Rockland targeted in Cuomo ‘crush the cluster’ initiative, some say religious rules a surprise
Rockland County neighborhoods are targeted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “crush the cluster” initiative announced on Tuesday that will shutter schools and some businesses and limit religious gatherings in the heart of COVID-19 hot spots.
The news came the same day Rockland County reported another COVID-19 death.
Areas around Monsey and Spring Valley in the past few weeks had consistently been ranked among the top three in the state for high positive testing rates and active virus. The exact details of the zones were not immediately available.
CUOMO: Shut schools, curb businesses, limit houses of worship in COVID hot spots
Downstate regions outlined in the cluster initiative include large Orthodox Jewish populations.
Ramapo Town Supervisor Michael Specht said that he would reserve comment until he was provided complete information and details about the zones. A Spring Valley official didn’t return a request for comment.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he supported the governor’s cluster initiative.
“We in Rockland County government stand ready to support these actions as we are able,” Day said. “The restrictions he announced are measured and clearly focused on the areas where this disease is spreading.”
The zones are structured in three concentric circles. Restrictions are less stringent as the circles ripple out, with a “red” area shutting school buildings, banning gatherings and limiting businesses; an “orange” area also shutting schools but allowing small gatherings and more businesses; and a “yellow” area with schools allowed to stay open but with other limits.
Cuomo tweeted maps of the zones, including one for Rockland that showed the core of the zone stretching from College Road on the west side to Route 45 to the east; Route 59 to the south to Viola Road; and the north border up Route 306, across Grandview Avenue to New Hempstead Road.
A yellow “caution” area, with less restrictive regulations, stretches beyond those borders.
Day said the areas were carefully crafted to be “minimal in size but logical in scope.
“I have already reached out to local municipalities, police departments and the Sheriff’s Office to ask for their support of these efforts.”
Cuomo said he had a good discussion Tuesday morning with Orthodox Jewish leaders.
But Chaskel Bennett, a Jewish community activist and Agudath Israel of America board member, said on Twitter that the 10-person limit in houses of worship was not discussed. He called the move a “blindside & likely unconstitutional.”
The school closures come as most East Ramapo classes remain virtual, with the district planning to phase in hybrid learning on Oct. 13. Many staff members, special education students and teachers, though, have been attending in person for weeks.
Yeshivas are out on break this week for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot; many were due to reopen Oct. 13 after Simchas Torah. Several had already reported they were going to remain closed or remote for another week as the virus continued to grow in the area.
Orange County’s health department ordered public and private schools shut Tuesday in the Village of Kiryas Joel/Town of Palm Tree as testing results continue to show a high rate of infection.
Cuomo reflected on his and his father’s close relationship with the Orthodox Jewish community that goes back decades. In Judaism, he said, “one of the most precious principles is saving a life. The Torah speaks about how certain religious obligations can be excused to save a life …. this is about saving a life.”
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By the numbers
Rockland reported 1,409 cases on Monday, up from Friday’s 1,072.
By comparison, Westchester County, with nearly three times the population as Rockland, reported 608 active COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.
Viral cases continued to grow in Rockland.Areas with the highest number of cases included:
- Spring Valley/10977 ZIP code, 673 cases on Monday and 471 on Friday.
- Monsey/10952 ZIP code, 401 cases on Monday and 332 on Friday.
- Suffern/10901 ZIP code, 127 cases on Monday and 97 on Friday.
Though the ZIP codes carry the name of a locality, the postal areas encompass beyond that specific village or hamlet.
Hospitalizations in Rockland on Tuesday included 18 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19. On Monday, Rockland hospitals were treating 17 patients with COVID-19; another two patients were under investigation for the virus.
There have been 679 COVID-related fatalities in Rockland since the pandemic was documented in the region in March. In that period, 16,190 cases have been documented in the county.
Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland. Support local journalism; go to lohud.com/specialoffer to find out how.
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