Quarantine Tuesday Reading Kaffeeklatsch - 10/6/2020

[Theresa]

NYC has seen rise in specific areas, mostly areas of Brooklyn and Queens with high concentration of religious Jewish populations who have just ended several weeks of high holydays, or their shoulder areas. As strict religious, particularly orthodox, observers do not allow any type of mechanical, digital or televised services, they were held in person. The religious community has been particularly careless and even somewhat resistant to masks or even seeking early medical care. I have a few clients in which I have seen this first hand all summer, or heard their reports about how masks and social distancing were not enforced at services.

Reformed synagogues zoomed services.

It would seem to me the rabbis could band together and come up with some support in the Torah to make an exception for public health and race survival reasons.

[Robin P]

Cuomo actually referenced that - rules like attendance at temple can be broken to save a life, and this is a life-saving situation. It seems like there were some protests in Brooklyn by Orthodox people, which is kind of an odd sight. I think these groups also run their own schools where they wouldn't have followed the guidelines or delays of the public schools. And they tend to have big families.

[Theresa]

The only inside dining I have done, other than in my apartment, was this past week at Mohonk. I did do room service sometimes, but was totally comfortable in the main dining room. I deliberately took the latest reservations for lunch and dinner as I am used to eating very late and most people eat earlier. I did occasionally elect to do room service (contactless - delivered in a shopping bag to your door with disposable containers etc.), even though I felt very safe in the dining room which was carefully set up to be socially distant, and it was a 2.5 story room, the ceiling fans were NOT in use, and there were additional 6 foot screens set up throughout the room to provide additional barriers. All service personnel in the dining room and the dining manager wore gloves and properly fitting masks. Tables were completely stripped down and cleaned, including chairs, between seatings and there were no extras on the table except for a vase with a flower and a sign identifying the table name/number. Menus were digitized although they had a disposable paper one if you forgot your phone one evening, as I did.

But I don't see eating inside a NYC restaurant before Thanksgiving. A friend and I have reservations at the Landmark Tavern, an historic pub restaurant near the Intrepid Museum on 11th Avenue around 50th Street. They are strictly conforming to 25% capacity, we have the earliest reservation of the day and reserved the best nook table for our dinner. My friend knows the owner and quizzed him in detail on how he's reopened and precautions taken. Both of us are being extremely careful so I trust her instincts. Plus it is in Manhattan, and so far Manhattan has not had any spikes in the numbers.

Otherwise, I have dined outside - 3 or 4 times alone and 3 or 4 times with colleagues/friends. It's been fine outside and will likely be fine until into November/December. When dining outside, I pick a table far from any groups and if the restaurant is just too busy, I go elsewhere as there are plenty of options all needing my business. I've already seen too many beloved restaurants forced to give up. If I feel comfortable and restrictions are being observed, I'll continue to eat outside.