Hoboken Mayor Gives Updates On Coronavirus Numbers, Testing Sites

Caren Lissner
·7 min read

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a coronavirus update on Sunday afternoon that the Health Department had confirmed that nine more residents tested positive from Thursday through Saturday.

That brings the total cases in Hoboken to 772 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hoboken, a mile-square city of 53,000 people across the water from Manhattan, was one of the first communities in the area to begin closing facilities in March.

A total of 31 Hoboken residents have died from the virus, with the last occurring in May.

"As of Friday, 721 residents have made a full recovery," Bhalla said Sunday. "On Saturday, New Jersey reported the largest amount of new covid-19 cases in one day since early June. As we enter the fall and winter months, it is critical to continue to taking the precautions we did at the beginning of the pandemic to avoid further upticks in cases."

He noted, "Medical professionals are predicting a surge in cases in some regions which could put a further strain on healthcare resources and affect our vulnerable populations."

New Jersey and Hoboken cases

Specifically, four New Jersey counties reported upticks last week. Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that Gloucester, Ocean, Middlesex, and Monmouth counties had reported "moderate" activity.

The state as a whole saw 1,500 new cases in two days, the highest two-day rise period since June 5.

Bhalla said Sunday, "Please continue to take the virus seriously and wear face masks, avoid large indoor gatherings, social distance whenever possible, and take into account that the spread of covid-19 often occurs through asymptomatic spread with no symptoms. "

On Saturday, Gov. Murphy said there had been 760 new cases and six more deaths confirmed in the previous 24 hours, and on Friday, he'd confirmed 612 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths. That means the number of cases in the state has risen to 202,100, with 14,306 confirmed deaths since March.

The single-digit daily death rate has fallen since it peaked on the last day of April — a month with shortages of PPE and early testing. On April 30, there were 460 deaths in the state in a 24-hour period.

Last week, Murphy asked travelers to self-quarantine when returning from 35 states and territories where the cases and death toll are still high. There are still states in which the daily death toll hit record highs over the summer.

Mayor Bhalla also made the following announcements Sunday about testing:

The following testing is available:

  • Prompt MD is once again offering COVID-19 testing in partnership with the city of Hoboken on Monday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis for up to 350 Hoboken residents. The location of the testing will be at the Multi-Service Center (124 Grand St., in the second floor gymnasium). Appointments are still available at www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd with proof of address along with an insurance card. If booking a COVID-19 test for a child, please fill in the child's name along with the parent or guardian's insurance and contact information.

  • Also, Riverside Medical continues to offer rapid, 15-minute testing under the 14th Street Viaduct, six days a week for Hoboken residents and Hoboken business employees. Appointments can be scheduled with Riverside by calling the CERT hotline at 201-420-5621 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The entrance for walk-ups to the Riverside Street remains temporarily at 14th and Madison Streets due to nearby construction. The city anticipates introducing an online-sign up form for appointments through Riverside this week.

Flu shots on Thursday

To keep up with the high demand, Hoboken Family Pharmacy will partner with the city to offer flu shots for Hoboken residents at 605 Jackson St. this Thursday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are now available at www.hobokennj.gov/hfp. Other pharmacies are also offering flu shots.

Save a life! Upcoming Blood Drive Sept. 29

The next city-sponsored blood drive will take place this Tuesday at the Multi Service Center (124 Grand St.) from 12 noon to 6 p.m. with Vitalant New Jersey. For those volunteering to donate, please make an appointment and wear a facemask.

Those who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to a confirmed case of covid within the last 14 days will not be eligible to donate. To sign up for an appointment, please go to: https://donor.cbsblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/52654.

Other updates

Here are other recent Hoboken coronavirus statistics and reports from Patch:

OTHER HOBOKEN STATS

HOBOKEN SCHOOLS

  • 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.

DINING OUT

  • 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 LIBRARY

See story here.

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.

  • 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.

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 Hoboken news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. 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