Mountain Lodge Estates Under Lockdown As Isolated COVID Case Causes Mini Outbreak

by CrownHeights.info

It all starts with one.

An isolated COVID-19 case reported in Mountain Lodge Estates, a chabad bungalow colony in Monticello New York, has grown into what doctors are calling a mini outbreak, and prompting a limited lockdown.

“Over the past 10 days we have working together with others expert in the field of public health, studying the situation at MLE, and trying to devise guidelines for the safe management of what appears to be a mini outbreak there,” a memo to the owners in the estate said.

The memo was written by the Gedaliah Society, Dr Eli Rosen, and Dr Arvi Rosenberg.

The new cases in the colony stem from a visitor who brought the virus in from out of state.

At the time, the doctors overseeing the cases said that they had given “special consideration re quarantine to those who had previously been exposed to the virus,” but as the new cases in the colony included at least two cases of “reinfection,” that they would have to make “adjustments.”

“Two of the adults involved, clearly seem to be cases of reinfection,” the memo reads. “Hopefully their illness will be light, but the possibility now exists that even those that have had the illness may now be incubating again, and themselves become infectious, as antibody protection has waned.”

Another possible explanation for the “reinfections” is that the virus has multiple strains, allowing for the body to be reinfected.

As children and adults could possibly be carrying the virus, even without symptoms, the memo lists a set of instructions to contain the virus.

• In the best situation, there would be no coming and going from MLE, ensuring that the outbreak stays local, and is not exported.
• Those who must leave should be particularly cautious, to observe social distancing and mask use. Most importantly, visits to elderly parents should be delayed. The same applies to simchas and other events where social distancing breaks down.
• Within MLE, mitigation should be carefully practiced, including outdoor minyanim, preferably porch minyanim. The Shabbas kiddush avoided (packing food in individual servings, is not effective in stopping the exchange of respiratory secretions).
• Children should not attend camp both inside and outside of MLE.
• Anyone who feels ill in any way should isolate and be tested immediately.

“There is no perfect solution, and any attempt to shut this mini-outbreak down will require some hardship,” the doctors wrote. “The next few days will be telling as to where this is going, but having experienced the effects of this virus, we believe that abundant caution is appropriate at this time.

Read the Full Memo Below:

8/17/2020

To the residents of MLE.

Over the past 10 days we have working together with others expert in the field of public health, studying the situation at MLE, and trying to devise guidelines for the safe management of what appears to be a mini outbreak there.

Initially we gave special consideration re quarantine to those who had previously been exposed to the virus. However given the most recent case we need to relook at the facts on the ground and attempt to make appropriate adjustments. Two of the adults involved, clearly seem to be cases of reinfection. Hopefully their illness will be light, but the possibility now exists that,

Even those that have had the illness may now be incubating again, and themselves become infectious, as antibody protection has waned.

We may be looking at a variant strain of the virus.

Children, who may not be ill, could possibly be sharing this virus, and bringing it home.

We sincerely hope that this whole episode will blow over very soon, as it may. However until that becomes clear, the following precautions would be appropriate.

In the best situation, there would be no coming and going from MLE, ensuring that the outbreak stays local, and is not exported.

Those who must leave should be particularly cautious, to observe social distancing and mask use. Most importantly, visits to elderly parents should be delayed. The same applies to simchas and other events where social distancing breaks down.

Within MLE, mitigation should be carefully practiced, including outdoor minyanim, preferably porch minyanim. The Shabbas kiddush avoided (packing food in individual servings, is not effective in stopping the exchange of respiratory secretions).

Children should not attend camp both inside and outside of MLE.

Anyone who feels ill in any way should isolate and be tested immediately.

There is no perfect solution, and any attempt to shut this mini-outbreak down will require some hardship.The next few days will be telling as to where this is going, but having experienced the effects of this virus, we believe that abundant caution is appropriate at this time.

Eli Rosen and the Gedaliah society

Together with Dr Avi Rosenberg.