On a weekend normally celebrated by members of the Jewish faith across New York City, a recent spike in coronavirus cases has limited gatherings in neighborhoods which would normally be bustling with activity.

News 12’s Sabrina Franza was in Borough Park Saturday night, where the scene remained quiet after what was a week of sometimes violent protests over COVID-19 restrictions. Saturday also marked the Jewish festival, the Eighth Day of the Solemn Assembly.

The COVID-19 clusters in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Mid-Hudson region prompted restrictions brought about by the state earlier this week which went into effect on Friday. They will be in place for at least two weeks

Houses of worship can have 25% capacity or 10 people at most.
Mass gatherings will be prohibited.
Only essential businesses can remain open.
Restaurants can only serve takeout.
Schools will be closed.

For the warning zone (Orange)
Houses of worship can have 33% capacity or a maximum of 25 people
Gatherings will be limited to 10 people.
High-risk nonessential businesses, such as gyms will close.
Restaurants can only have outdoor dining with at most four people at a table.
Schools will be closed.

For the precautionary zone (Yellow)
Houses of worship can have 50% capacity.
Gatherings are limited to 25 people.
All businesses can remain open.
Restaurants can offer indoor and outdoor dining with four people to a table.
Schools will remain open, but there will be mandatory testing for students and staff.

Outrage over the restrictions prompted multiple rabbies, as well as the Diocese of Brooklyn to independently sue. That first lawsuit was struck down by a federal judge on Friday, finding that the governor’s restrictions did not violate religious freedoms.

The NYPD sent out an internal memo saying that 1st Amendment activity, the right to protest and gather for religious reasons, are still subject to the mayor’s ban on gatherings – meaning that they can be broken up by officers in hot spots.