It’s not over until it’s over: COVID upswing worries Rabbi Dr. Glatt

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt warned on motzei Shabbat that this “is a very dangerous time — we are seeing more deaths in the United States than we saw back in April and May — 3,000 deaths per day, Rachmana litz-lan.” In the 5 Towns, in Nasssau County and in New York State, the numbers are up, he said.

Voicing confidence in the new vaccines, he cautioned that they won’t greatly diminish the pandemic’s impact for a while — so we need to keep our guard up and follow CDC guidance on social-distancing and mask-wearing.

“Lest people think that it’s not in the frum community, unfortunately it is,” he continued. “And it’s not only older people” or people with “the classical risk factors.”

While young people may be less likely to die from COVID, many are suffering significant after-effects, including brain fog and difficulties with multiple organ systems, he said. Little is known about these after-effects, which can linger for months or indefinitely, and there is currently no cure.

“Nobody should go around thinking it’s safe to get COVID, it’s a good idea to get COVID, I  don’t have risk factors, I’ll get immunity — fartik, all done and I’ll be fine.”

Dr. Glatt, chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau and assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere, addressed the community on Zoom and YouTube, reiterating many of the cautions he’s voiced over the course of the pandemic.

“Go to the CDC website. Search your questions and have them answered by the experts,” he said. “Social media are not the way to learn about this disease.”

“We want to make sure the yeshivas stay open, the shuls stay open … but it has to be done with sechel in a way that people will be safe.”

He pointed out that the recent Supreme Court decision did “not recommending that people do dangerous things — and certainly the halacha doesn’t allow people to do dangerous things” — only that government should regulate religious and secular institutions equivalently.

He voiced confidence in the new vaccines, and said rabbinic authorities were weighing whether they should make getting vaccinated a strong recommendation or a requirement (particularly for those who are in a high-risk group). He said that while one local posek considered it an obligation, individuals should consult their own rabbinic authority.

Responding to a question about family gatherings over Chanukah, he urged caution — and said a socially-distanced outdoor gathering “generally is going to be safer, albeit indoors can be safe” as well if CDC recommentations are followed.

He urged against indoor food gatherings in close proxiiity without open windows because its so cold.

“It would be horible if someone died because they went to a Chanukah party.”

“I’ve been recommending in our shul to keep all the doors open, and that we keep the windows open” even when it’s cold, he said.