Coronavirus dilemma

amother

OP ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 8:17 pm

I was at shul this morning for parshas zachor, together with my kids. They drifted away to the area where a cluster of kids were chatting.

Later today, my dh and I were discussing the latest updates on coronavirus, which has suddenly become very relevant- we live in monsey, and one newly diagnosed case of the virus is a man who served as a waiter at three local affairs this week.

My dh commented that one next door neighbor was actually at one of the halls where the waiter served. His kids were in shul today, and I saw them playing with mine... now what? Do I place my family under cautionary quarantine the week of purim? What about the rest of my neighborhood?

Is this just inevitable?

I feel like this is out of a terrifying sci fi thriller!

amother

Coffee ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 8:21 pm

Yes Op totally feels like something apocalyptic out of a sci fi novel.

I would absolutely take this question to a higher authority, rabbi, CDC...it is no laughing matter!!!

amother

Yellow ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 8:38 pm

We've been discussing the same thing in my house.
Notice on the ERCSD website, they closed all ERCSD schools this weekend for a full cleaning. There are 5 kids, from 5 different schools (probably siblings) who are under quarantine for exposure. They'll probably decide tomorrow afternoon/ evening if the schools will be open on Monday.
My dh feels its too late, almost everyone will get it or has it already. Daven and try to stay hydrated, rested and hopefully you'll get a mild case.
It will take a few days to figure out where each person suspected had visited recently, and I'm sure everyone's been to the grocery, Target, etc.
Stay well.
eta: the 5 children are currently asymptomatic.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 8:54 pm

carnation wrote:

OP, your dilemma depicts the real situation and makes me think that EVERYONE should try to self quarantine.

Otherwise soon everyone could have the virus.

In this case, it seems like the right thing to do. I think that my entire neighborhood should stay home. Realistically though, it will never happen.

My dh and I are really grappling with this decision. On the one hand, my neighbor is feeling well (so far) and my kids chatted with his kids, not with him. But the aggressiveness of the virus is so frightening- I won't have its further spread on my conscience

WhatFor ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 9:37 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

May I ask whether there's been any official guidance on this from the community whether from the health department or even doctors or community leaders? What are they saying with respect to the people who attended the simcha?

This feels more like a community issue than something you should have to be figuring out on your own.

amother

Lemon

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 9:41 pm

I know one of the places of work where someone has tested positive has been instructed that anyone who came within 6 feet of the person, for more than two minutes, should self quarantine,

amother

↑ OP

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 9:49 pm

Most of the neighbors I've spoken to have a fatalistic attitude about it. They feel that the coronavirus is unstoppable, unbeatable, and they will just go about their hectic pre- yom tov lives and hope to be spared the worst of it.
I understand them, but I am uncomfortable with this approach.

As far as I know, no one has reached out for guidance from experts.

amother

Purple ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 9:49 pm

amother [ Lemon ] wrote:

I know one of the places of work where someone has tested positive has been instructed that anyone who came within 6 feet of the person, for more than two minutes, should self quarantine,

I know this may not sound considerate, but I don't think I would self-quarantine if I was exposed to someone with coronavirus.
I probably wouldn't even go to get tested unless symptoms warranted hospitalization.
I would just be careful not to go on top of other people if I felt ill.

You're probably all horrified right now, but I don't want to be locked down in my house and broadcasted all over the news... Not listening

amother

Burgundy ↓

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:02 pm

amother [ Purple ] wrote:

I I I I .... Sorry baby, if we all think about only what is good for our individual selves, honestly we are all going to die.

Time to think about each other.

mamma llama

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:08 pm

amother [ Burgundy ] wrote:

I I I I .... Sorry baby, if we all think about only what is good for our individual selves, honestly we are all going to die.

Time to think about each other.

Most people who got very sick from it had preexisting conditions. We are NOT all going to die!

↑ WhatFor

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:21 pm

amother [ Purple ] wrote:

At this point, running around with coronavirus because you're too inconsiderate to care if someone else catches it is a much quicker way to get on the news. The cases are going to skyrocket quickly as more people get tested. Each individual case is not going to be noteworthy, but the person who didn't comply with a recommended self quarantine is more likely to be a story.

To OP, I don't think the onus should be on community members to call their leaders to ask what they should do - there should be publicly available guidance. In the meantime, might make sense to call your children's pediatrician and ask how they should handle this.

amother

Gray

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:39 pm

thegiver wrote:

Guideline: 10 min exposure within 6 ft

Seems this recommendation makes no sense.

The waiter from Rockland got it from a guest at a simcha where he was waiter.

I doubt that he spent even a few minutes within 6 feet of this person. Putting down a plate takes no more than 3 seconds.

↑ carnation

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:43 pm

amother [ Gray ] wrote:

I think we should all use our own brains how to handle this situation. The government officials and doctors have not had experience with such a breakout for as long as they lived.

And mainly we should storm the heavens this Purim.

amother

↑ Purple

Sat, Mar 07 2020, 10:47 pm

WhatFor wrote:

How would they know if and when I was exposed? There's no way for them to know if I even knew I was exposed.