Dear Friends,

As most of you know, the CDC this week urged people to resume wearing masks in indoor public spaces in areas with more than 50 Covid infection cases per 100,000 people.

Sadly, Manhattan tops that threshold, with around 70 cases per 100,000. (In fact, all five boroughs top the bar.)

We have all read about the highly transmissible new Covid variant and heard anecdotes of “breakthrough” infections even among the vaccinated. Although vaccinated people remain very safely protected against serious illness, unfortunately, we still can contract and pass on the virus.

That means it’s time to tighten up again.

Beginning this Shabbat, we ask everyone who attends Ansche Chesed in person to remain masked throughout services.

We look forward to a decline in infection rates, so vaccinated people can once again unmask at their own discretion. Until then, we’re afraid, it’s back to masks.

Shabbat Shalom,

Jeremy Kalmanofsky

Dawn Kellman, President