Bnei Brak resident went to pray while knowing he has coronavirus
A Bnei Brak resident, who knew he tested positive for coronavirus, stayed with a yeshiva to pray along with 16 other people.
By TAMAR URIEL-BEERIAn ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl walks past a shop window displaying women's head coverings in Bnei Brak, Israel July 18, 2017. Picture taken July 18, 2017(photo credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)
A resident of Bnei Brak who tested positive for coronavirus was found on Thursday night staying with the city's Ponovitz Yeshiva, despite being told explicitly of the restrictions, according to Maariv, sister publication of The Jerusalem Post.The man stayed in the yeshiva along with another 16 men in order to pray.In a separate location in Bnei Brak, 18 people were found praying together, despite the restrictions on religious gatherings in light of the coronavirus pandemic.Bnei Brak has been hit particularly hard by the novel coronavirus, with over 1,000 people having been diagnosed with the illness. On Friday, the police enforced a total lockdown of the city, with over 1,000 officers being deployed there to enforce the shutdown with roadblocks at the entrances and exits to the city.Armed troops from the IDF’s Paratrooper Brigade will be deployed in to the largely haredi (ultra-Orthodox) city to work with Home Front Command, as well."We will do everything it takes to support the civilian effort in general, and Bnei Brak in particular, during this challenging crisis,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi.One of the main missions of the IDF in Bnei Brak is to remove those known to be sick with coronavirus from the city, Ynet reports.Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.
