Wayne Coronavirus Update: 470 Total Cases

WAYNE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A total of 470 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Wayne Township, mayor Christopher P. Vergano said Thursday in a news conference. As of Thursday, 17 new cases had been reported.

Of Thursday's 17 new cases, 7 are women and 10 are men, Vergano said. The average range of new patients is 58, and ages range from 18- to 101-years-old.

Vergano said the New Jersey Department of Health provided the township a new dataset on Thursday: the number of people who have tested positive. As of Thursday, 463 Wayne residents had tested negative for COVID-19.

Wayne continues to test township residents at William Patterson University from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the testing site will be closed in observance of Easter this Sunday. Read more: Drive-Thru Testing Site Opens In Passaic County

Vergano reminded residents and their children to continue social distancing even as the number of new cases in Wayne Township begins to slow.

"Congregation continues to be a major problem," he said. "I say this every day, but clearly this is not taking place. All along, we find children congregating together. We have closed every park, every play ground, every basketball court, the tennis court, High Mountain Park, Laurelwood Arboretum. That’s a sign. We need to keep your kids way from each other. Please, be responsible parents, and act like parents."

He went on to admonish residents who have been discarding plastic gloves on the ground and in parking lots around town.

"If you’re inclined to wear plastic gloves, and many people are, throw them in the garbage, not in the street not in the parking lot," he said. "It’s disgusting. I can’t believe I have to say this."

He warned that residents seen in public parks will be escorted away by police officers.

"The police are now enforcing this order, and you will be escorted off our park land if we find you there," he said. :Please don’t waste the police department’s precious time. It’s unbelievable we’re having this conversation, but when you see the sign at the park that says the park is closed, that’s for your own good."

For residents hoping to make donations of personal protective equipment, they can do so by emailing mayor@waynetownship.com.

Hospitals and testing:

• Passaic County offers drive-thru testing at William Paterson University.
• 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.

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.