Point Boro Mayor: Don't 'Panic' About Rising Coronavirus Totals

POINT PLEASANT BORO — Mayor Robert Sabosik is asking people not to panic now that Point Pleasant Boro's coronavirus cases have topped 140.

Sabosik said the town will "inevitably" have a rise in positive cases, as will all municipalities in New Jersey.

Point Pleasant Boro had 141 cases as of Sunday and Point Pleasant Beach had 31, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

At least 16 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in a Point Pleasant Boro nursing home, according to statistics released by the state Department of Health. Read more: 16 Coronavirus Cases In Point Pleasant Boro Nursing Home

The Ocean County Health Department is now listing the number of deaths from the coronavirus in Point Pleasant Boro and Point Pleasant Beach. Read more: Coronavirus Fatalities Now Listed For Point Pleasant Boro, Beach

Fewer than 5 deaths were reported in Point Pleasant Boro, according to the Ocean County Health Department.

Sabosik said the overall number "is a running total from when testing began over a month ago" and "this number does not reflect recoveries."

"There is no need for you to be panicked by these numbers but there is a need for you to be concerned and to practice social distancing and good hygiene habits," he said.

Sabosik said the Ocean County Health Department is the lead agency for investigating cases involving person who tests positive COVID-19.

If it is determined that a resident is in close contact with someone who is infected, the county Health Department will reach out, he said.

"The county Health Department conducts a thorough contact tracing exercise on each case and notifies anyone that could have come in contact with that individual," he said.

Sabosik noted that Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly said that the number of new positive cases is starting to slow down and the effects of social distancing are starting to be seen at the Jersey Shore.

"I am heartened to hear this, but that does not mean we can start being lax," the mayor said. "We must remain vigilant and do our part to help flatten the curve.

"Unless you are going shopping for essential items, going to work because you are an essential employee or going outside for fresh air and exercise in a responsible manner, the best thing for you to continue to do is stay home," he added.

Here are the latest local updates from Point Pleasant Boro and Point Pleasant Beach:

VIOLATIONS:

• A Point Pleasant Beach woman was charged with yelling "pigs! oink, oink!" at cops and blowing on EMTs, saying she had the coronavirus. Read more: Point Beach Woman Yells Coronavirus, 'Pigs! Oink!' At Police: PD
• A woman in Point Pleasant Boro was arrested after she implied she has the coronavirus – and even repeated the words "corona" and "virus" when she attacked officers, police said. Read more: Woman Attacks Point Pleasant Boro Cops, Saying 'Coronavirus:' PD
• A Point Pleasant Beach man was charged with the theft of N95 respirator masks from a business, prosecutors said. Read more: Point Pleasant Beach Man Charged With Theft Of Respirator Masks
• Two people were charged for having a home rental in Point Beach that violated local restrictions amid the coronavirus crisis. Read more: 2 Charged For Point Pleasant Beach Home Rental Amid Coronavirus

PERSONAL STORIES:

• A Point Pleasant Beach woman talked to The Asbury Park Press about the anguish she went through when her son, 3, contracted the virus. Read more: Point Beach Mom's Reported Coronavirus Scare With 3-Year-Old Son

TRIBUTES:

• The Bay Head Fire Co. announced the passing of firefighter Dave Clark, who died following a long and tough battle with the COVID-19 virus. Read more: Bay Head Firefighter Dies From Coronavirus

SCHOOLS:

• All schools in Point Pleasant Boro and Point Pleasant Beach will remain closed throuigh at least May 15 in response to the new coronavirus outbreak, state officials said. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus Crisis

ASSISTANCE:

• A Point Pleasant woman has started a Facebook page to make sure the Jersey Shore gets the help it needs amid the outbreak. Read more: Point Pleasant Woman's 'COVID19 Response' Facebook Provides Help

BUSINESSES:

• Many local businesses are in our guide of what's open, closed in Point Pleasant and Point Pleasant Beach during the coronavirus shutdowns. Read more: What's Open, Closed In Point Pleasant Amid Coronavirus Shutdowns
• Frye Brewing has a new product that even firefighters say is what Point Pleasant needs right now during the crisis. Read more: Frye Brewing's 'Home Flight Kit' Is What Point Pleasant Needs
• Morgan Taylor, a waitress at The Ark, got the "most amazing breath of fresh air" before non-essential businesses were shut. Read more: As Point Pleasant Beach Businesses Shut, A 'Breath Of Fresh Air'
• Stephanie "Petey" Cucci, the owner of PETEY'S US SUBS in Point Pleasant Boro, is doing what she calls a ST. MARY'S SUB. Her sister, Cate, says "wonderful and kind people" have been donating to a fund that allows people who can't afford a meal to get a half sub, a drink and chips. Read more: Petey's In Point Pleasant Is Helping The Hungry Amid Coronavirus
• The Point Pleasant area has participated in #thefrontstepschallenge with EVN FLO photography by Tim McGeough. Tim took pictures of people on their front porch, each of them projecting some semblance of normaliy in a very abnormal world. Read more: See The Photos In Point Pleasant Boro That Could Help Feed People

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.

CANCELLATIONS/CLOSURES

• Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head and Mantoloking agreed to close their beaches on April 3rd. Read more: Beaches To Close In Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Mantoloking
• Point Pleasant Beach closed its boardwalk in late March after warning people not to congregate in the area. Read more: Point Pleasant Beach Closes Boardwalk Due To Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy issued a state-at-home order and closed non-essential businesses earlier in March. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• Point Pleasant Boro prohibited vacation rental-by-owners in town and asking people to stay in their primary communities. Read more: Point Pleasant Boro Prohibits Vacation Rentals Due To Coronavirus
• Point Pleasant Beach is placing a moratorium on the renting of all vacation homes and properties. This will include all online, private and realtor driven transactions. Read more: Point Pleasant Beach Closes Boardwalk Due To Coronavirus Crisis
• All recreation and pre-school programs have closed in Point Pleasant Boro because of the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Point Pleasant Boro Closes All Recreation Programs, Pre-School

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Here's what else you should know:

• Murphy issued a stay-at-home order, closing all non-essential business at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus
• Murphy, speaking during a Thursday, April 16 press conference, said schools will remain closed through May 15. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Schools Shut Through May 15 In Coronavirus Crisis
• Murphy ordered stores across New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8 to require shoppers to wear face coverings or masks. Here's how you can get yours, and how the new rule will be enforced. Read more: NJ Shoppers Must Wear Masks: Where To Get Them, How It's Enforced
• Here are 10 resources for you and your family to utilize as you navigate through the outbreak: Unemployment, Tests, Food: 10 NJ Resources In Coronavirus Crisis
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• Murphy said during a live press conference on Wednesday, March 25 that he's ordering many day care centers to shut amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Shut Many Day Care Centers Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory for New Jersey. Read more: CDC Travel Advisory For NJ: No Coronavirus Travel Ban From Trump
• New Jersey residents are expected to start receiving stimulus payments soon. Here's what you need to do beforehand. Read more: Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Payments: What You Need To Do In NJ
• On Friday, March 27, Murphy allowed more types of New Jersey businesses – including gun sellers – to operate in the coronavirus outbreak. What's open and closed now? Read more: What's Open, Closed? More NJ Business To Operate Amid Coronavirus
• Murphy announced on Tuesday, April 7 that state and county parks will close. Read more: Gov. Murphy Closes Parks On NJ Coronavirus Crisis's Deadliest Day
• Here are four urgent tasks New Jersey wants you to do during the coronavirus outbreak, including wearing a mask. And here's why. Read more: Wear A Mask! 4 Things NJ Wants You To Do In Coronavirus Outbreak

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.