Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Woman with Corona used mikveh

22 March, 2020
Question:

A woman who used our local mikveh last week was just diagnosed with Coronavirus, and now all the women who went that night were quarantined! Is it safe to use the mikveh?


Answer:

Mikva’ot that adhere scrupulously to current public health guidelines should be safe for use. If a woman who used the mikveh is later confirmed to have COVID-19, then the local health authorities will give specific guidance to the mikveh in advance of reopening the premises. Women who are immunocompromised or at high risk should consult their physicians first.

As with any public space, there is some risk of being quarantined if it turns out that a person later diagnosed with Corona was there at the same time as you. This applies to locations such as stores, buses, and synagogues, as well as to mikveh.

The mikveh pool itself is chlorinated, and the railings and preparation rooms are cleaned and disinfected between women. Therefore, a properly maintained mikveh does not present a unique risk of infection compared to other public spaces.

We recommend you work within your community to set up an appointment system if you don’t have one yet. Depending on the specific situation, this could help determine which women were at the mikveh at the same time and minimize the number of women who need to enter quarantine due to possible passage within two meters of the woman diagnosed, or to possibly touching a non-disinfected surface that she touched, too.

May we all merit good health and good news.

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