At least 65 Chabad Hassidim who returned to Israel from the US last week have tested positive for coronavirus, the Defense Ministry announced overnight Sunday.
According to the report, about 100 Chabad members from Israel stayed at the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in Brooklyn. Upon returning to Israel, the group was moved directly to quarantine at the Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. On Sunday night, positive test results came back for some two-thirds of the group. As of Monday morning, test results had not been received for the rest of the group, who will have to remain in quarantine at the hotel.
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The Chabad members who tested positive have been moved to Shmuel Harofeh Hospital in Beer Yaakov, which has been set up as a dedicated facility for the treatment of light cases of coronavirus.
M., one of the Chabad Hassidim who tested positive, said, "When we landed in Israel they took us straight to the Dan Hotel in Jerusalem because we were an at-risk group. Until then, no one knew he was positive for the virus or anything. They tested us on Shabbat and today we got the results, a lot of us have already talked to a social worker or a psychologist who told us we were positive for coronavirus."
According to M., while the group was in Brooklyn, several members felt poorly and sought medical attention.
"It never occurred to anyone that it was coronavirus," he said.
"They went to the doctor and thought it was the flu. Apparently, there is massive community contact spread there. Later on, the young people were told there was no need to be tested and they caught the virus and spread it in the community. Chances are that almost everyone who was on the flight this weekend caught it, because about 100 people on the flight study in the same yeshivas, live in the same area, and sleep in the same rooms.
"Unfortunately, that's the situation," M. added.
The Chabad Hassidim quarantined in Jerusalem reported that they are being treated well and provided with kosher food, reading material, and good care.
"We aren't allowed to leave our rooms. They bring us food, put it next to the door, and then the hotel's PA system announces when we can open the door and take it. We aren't even allowed out on the balcony, we can only stand near the [balcony] door. It's total quarantine, they're not playing around," one of the group said.
