UTA Of Kiryas Joel Boys School Had 'Hundreds Of Students' Inside

GOSHEN, NY — The United Talmudic Academy of Kiryas Joel Boys School was served with a cease and desist order Thursday after Orange County Health Department officials observed hundreds of students in the school in violation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's order closing schools.

In a release, the health department said it began receiving reports on Wednesday that students were inside the building, disregarding social distancing requirements, and none were wearing personal protective equipment.

The health department said it contacted the school and verbally insisted that the school shut down.

The health department notified the governor's office of the violation Wednesday, and health officials and New York State Police troopers returned Thursday and served the cease and desist order.

“The County Health Department investigates as many complaints as we can, based on the severity of the potential violation as it pertains to the threat to public health during this communicable disease pandemic,” Orange County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a statement. “We refer all other potential violations of the Governor’s Executive Order to law enforcement as part of New York’s PAUSE program. This school has been notified that they are not to continue to operate, and we expect them to comply.”

Ron Coleman, an attorney for the UTA, told the Times Herald-Record that school administration had allowed students into the building to study independently. “The school was not operating as a school,” Coleman told the publication.

Coleman told the publication school leaders do not agree with health officials, but that the school has been closed anyway.

Residents who see violations of Cuomo's executive orders are encouraged to call the New York State PAUSE Enforcement Assistance Task Force at 1-833-789-0470.