Asbury Park Coronavirus Cases On The Rise

ASBURY PARK — Despite the fact that new cases have flattened statewide, Asbury Park's coronavirus presence has grown in recent weeks.

Asbury Park's case total increased from 298 on June 18th to 316 on Tuesday, a 6 percent increase.

Gov. Phil Murphy has pointed to the Jersey Shore and the crowds at various bars and restaurants as a reason for why he postponed the reopening of indoor dining this week. Read more: Gov. Murphy Postpones NJ Indoor Dining Reopen Amid Coronavirus

Asbury Park attempted to reopen indoor dining on its own, but the Murphy administration blocked the move.

Rides and arcades on the boardwalk will be allowed to reopen on Thursday.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Here are the latest local updates from Asbury Park:

CASES:

• Asbury Park had 316 cases as of Tuesday, June 30th, according to the Monmouth County Health Department.
• Asbury Park had one of its biggest increases in coronavirus cases in a two-day span from April 3 through 5th. Read more: 12 Positive Coronavirus Tests In Asbury Park In 2 Days

BEACHES:

• Asbury Park announced that its beaches and boardwalk werw reopening. Read more: Asbury Park Beaches, Boardwalk Are Reopening

BUSINESSES:

• Asbury Park Dinner Table is ready to serve during the coronavirus outbreak. The group says it's on a mission to help local restaurants and hungry families during these insecure times. Read more: Asbury Park Dinner Table Ready To Serve Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce has created an information hub as the city deals with shutdowns because of the coronavirus crisis. Read more: Asbury Park's New Business Hub: Here's Where You Can Get Takeout
• In an effort to help new construction, property sales and new rental agreements in Asbury Park, Asbury Park's Code Enforcement and Construction Departments will resume construction, certificate of occupancy and transfer-of-title inspections on a limited basis. Read more: Asbury Park Code, Construction Departments To Resume Work

HELP AND ASSISTANCE:

• In response to the new coronavirus, the Asbury Park Fire Department has purchased a new AeroClave RDS 3110 mobile disinfection system to help protect against the disease. Read more: Asbury Park Installs Mobile Disinfection System Amid Coronavirus

HOSPITALS AND TESTING:

• Hackensack Meridian offers COVID19 testing at its nine urgent care centers in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
• Immediate care of Marlboro is offering a drive-thru COVID19 test in the Marlboro Medical Arts site located at 479 Rt 520 in Marlboro. Testing is by appointment only at (855) 925-5467 ext 0.
• The PNC Bank Arts Center is a regional FEMA drive-thru test location and is open for testing every other day from 8 a.m. to 4pm for up to 500 persons per day. Click here for PNC Arts Test Center info & schedule.
• On every Saturday, the PNC Bank Arts Center site will be dedicated to symptomatic health care workers and first responders -- police, fire, and EMS -- with valid credentials only. The general public will not be able to access this site on Saturdays.
• Central Jersey Urgent Care is testing up to 80 patients daily at Eatontown, Howell and Marlboro.

GOVERNMENT:

• Asbury Park extended its grace period for tax and sewer payments due May 1 to June 1. Read more: Asbury Park Grace Period For Property Taxes, Sewer Payments
• Short-term rentals and other vacation rentals, whether online, in-person, by realtor or owner transaction, and which were suspended starting April 1, 2020, will resume starting June 25. Read more: Vacation Rentals, Hotel Reservations To Return In Asbury Park

OTHER CANCELLATIONS/CLOSURES

• The city has issued updates that will impact metered and alternate side parking, among other related issues. Read more: Asbury Park Issues Metered Parking, Transportation Updates
• Asbury Park's emergency management coordinator declared a state of local disaster emergency. Read more: Asbury Park State Of Emergency, Curfew Due To Coronavirus

PERSONAL STORIES:

• This Asbury Park hero provides fresh meals to the elderly. Read more: 'Brave Angel:' Asbury Park Hero Provides Fresh Meals To Elderly
• Talk about a heroine in a crisis. News12 has a video of a 99-year-old woman from Asbury Park as she was released from Jersey Shore Medical Center this week after suffering from the coronavirus. Read more: News12 Video Of Asbury Park Woman, 99, Recovered From Coronavirus

SCHOOLS:

• All schools in Asbury Park will remain closed through the academic year. Read more: New Jersey Schools Closed For Rest Of Academic Year: Gov. Murphy
• The Asbury Park School District said it has new instructional work for your child. The district has hosted "Operation Give and Take" at the Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School for all students in grades pre-K through 8th grade. Read more: Asbury Park Starts 'Operation Give-And-Take'

TRIBUTES:

• Two brothers from Asbury Park fought the coronavirus, and they both succumbed to the disease just one week apart. Read more: 2 Brothers From Asbury Were Victims Of Coronavirus One Week Apart

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses. This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.