Reflecting on Five Years Since the Coronavirus

By Y.M. Lowy

Five years ago, as Purim approached, whispers of a mysterious, unknown virus began circulating. Let’s take a moment to reflect on those early days.

The reports began with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio urging anyone who had recently returned from five countries to self-isolate for 14 days to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. It was an unprecedented move. The affected countries were China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan. At the same time, some stores began price gouging face masks and Purell, with incidents of Purell being sold for $199 for a four-pack or $800 a case.

Before Purim, Hatzolah issued a health advisory recommending that large Purim parties be canceled due to growing concerns about the virus. At the time, a pandemic seemed far off, and the virus itself was only just being introduced. “Hatzolah says it is closely monitoring the virus, also called COVID-19.”

The first confirmed cases in the community came shortly after Purim, with shuls alerting their members about potential exposure. As the days passed, more cases emerged, and within a week, an urgent care center reported over 100 positive cases.

At this point, some people were already in quarantine, unsure of how long they would remain locked at home. Schools and yeshivas initially closed with the expectation they would reopen soon. But then, Hatzolah released a statement that changed everything.

On March 18, 2020, the medical board of Chevra Hatzalah, with the strong endorsement of the Va’ad Horabanim of Chevra Hatzalah, declared that all schools, yeshivas, men’s mikvaos, shuls, minyanim, in-person shiurim, and public gatherings should be closed immediately and until further notice. Cases surged, and a full-blown quarantine was put into effect. A new vocabulary entered everyday conversation.

Tragically, news of deaths became all too common, and sirens echoed day and night. At one point, over 1,000 aveilim were sitting shiva in the greater New York and New Jersey area. Misaskim stepped in, working tirelessly to provide shiva chairs to all aveilim.

Pesach that year was a muted affair. Coronavirus led to a unanimous psak from rabbanim urging people to stay home, even for the sedarim at their parents’ homes. Young couples, elderly couples, and singles found themselves making Pesach alone.

We thought things would never return to normal, but slowly, they did. Gradually, things began to open; masks became a thing of the past, and the spread slowed. Now, COVID is unheard of, and Baruch Hashem, life has returned to normal.