Maplewood Coronavirus Updates: Stats, Antibody Testing, More

Caren Lissner
Updated ·6 min read

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – As of Monday, a total of 12,176 New Jersey residents had died of coronavirus in just three months, during a period at which people were starting to self-isolate. More than 113,000 Americans have died of the virus in that same period. For contrast, the CDC estimates that 61,000 Americans died of the flu during the entire 2017-2018 flu season.

In an update on Tuesday, Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee said that the numbers in town for Saturday, May 30 through Friday, June 5 were: three new cases, bring the total number of Maplewood residents who tested positive to 298; age range of three new cases: 36 to 58. According to the county of Essex, 26 Maplewood residents have passed away from the virus (see chart).

Essex County has had the most deaths of any county in New Jersey: 1,726 as of Thursday morning.

Maplewood has a website for coronavirus updates: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/covid19. With questions, residents can also call the Public Health Division at (973) 762-8120.

Here are more updates on coronavirus in Maplewood:

TESTING

  • In partnership with Salerno Medical Associates, the town has been providing mobile coronavirus testing and antibody testing this week, through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 129 Boyden Ave., the Maplewood Office of Emergency Management Building. Entrance is through the Maplewood Community Pool Parking Lot. 150 spots are open per day, first come, first served. Bring insurance card and ID. If you do not have insurance, please bring your Social Security card to be tested and there will be no charge.

  • Testing continues at Weequahic Park in Newark for all Essex county residents. Test times are from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and residents must arrive by car.

  • To register and see other upcoming dates, head to: www.essexcovid.org

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DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT

  • On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy expanded his limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings, with social distancing and other regulations still in effect.

  • Restaurants can offer outdoor dining starting Monday. READ MORE.

  • Murphy said businesses such as salons and gyms can reopen on June 22, with restrictions to be announced. READ MORE.

  • Maplewood Mayor McGehee said Tuesday: "The township is moving forward with Stage Two of the reopening plan which will include outdoor dining for restaurants as of June 15. The directive outlines capacity limits to ensure that all patrons can remain six feet apart in all directions from all other patrons at all times, except for those who are sharing a table. It prohibits entering the indoor premises except to use the restroom or to seek take-out (place an order and/or pick up food) and requires patrons to wear a face covering while inside the indoor premises unless the patron has a medical reason for not doing so or is a child under two years of age. All businesses are also to follow state and federal safeguarding guidelines:

  1. Wash hands

  2. Wear masks in public

  3. Respect social distancing

  4. Minimize gatherings

  5. Disinfect workplace and businesses

  • McGehee said the town is working with special improvement district managers and restaurant owners on options to create or expand their outdoor footprint including sidewalks and parklets.

SCHOOLS

RECREATION, POOL, CAMP

  • FACE COVERINGS AT PARKS: Individuals within the Township of Maplewood's parks are required to have face coverings and practice social distancing. The mayor mandated this when he declared a local emergency last month.

  • McGehee said last month, "We are working to have a truncated pool season starting in early July but our summer swim team and diving team will be cancelled. If we are allowed to open, all pools will be accessible and we will leverage a phased capacity approach coupled with a daily time slot program. Sign ups will occur primarily online with an offline component available if needed."

  • Regarding camp, he said last month: "We will have a limited season and smaller version (a maximum of 50 children per week) of kids camp, art camp and tennis camp with a lot of outside activities. Campers will be broken into small groups of 10, no field trips and no pool time. We have created a robust communication program for parents/guardian and a lot of training for our staff."

  • See the town website for the most up-to-date information on these and other recreation measures.

  • Statewide, day cares and camps can reopen, with restrictions, starting June. 15. READ MORE.

FOOD FOR THE NEEDY AND SENIORS

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants are now able to use their benefits to order groceries online. Online shopping is available through Amazon and participating Walmarts, ShopRites, and The Fresh Grocers. Visit njhelps.org to learn more and apply for food assistance and other benefits.

  • To read about Maplewood programs for senior shopping and food for the needy, click here.

  • Here is an article on Maplewood FLAG to help first responders. READ MORE.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY/JOBS

  • Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.

  • Turtleback Zoo has job opportunities in guest relations, paddle boats, Treetop Adventure, parking and maintenance, must be 18 years of age. Please visit the link for a list of available jobs and how to apply: https://buff.ly/2QWodaV

LONG-TERM CARE/NURSING HOMES

  • New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities, and have charged that the facilities are undercounting the numbers and not adequately protecting residents and staff. The state has faced questions for weeks from the press about how they will address the problems.

  • There is now a state website with numbers for people at individual nursing homes.

  • You can report immediate issues with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct that should be reported to the Attorney General, here.

Gov. Murphy said he will allow facilities and businesses to reopen in New Jersey in stages to monitor data and watch for a new spike in cases. At the peak of the virus' death rate on April 30, 460 New Jerseyans lost their lives to the virus in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes.

Here are additional 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. Don't miss Hoboken and statewide news alerts when they are announced. Sign up for free Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

This article originally appeared on the Maplewood Patch