St. John’s Wood (SJW) synagogue is to close “until further notice” due to a member of staff having contracted coronavirus, a statement emailed to members said late on Thursday.   

SJW announced in the statement “one of our team has now confirmed to have the coronavirus and was in attendance at the Purim party.”   

"The decision has now been made to close St. John’s Wood Synagogue and all services and programmes are now suspended with immediate effect”.   

SJW’s youth Purim party took place on 9 March, between 7:30pm and 9:00pm at the synagogue on Grove End Road in north-west London.  

“There will be no services tomorrow, Friday morning, through Shabbat, and until further notice,” SJW’s statement continued.  

“This includes Nursery, Hebrew classes and any other event or programme”.   

The announcement followed a statement circulated by SJW on Thursday morning saying that a congregant had been taken “seriously ill” with coronavirus.   

SJW said that he had last attended services on the 29 February and that Public Health England had informed them that they were “not concerned” and that it was “safe for activities to continue at St. John’s Wood.”   

It is not known if the cases are related.   

The JC understands that another person who was present at Purim services on 9 March has tested positive for coronavirus. 

Children from the North West London Jewish Day School were also in attendance at SJW's Purim party. 

In a letter adresssed to parents on Thursday night, the school announced that it would be closing from Friday "as a precaution" while medical advice was being sought. 

"There are still no confirmed cases within the school community," it continued.

The letter was signed by Headteacher Ms Judith Caplan, Chair of Governors Mr Ashley Donoff and the Chair of Trustees Mr David Landy.