Newark Tackles '2nd Wave' Of COVID-19; New Rules Start Tuesday

Eric Kiefer
Updated ·3 min read

NEWARK, NJ — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced Monday that his administration will be taking strong measures to address a “second wave” of the coronavirus in Newark.

The temporary changes include a new set of rules for many local businesses, which will be required to close nightly at 8 p.m. The changes will also affect Newark restaurants, barber shops, nail salons and gyms.

Newark has been hit hard by the virus, tallying more COVID-19 cases than all other municipalities in Essex County combined as of Sunday, Baraka noted.

Here are the latest numbers, officials said:

“The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Newark as of Friday, Oct. 23, was 10,041, with 673 deaths. On Oct. 18, Newark reported a test positivity rate of 11.2 percent, using a three-day rolling average, in comparison to New Jersey’s test positivity rate of 5.28 percent. Based on testing information for Newark from Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, which counts each test, the city’s positivity rate is 11.8 percent and the highest rate has been determined to be in the East Ward (25.3 percent in zip code 07105).”

The city’s positivity rate hasn’t been this high since the week ending May 23, officials said.

Baraka said Newark will get help from the state with access to rapid testing and more contact tracers, as well as a space for people to safely quarantine.

“This is not the first time COVID-19 has threatened our city and its residents at this magnitude and once again, we will meet this challenge with determination and guided by data,” Baraka said. “We are Newark strong and can get through this together. We did it once before and we can do it again.”

TEMPORARY COVID-19 CHANGES IN NEWARK

The citywide crackdown will start on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The city will then reassess the situation after Tuesday, Nov. 10, officials said.

The following temporary rules will be “strictly enforced without exception,” Newark officials said:

  • All stores except supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations will close at 8 p.m. every day. They will be allowed to deliver and take out with no indoor ordering or lines.

  • All restaurants, bars, etc. must close their indoor service at 8 p.m. and outdoor service at 11 p.m. They must also take temperatures of all patrons coming inside and ask them have they been in touch with anyone with COVID-19.

  • All barbershops, beauty parlors, nail salons, and related establishments must have appointments only and no waiting inside.

  • All gyms must clean and sanitize for the first 30 minutes of each hour. During that time, people can stay inside or return after the cleaning. Everyone must wear masks.

  • All indoor establishments must have sanitizer available.

  • City Hall will be open by appointment only.

  • The city will close all recreation centers to everything but school-related programs for essential employees.

  • All sports activities and open park practices and games in the East Ward are canceled.

  • The city is encouraging all employees to be tested immediately and periodically thereafter.

  • Newark is discouraging all parties, indoor and outdoor festivals, and large family gatherings until further notice.

“Until, and even after, a vaccine is made available to every Newarker, the most potent immunization we will have available is a decision to take personal responsibility to obey and model the recommendations that keep us all safe,” Newark Director of Health and Community Wellness Mark Wade said.

“All of us will need each other to get us through as individuals, neighborhoods, communities and a city, and to save the lives of those we love the most, each other,” Wade added.

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This article originally appeared on the Newark Patch