Beverly Hills Jewish School Closes Amid Coronavirus Concerns

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A Jewish school in Beverly Hills is closed until at least Thursday amid concerns over the new coronavirus, according to reports.

Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy will have digital classes available to students, according to an email sent by head of school Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin that was obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

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A sign left on the school's door said "We Will Miss You" and "Have a meaningful Purim." The festival of Purim began Monday night and usually includes giving money to the poor and sending gifts of food.

Elsewhere in Los Angeles County, Monrovia's Clifton Middle School was deep-cleaned last Thursday following the news that a parent came in contact with someone exposed to the new coronavirus.

“It’s a question of when — not if — some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday in a statement. “School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure.”

According to the Times, a Los Angeles Unified School District official checks in every day with the county health department and asks three questions: Is anyone sick in L.A. County? Are there any exposures affecting schools? Can we go about things normally?

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There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy is at 9120 West Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.