Info: Indoor Minyanim and Playing Outside

From A Lakewood Doctor to his patients

Davening Inside a Building or Shul with a Minyan
Q. When the Poskim permit indoor minyanim again, is there anything that we would need to know?
A minyan indoors is entirely different than a minyan outdoors with respect to the potential for the COVID-19 to spread from person to person. The air inside a room has the potential to be filled with the invisible virus if an infected person or people spend time in the room.


By way of explanation, the virus leaves the mouth of someone who is infected with COVID-19 as the person breaths and speaks, and certainly as the person coughs or sneezes. During davening the air inside the room will silently fill with the virus if a Mispalel is infected with the virus.

To make matters worse, one of the most contagious times for someone infected with COVID-19 is the day before the symptoms develop — before the person feels ill or even has any idea that he is sick.

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Important Medical Points Regarding Indoor (Shul) Minyanim
When Permited by the Government and Poskim
• A distance of at least six feet, optimally 8 feet, between Mispalelim is crucially important indoors.

• Masks should ideally be worn by anyone davening indoors. However, a Mispalel who did not have the COVID-19 illness or anyone who may not be immune to the virus should not daven indoors without a mask.

• Care should be taken to maintain social distance between Mispalelim when entering and leaving the building.

• Interactions with another Mispalel before or after the minyan should be limited indoors. Bring the interaction outside with social distancing.

• Have a habit of washing your hands well when returning from a minyan.
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Children Playing Outside Safely

Q. We see children playing together outside — with no social distancing! Is this safe? What are we supposed to do?! How are we supposed to avoid it? Our children need to play!

Children gravitate to each other to play together with each other. This is a distinct challenge for us. Although social distancing with children is especially challenging, we need to continue to be vigilant to protect our loved ones and Kehilla from the potentially dangerous risks of COVID-19 illness.

At the same time...
Our children need to go outside and have physical activity, fun, and play!
So, please, take your family outdoors!

Here are guidelines to keep you and your loved ones safe outdoors:
Important Medical Points Regarding Safe Outdoor Play

• Children need physical activity, fun and socialization. Take your family outdoors!

• With social distancing the outdoor air is safe. The virus does not live in the outdoor air.

• When your family is outdoors stay at least six feet away from other families. This will make spread of the virus from one person to another unlikely.

• Biking, scootering, and rollerblading (with helmets) are healthy activities in which a social distance can be easily maintained.

• Local parks in Ocean County are open. Families are encouraged to go to parks to walk, hike, bike, scooter or rollerblade. Township regulations require masks and strict social distancing between families. Public park playgrounds are not open at this time.

• Open outdoor areas such as open parking lots, fields, or other open public spaces are ideal for outdoor family activities. Stay physically separate from other families and let your children run, bike and play!

• "Six-Feet Rule Games:"
Parents should instruct and encourage children to play "Six-Feet Rule Games" with children from neighboring families whose parents have also instructed and encouraged their children to play
"Six-Feet Rule Games."

A "Six-Feet Rule Game" is any outdoor game played among neighboring children in which every child knows from his or her parents that he or she is expected to maintain a 6-foot distance among children who are not their family members. Parents should periodically remind children that it is a Six-Feet Rule Game and supervise this type of fun group play.

• Older children and adolescents may interact with other neighbors as long as they stand at least 6 feet back, (and optimally 8 feet back) and maintain this physical distance at all times.

• Adults may interact with neighbors while maintaining social distance of at least 6 feet, better 8 feet.

• Children and adults should regularly wash their hands before and after they play outside.