zucker took the rare step of issuing what is known as a Section 16 order, which if violated could result in a 10,000 daily fine. Dozens of Section 16 orders have been issued during the epidemic in the state.
According to an acquaintance of the state, Dr. Zucker was quick to introduce him out of concern that the state’s usual first steps, which included a ceasefire and barrier letter and hearing, would have been too late to stop the big wedding, according to a state acquaintance. Actions. State officials received the wedding invitation last weekend and confirmed that some of the guests in the state would be flocking there from the hotspots.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Sunday that large weddings were too risky and could result in a so-called supersprider event. State officials said they decided the wedding, which was to take place in Williamsburg, could be attended by 10,000 people.
“My suggestion: get married younger this year,” Mr. Kuomo said at a news conference. “Next year, have a big wedding. Invite me, and I will come. ”
Tensions between the state governor and the Hasidic community were highlighted in the episode as state health officials in some neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens and in counties north of New York City, trying to control the growing coronavirus case.
Some Orthodox voices, including a growing group of succulent youth, have been accused by the government of targeting them because of their faith and religious life. Earlier this month, the governor ordered new shutdown restrictions in areas where cases were pending.
Pro-Jewish Jewish leaders announced a scheduled large community prayer on Tuesday in response to the marriage ban and widespread restrictions. The incident, which took place over the phone, was not a protest, the leaders said.
Mr Kuomo said on Sunday that the state’s efforts to control the outbreak had succeeded in reducing the positivity rate in the target neighborhood, which he had divided into zones. As of Saturday, the state’s overall infection rate was 1.08 percent, the governor said, which is much lower compared to other states. But the rate is 3.19 percent in areas with the highest infection rates or “red zones,” including neighborhoods near Williamsburg. The synagogue itself is not located in a hot spot.
“Every time we see a virus pop up, we’re very aggressive – we run and hit it,” the governor said of the state’s strategy for controlling the outbreak. “It’s boring but it’s effective.”
Many factors have contributed to the growth of the ultra-Orthodox community in the city, including scientific communication and distrust of secular authority, devoted to communal life, and living conditions.
While New York State has the lowest rate of new cases, health officials are concerned about a second spike in the colder months, when people mostly stay indoors and can spread the virus more easily in a limited space. Mr Kuomo noted on Sunday that even relatively small events such as the Sweet 16 party held on Long Island last month could lead to an infectious outbreak.
The birthday party had more than 0 guests – that’s more than the 0-person maximum – and at least made cases and pushed many more people into quarantine.
In the same episode, the Sheriff’s Office in New York City said deputies broke up an illegal party of more than 215 people at a dinner party in the Ozone Park area of Queens early Sunday morning. Officials said those present were dancing and not wearing social distances or masks.
Officials on Sunday announced seven more coronavirus-related deaths across the state, bringing the total to more than 26,440.
“We had the worst problem in the world at one point,” Mr. Kumo said. “The numbers are all moving in the right direction.”
Lime contributed to stack reporting.
