Tuesday, 17 March 2020

YBR: Update on Second Confirmed Case of COVID-19


Further to a new identified case of COVID-19, we are able to advise the following:

A student who was identified as being a Casual Contact after having been in a class or davening with the staff member who tested positive, has now also returned a positive COVID-19 result.  As such if you were at the following places at the following times, please be take note of below:

Thursday 12 March:

We have identified that this student was at Chabad House of Caulfield on Thursday 12 March from 10.20am to 12.30pm.  If you were at this location during this entire period of time, you are considered to be a Close Contact and we request you to please begin self-quarantine and to advise us at PA-to-Principal@ybr.vic.edu.au so we can inform DHHS to be in contact with you.  If you were at this location at any point during this time, you are now considered to be a Casual Contact.  As such you are requested, as per the original guidelines set by DHHS, to avoid sites of mass gatherings (e.g. concerts, sporting venues, festivals) and sensitive areas including health care (unless they need medical attention themselves) and residential care sites.  In addition you are requested to daven in a minyan of 20 or less.

Wednesday 11 March:

DHHS have advised that the student may have been infectious for the 24 hours prior to demonstrating symptoms and hence  – i.e. Wednesday 11 March.  As such, anyone who attended Mincha / Maariv at Katanga from 7.30pm to 8.20pm on Wednesday 11 March is also considered a Casual Contact and is to abide by the guidelines as mentioned above for a Casual Contact.

Tuesday 10 March:

Whilst Tuesday evening falls outside of the DHHS recommended time for infection, as it is just outside the timeframe, we recommend that if you attended any of the following farbrengens that you also maintain, as much as possible, the recommended guidelines for a Casual Contact as specified above.

    • Young Yeshivah farbrengen at the home of Rabbi Lesches from 9.30 – 11.00pm
    • Farbrengen at the home of Rabbi Menachem Lipskier from 10.30pm onwards

Given the unique nature of the interconnectedness of our community, coupled by the fact that we are still awaiting results of other members of the school and community, we continue to urge everybody else who may not fall in the above categories to maintain social distancing and exercise extreme caution.

We have also been advised by DHHS that any Casual Contacts who begin to demonstrate symptoms should go and be tested.

We wish anyone who is unwell a refuah sheleima and continue to thank everyone for their cooperation and support.  We ask that everyone maintain their increase in Torah, Tefillah and Tzedaka and their demonstration of achdus during this time.

Only blessings,

Dr Shimon Waronker - Principal Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah Colleges
Peretz Schapiro – CIVL Board Member