Wayne Township Coronavirus: 23 New Cases, 1 More Death Thursday

WAYNE, NJ — In Wayne Township, 23 additional people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, and one more person has died, township mayor Christopher Vergano said Monday in a news conference.

The total number of cases in the township is now 763, and the total number of deaths is 49, he said.

Of the new cases announced Thursday, 15 are men and eight are women, Vergano said. The average age of a newly-diagnosed coronavirus patient is 72-years-old, and the range of ages spans 30- to 94-years-old.

Vergano said one additional death was reported on Thursday: a 52-year-old woman who died on April 7.

In the conference, Vergano noted Ramadan begins on Friday.

"As our town has been celebrating both Easter and Passover at home, without the traditional services at our places of worship, I wanted to acknowledge that the Muslim community in Wayne will be doing the same for Ramadan starting this Saturday," he said.

Vergano said the township will accept property tax payments in cash. Anyone hoping to pay their taxes in cash can do so between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, at the police station.

"There will only be one cashier available for this purpose," he said. "One person will be allowed in at a time, and all others will need to stand at least six-feet apart. Please follow the directions as posted."

Non-cash payments can be made online or through the silver dropbox in front of the municipal building.

Shopping:

Some stores in Wayne Township provide shopping hours specifically for people who are at a high risk of contracting the new coronavirus.

• Stop & Shop — 6 a.m to 7:30 a.m. — daily
• Trader Joes — 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. — daily
• Costco — 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
• ShopRite — 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. — Wednesday
• Jack's Super Foodtown of Wayne — 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. daily

Testing:

Drive-thru testing will continue Thursday through Saturday at William Paterson University. Testing is provided from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Passaic County residents with a prescription from a doctor.

Donations and Volunteering:

• CASA of Passaic County is selling yard signs emblazoned with the phrase "Thank you to all the heroes among us." They can be purchased at passaiccountycasa.org.
• The drive-thru Passaic County testing facility at William Paterson University is in need of volunteers to complete a variety of duties. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to email volunteers@passaiccountynj.org.
• Residents can also help out by making a monetary donation to the WIN Food Pantry. Checks can be made out to the WIN Food Pantry and sent to PO Box 3341, Wayne.
• The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive in Wayne next month. Vergano said those hoping to donate blood must first pre-register online using the sponsor name "WayneYMCA" as the keyword.
• Donations can also be made to Flag of Greater Wayne through Venmo (@Flagofgreaterwayne) or Zelle at flagofgreaterwayne@gmail.com, or by mailing a check made out to Flag of Greater Wayne to the Mayors Office, 475 Valley Road, Wayne.

Taxes:
Vergano said quarterly taxes are still due May 1, but the interest and penalties will be waived until Friday, June 12 for those unable to make their payment on time. That's only for accounts owing $10,000 or less, he said.

Acts of Kindness:

Vergano reminds Wayne Township residents to extend gestures of thanks to essential workers.

"If you're out and about, and you see someone who is still working and providing a necessary service for all of us — that could include the gentleman who picking up your recyclables to the store clerk that's checking you out or stocking the shelves — it might be a nice idea to, from six feet away, say thank you for what you're doing," he said.

How the Virus 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