The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale is being very careful with the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in New York City.

Purim is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated all over the world, but instead of the usual large gathering inside the synagogue, they have taken some extra measures.

"We decided that the most prudent thing to be extraordinarily cautious and concerned for the benefit of the health of our congregation is for us to do that service this evening by live stream," said President of Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel, Dr. Cliff Nerwen.

 

Fear of the virus spreading has left the synagogue to improvise with technology. Normally, they say would have up to 500 people inside, but instead only have about 15 putting on the show.

"Just a skeleton crew, enough to do what we need to do," said Nerwen.

There are no known cases of the virus in the synagogue, but the concern from other Jewish communities is enough.

Officials say the number of cases in the city could be in the hundreds in the next two to three weeks. One of the newer cases is a 7-year-old girl in the Bronx.

"She attends Westchester Torah Academy, which has been closed since March 3 directly related to the Westchester cluster," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The mayor says she is doing well and has minimal symptoms. She is quarantined at home with her family. Her mother, father and two sisters have tested negative.

A Brooklyn FDNY EMS member also tested positive but did not contract the disease through patient contact, the fire department said.