The city has ordered two Orthodox Jewish men to stop performing a religious form of circumcision after babies in the community were infected with herpes.
The process requires the mohel, who performs the circumcision, to use his mouth to suck blood from the incision.
The city's health commissioner says officials asked religious leaders to avoid the practice until they undergo testing for the virus.
While some believe that stance creates a strain in the community, Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett says she just wants parents to be aware of the risks.
"I would hope that we could continue to get information to families and communicate. That's my goal," Bassett said. "Not to be either disrespectful or disparaging, but the medical view is different from the spiritual view."
In 2015, the city rolled back a requirement that parents sign a consent form before the ritual was performed on their child. Since then, at least six babies have been infected with herpes through the circumcision practice.