Coronavirus Updates 3/13/20

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Motzei shabbos updates in new post HERE
6:30pm

After a 1 hour 40 minute conference call between all community Rabbonim and Harav Dovid Feinstein, shlita,  it was just decided that ALL shuls in the Far Rockaway and Five Towns community will be closing for Shabbos. (Hamodia)

-The OU The OU arranged a live kabalas Shabbos at 6pm for the thousands of homebound mispallelim

5:30 pm
- The Jackson School District will be CLOSED beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 until further notice. Remote Learning Plans will begin then.   no transportation either for children going to Lakewood schools.

Lakewood school district expected to close early next week after students are given instructions for home remote learning plans.

- Letter with unsigned names of  BMG Roshei Yeshiva  on it issue guidelines based on prominent  Lakewood doctors : People should refrain from shaking hands, not kiss sefer Torah or Mezzuzza, anyone who suspects  they may have  a virus or  cold or fever should not daven in a large minyan but join a smaller one.

-Yeshivas Bais Hatalmud in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn will be splitting its Shacharis minyan this Shabbos – one in the bais medrash, and the other in the dining room downstairs – to increase spacing among mispallelim, due to coronavirus fears. Additionally, the yeshiva will be replacing its trademark towels with paper towels. (Hamodia)


3:00 pm
1 confirmed case of Coronavirus in Ocean county NJ
--Yeshiva Darchei Torah Rabbi Bender will close all it's schools for Sunday & Monday while they disinfect the buildings and will update afterwards
- Crown Heights 3 confirmed cases of covid19 all schools closed. They are expecting a large outbreak in the community

 2:00 pm
- Gov. Murphy- Limitations on public gatherings may become Mandatory.
-Gov Murphy- school closings will happen state wide is "when" but not a 'if". They are preparing for closure but want to make sure all kids will have food security and remote learning set up since student rely on those meals.

- BMG will have a atzeres Tefillah on Sunday  1:00 pm for the spread of the Virus and the potential Bittul Torah of closing yeshivos. Everyone is asked to learn 2 Halachos of Sefer Chofetz Chaim with their Families.

Letter from Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita



בס”ד אדר תש”פ
בדבר החשש התדבקות ממחלת הקורונה על כל אחד להתחזק להזהר מלשון הרע ורכילות, כדא’ בערכין ט”ו
,הוא הבדיל בין איש לאשתו אמרה תורה בדד ישב ולהתחזק במידת הענווה ולהעביר על מדותיו כמו שכתב הרא”ש בפירוש ב’שלהי הוריות וכל המתחזק תגן הזכות עליו ועל בני ביתו שלא יחלה אחד מהם

1:00 pm

-Passaic Rabbonim issue guidelines men's Mikva will be drained and closed. Womens mikvaos will be sanitized anyone with symptoms should consult a Rav.
-Lakewood school district will be open this Monday morning as of now to set guidance for the school closure that will follow.

12:00 pm
- Shuls requesting that everyone keep hands clean and keep a distance anyone under the weather with symptoms to not come and those 65 and older should not come. No hand shaking when saying gut shabbos.
-Lakewood boys yeshiva shuts water fountain kids should bring water bottle
- Chicago Rabbonim forbid kiddushim on shabbos but should are open.
-Long lines at area supermarkets and groceries stores running out of bottled water and vegetables

11:00 am
-Gov Murphy expected to announce closure of all State schools in New Jersey as of Monday morning
-President Trump to declare a national emergency at 3pm news conference

 9:30 am
Yeshiva Ktana of Passaic boys and girls school are closed

8:00 am
-Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita: To say kapital   'מזמור שיר ליום השבת' after each tefilla on shabbos
- New Square For the first time there will be additional minyanim on shabbos,Tish cancelled
-Ger B"M in Yerushalayim will have small minyanim throughout the building
-Ponovez yeshiva will have ezras nashim open for bochurim and issued guidelines to avoid crowding
 -Brick Public School District will have a  remote learning preparedness plan in the event there is a closure of schools.
-Jackson School District students will be on a two-hour delayed opening Friday to finalize COVID-19 contingency plans.

-Brian Lippai, press officer from the Health Department, said this report about positive case in Lakewood is unfounded. They did have a case test negative in Lakewood on March 12. (Jerseyshoreonline)
-Satmar in Monroe will have split up the minyanim on shabbos the rebbe will daven at home with a minyan
-Young Israel of the West Side closes shul for all communal activity no minyanim or shiurim
-Hillel Yeshiva in Deal is closed
-Ohio Gov orders 3 week mandatory closure of all schools including  Yeshivos in Cleveland beginning Tuesday March 17.
-Lakewood BlueClaws 2020 season will be delayed.