Hoboken Suffers Its First Coronavirus Fatality Since May

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Tuesday that the city has experienced its first death of a resident from coronavirus since May. The resident was in her mid 60s, Bhalla said.

"To the families of all 32 Hoboken residents we've lost — please know our arts are with you and your loved ones," he said.

He noted that from this past Friday through Monday inclusive, a total of 64 residents had tested positive for the virus.

This number is higher than any week this summer. In June, after months of closures and isolation, the city went a week with only one case, and in August, there were only six cases in one week. But cases began rising in autumn with more gatherings and reopenings.

The new cases bring Hoboken's total to 1,467 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

While fatalities were declining statewide, they are starting to rise again. From Monday to Tuesday, the state of New Jersey reported 90 new fatalities, the highest number since July.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. (READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test.) The lowest daily death rate was Sept. 8, when the state announced two new deaths confirmed in 24 hours.

Doctors have said that a number of factors are contributing to the fact that deaths are lower now than in spring, including people getting test results (and thus treatment) sooner, more protective equipment available in hospitals, and doctors becoming better able to treat the virus. However, the virus still can have long-term effects.

On Sunday, Mayor Bhalla announced that winter recreation programs have been canceled in Hoboken.

Hoboken, a city of 53,000 people across the river from Manhattan, was one of the first cities in the region to begin closing facilities when the virus began spreading in the U.S.

Most counties 'high risk'; schools remote

Now that the state is in the second wave of the virus, eighteen of 21 New Jersey counties have been designated "high risk."

Many school districts, including Hoboken, are remote this week.

Before Thanksgiving, Gov. Phil Murphy announced 4,383 new positive cases and 48 more confirmed fatalities in New Jersey since the day before. He said there were more than 2,500 hospitalizations statewide.

More than 266,000 Americans and 14,900 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

Here is more information on Hoboken coronavirus testing, statistics, schools, and more:

ONGOING CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN HOBOKEN

• Prompt MD has added additional testing. Proof of residency or employment at a Hoboken business is required at the time of testing. Results are anticipated within 24-48 hours of testing. http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd.
• Riverside Medical is also continuing testing for Hoboken residents. Appointments can be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis by visiting http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside. If a resident has signed up for a test with Riverside but can no longer make it, please call 201-863-3346 to cancel the appointment. The testing center has moved to 16th Street; read more here.
• A covid-19 test is recommended at least 5-7 days after a potential exposure, and that many who have contracted the virus do not have symptoms. Receiving a COVID-19 test prior to the 5-7 days after a potential exposure may yield inaccurate results.
• If returning from a state on New Jersey's quarantine list or have had a high-risk exposure, which includes contact of over 10 minutes to someone who has tested positive, living in the same household as someone with COVID-19 or attending a large indoor gathering without face masks, residents should self-quarantine for the full 14 days, even with a negative test result, the city says.

HOBOKEN SCHOOLS

• The schools remain remote for at least one week after Thanksgiving break. Read more here.
• Hoboken's Wallace Primary School recently closed temporarily after two student cases were confirmed.
• Mayor Bhalla wrote three weeks ago, "Our Health Department has confirmed that our schools are taking every possible safety measure to keep our children safe, and that there is little evidence that the schools themselves are the reason for covid-19 spread, as opposed to behavior outside the school."
• Recently, one of the city's charter schools, Elysian Charter, closed temporarily because a student tested positive for the virus.
• The Hoboken public schools started the 2020-2021 school year Monday, Sept. 14 remotely, and reopened on-site Sept. 21 for those who requested it.
• In September, 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.

LOCAL BUSINESS

• 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.
• The city of Hoboken is making it easier for restaurants to continue to offer outdoor dining through the winter months.
• 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, and keep serving indoors until 10 p.m. Read more about Hoboken indoor dining here.

HOBOKEN LIBRARY

• See story here.

HOBOKEN VIRUS TRENDS

• 32 Hoboken residents have passed away from coronavirus.
• Hoboken was one of the first cities in the region to begin closing facilities when the virus began spreading in the U.S.
• In June, after months of closures and isolation, the city went a week with only one case, and in August, there were only six cases in one week. But cases began rising in autumn with more gatherings.

NATIONAL STATISTICS

• Use this link to see the updated fatality count in the United States.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally.
• Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

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. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• 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

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