Westfield Mayor: Coronavirus Cases 'Ticked Up'

Caren Lissner
Updated ·5 min read

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said Tuesday night that the town had received a report of 11 new coronavirus cases since the previous Tuesday, bringing the town's total to 383 since the pandemic began.

Brindle wrote, "Our case numbers have ticked up, which was fully expected as things reopened, but it is imperative that the number of new cases stays manageable."

She noted (and posted on Facebook Monday) that community members have been contacting her about the lack of social distancing and face coverings in group settings.

The 11 new cases were a contrast to Brindle's report during the last week in August, when Westfield went a week without a new covid case.

"We all have covid fatigue," Brindle said Tuesday, "but our only means of virus mitigation and preserving all of our hard work and a sense of normalcy is to wear face coverings and maintain proper distance."

She added, "Even if you are fortunate enough to be in good health, please consider those around you who are immunocompromised or at higher risk for contracting covid. The steps we are asking everyone to take are simple — and, more importantly, they work."

The Westfield schools reopened this past Thursday. See more about that below.

Past coronavirus statistics

During the last week of August, Brindle announced that Westfield had gone a week without a new covid case.

Two weeks earlier, on Friday, Aug. 14, Brindle had reported that the total was 360.

The total fatalities remain at 43 since the most recent death on June 3.

You can see the mayor's breakdown of coronavirus cases from the entire month of July by clicking here.

Here are some other recent Westfield coronavirus and reopening updates:

SCHOOLS

  • The Westfield schools reopened this past Thursday. See photos here.

  • Here is Superintendent Margaret Dolan's most recent letter, including a link to a video tour of the classrooms and safety measures.

  • To read the details of Westfield's reopening, plan, click here.

HOW TO GET TESTED

  • Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.

  • Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/DINING

  • Tickets for the Westfield 300 Summer Movie Series are free but require advance registration here.

  • Read about updated Quimby Street events, rules, and street closings here.

  • Indoor dining is allowed at 25 percent capacity. For a list of rules, click here.

  • To read about outdoor dining in Westfield, click here.

  • Gov. Murphy recently signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

NATIONAL TRENDS

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.

LONG-TERM CARE

  • New Jersey residents have become 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 to help make changes.

  • The state released death toll statistics 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.

  • Other states have been dealing with nursing home deaths more recently, including a recent outbreak in a Texas nursing home.

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. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in Westfield, 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 Westfield Patch