Hoboken Hospital Reserves Floor For Coronavirus Cases
HOBOKEN, NJ — A spokesman for Hoboken University Medical Center said Tuesday that the building has now reserved the fourth floor for coronavirus patients, and visitors are not allowed on that floor.
Other than that, the hospital's visitor policy from March is still in effect; read it here.
The announcement came as Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Tuesday that the Hoboken Health Department has reported 35 new cases of coronavirus confirmed from Saturday through Monday, bringing the total resident cases to 1,127 since the beginning of the pandemic.
A total of 31 Hoboken residents have passed away from coronavirus, with the last in May.
Bhalla said that as of Tuesday, Hoboken University Medical Center is treating 12 patients for the virus, including one Hoboken resident.
Bhalla also gave a number for hospitalizations, new cases, and fatalities statewide. "Yesterday," he wrote, "Gov. Phil Murphy reported 11 new covid-19 related fatalities and 2,075 new, known COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, the sixth straight day with at least 2,000 new cases. [And] 1,537 patients with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in New Jersey, the highest total since June 9. We are now in the middle of the second wave of this pandemic."
He said that according to the Hoboken Health Department, many local covid-19 cases have been attributed to:
Workplace exposures, including those working out of state
Children who attended social gatherings outside of school, and recreation activities
Household contacts
Dining rule changes
Gov. Murphy announced these new dining rules Monday:
Indoor dining must end at 10 p.m. at all bars and restaurants
Tables can be placed closer than 6 feet only if there are plexiglass barriers separating tables
Only take-out and delivery services are permitted after 10 p.m.
Hoboken rules regarding outdoor dining remain unchanged. Restaurants and bars can stay open outdoors until 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 12 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Bhalla said, "I understand how difficult this is for our bar and restaurant owners, and I will do everything I can to communicate the need for financial relief for bars and restaurants to our federal elected officials — Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and Congressman Sires. The next stimulus bill must have substantial funding to help offset some of the revenue losses suffered by our small businesses."
Bhalla also said the city is encouraging bar and restaurant employees to get tested every two weeks, and making testing more accessible to them.
Read more about the new state rules and numbers here.
Vaccine progress
Bhalla wrote, "It was great news to hear of progress on Pfizer’s vaccine trial yesterday. According to clinical trials, Pfizer’s vaccine was over 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19. Pfizer could be ready to apply to the Federal and Drug Administration for emergency approval later this month. This could be the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for, and gives us hope that we can eventually get back to normal at some time next year."
But, he noted, "It’s anticipated that even if things continue to progress and a vaccine is approved soon, it could very well be months until the vaccine is widely available and distributed to the greater public. That’s why it’s all the more critical that we continue to use the tools we have at our disposal – wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding indoor gatherings, and washing our hands, in the winter when cases are expected to rise."
Other Hoboken statistics
This past Friday, Bhalla had written in an update to Hoboken residents that the Hoboken Health Department had reported 76 new coronavirus cases among residents in the past week, including 21 who tested positive on Halloween, the most in one day since in April.
Hoboken, a mile-square city of 53,000 people across the river from Manhattan, was one of the first cities in the region to begin closing facilities when the virus began spreading in the U.S.
In June, after months of closures and isolation, the city went a week with only one case, and in August, there were only six cases in one week. But cases began rising in fall with more gatherings.
Last Wednesday, the city passed a $1,000 fine for large indoor house parties.
Here is more information on Hoboken coronavirus testing, statistics, schools, and more:
CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN HOBOKEN
Prompt MD has added additional testing. Proof of residency or employment at a Hoboken business is required at the time of testing. Results are anticipated within 24-48 hours of testing. http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd.
Riverside Medical is also continuing testing for Hoboken residents at the pop-up site under the 14th Street Viaduct six days a week. Appointments can be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis by visiting http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside. If a resident has signed up for a test with Riverside but can no longer make it, please call 201-863-3346 to cancel the appointment.
A covid-19 test is recommended at least 5-7 days after a potential exposure, and that many who have contracted the virus do not have symptoms. Receiving a COVID-19 test prior to the 5-7 days after a potential exposure may yield inaccurate results.
If returning from a state on New Jersey's quarantine list or have had a high-risk exposure, which includes contact of over 10 minutes to someone who has tested positive, living in the same household as someone with COVID-19 or attending a large indoor gathering without face masks, residents should self-quarantine for the full 14 days, even with a negative test result, the city says.
If a resident or Hoboken business employee does not have insurance, the city will pay for the cost of a test through both testing sites.
LOCAL BUSINESS
More than 50 of the city's restaurants opened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
Some of those have added "streateries" for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
Two of the city's weekly farmers' markets reopened in June. READ MORE.
The city has been closing off certain blocks for businesses to expand and draw foot traffic. READ MORE.
Restaurants in New Jersey can allow indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. Read about Hoboken indoor dining here.
The city of Hoboken is making it easier for restaurants to continue to offer outdoor dining through the winter months.
HOBOKEN SCHOOLS
Hoboken's Wallace Primary School recently closed temporarily after two student cases were confirmed.
Mayor Bhalla wrote a week ago, "Our Health Department has confirmed that our schools are taking every possible safety measure to keep our children safe, and that there is little evidence that the schools themselves are the reason for covid-19 spread, as opposed to behavior outside the school."
Recently, one of the city's charter schools, Elysian Charter, closed temporarily because a student tested positive for the virus.
The Hoboken public schools reopened Monday, Sept. 14 remotely, and reopened on-site Sept. 21 for those who requested it.
The district offered a reopening plan giving parents a choice of either full-time on-site learning (until 3 p.m.) or full-time distance learning. In the buildings, there are restrictions, such as kids wearing masks and maintaining a 6-foot distance.
HOBOKEN LIBRARY
HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE
During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.
LONG-TERM CARE
Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
The state released death toll statistics late in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.
PAST HOBOKEN STATISTICS
Bhalla had said last Tuesday, Oct. 20, that 22 Hoboken residents had been confirmed as testing positive for coronavirus in a four-day period from Friday to Monday inclusive, for a total of 890 cases in residents since the start of the pandemic. Bhalla said that cases are rising again partly due to indoor social gatherings.
More than 235,000 Americans and 14,500 people in New Jersey have died from the virus.
The mayor recent cautioned residents about indoor birthday parties and traveling to Ocean and Monmouth counties. Story here.
For an earlier story about Hoboken coronavirus statistics and updates, click here.
See earlier data here.
Here are past statistics on Hoboken residents under 16 testing positive for the virus.
Here are statewide coronavirus resources:
NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222
Got news? Email Caren.Lissner@patch.com. Want to be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning? Sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.
This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch
