The local paper for the Upper East Side THEATER FOLK CAN’T WORK FROM HOME ◄ P.11
PREPARING FOR PASSOVER
WEEK OF APRIL
2-8 22020
INSIDE
FINGERS AND FACES
HOLIDAYS
Why it’s so hard to keep one from the other. p. 2
From online services to seder meals delivered to your door: how to celebrate safely BY JENNIFER DOHERTY
“Of all the Jewish holidays, Passover is a time that people associate with family,” Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky of Park East Synagogue told Straus News, “and the guidance that we’re getting from the CDC is to separate ourselves, social distancing. It’s the very opposite.” Concerns over spreading coronavirus will prevent many Manhattanites from joining family and friends for traditional seder meals and prayer services this year, but that’s no reason to skip the holiday, according to Rogosnitzky. With a little imagination and the
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Mayor Bill de Blasio welcomes USNS Comfort to New York City on Monday, March 30, 2020. The U.S. Navy hospital ship will help alleviate the strain on local hospitals due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
HELP FOR NYC AT HAND PUBLIC HEALTH
A Navy hospital ship arrives, a field hospital opens in Central Park and Cuomo asks for more health care workers to come to New York BY EMILY HIGGINBOTHAM
The most important thing is that you keep [Passover] in whatever way, that you observe it.” Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky, Park East Synagogue
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The coronavirus pandemic has brought New York City hospitals to the brink of their capacity, forcing the government find and create new facilities to treat patients. On Monday, a Navy hospital ship arrived in New York Harbor and will provide 1,000 needed beds. Aboard the USNS Comfort, which is docked at Pier 90 off West 50th Street in Manhattan, there are 12 operating rooms and a medical laboratory. More than 1,000 Navy accompanied the ship to provide their services.
Crime Watch 3 Voices 6 City Arts 10 15 Minutes 16 Restaurant Ratings 17
The ship will house patients who are not suffering from coronavirus, in order to free up hospital beds to those who are. Mayor Bill de Blasio said that about 750 of the ship’s beds would be put to use immediately. “This is like adding another hospital here in New York City,” said de Blasio. “It’s such a boost to see the military arrive to help us out.”
NYC IN THE DAZE OF COVID-19
Metropolitan Hospital pizza delivery, Census issues and city buses. p. 6
A ZOOM RETIREMENT PARTY
A beloved porter in an UWS building gets a virtual sendoff. p. 5
Chris Cuomo Tests Positive Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that an additional 332 people had died in New York State as of Tuesday morning, bringing the death toll to 1,550. In New York City, 900 people have died. During his press briefing Tuesday, the governor said his brother, Chris Cuomo, an anchor at CNN, tested positive for the virus.
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Jewish women and girls light up the world by lighting the Shabbat and Holiday candles. Wed. April 8, Passover eve. 7:10 pm. Thursday, April 9, 2nd night of Passover, after 8:11 pm from a preexisting flame Friday, April 10, 7:13 pm from a preexisting flame. For more information visit www.chabbaduppereastside.com