Full Notification

CONFIRMED CASES

As of today, there are 890 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey. These include three additional cases in Westfield -- all males, ages 60, 45, and 19. This brings the official count from the Board of Health to ten cases, although as I’ve previously said, we can all assume that there are quite a few more that have not yet been confirmed. 

FEDERAL AND STATE UPDATES

• Tax day on both the federal and state levels has been changed to July 15, 2020. 

• In addition, the state property tax appeal filing deadline has been changed from April 1 to May 1, 2020.

• Governor Murphy announced that the State is requiring hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to waive patient COVID-19 testing fees for the uninsured.

• The Governor also enacted a moratorium on removing people from their homes due to evictions or foreclosures. No renter or homeowner can be evicted until further notice.

• Changes at the Bergen Community College COVID-19 test site: Any New Jersey resident, regardless of age, who resides within a 50 mile radius of the location who is symptomatic, can be tested.

• Pet grooming establishments were included in yesterday’s order for personal care establishments to close effective at 8:00PM on Thursday, March 19.

LOCAL UPDATES

Thanks to all who joined us for a virtual community gathering this afternoon on Facebook Live to kick off the We Love Local Fund with Westfield resident and Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik’s porch performance. This newly established fund will support independently owned Westfield businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Huge thanks to the Westfield United Fund for partnering with us, and for their generosity in matching the first $15K in donations. I’d also like to thank Council members Linda Habgood, Mark Parmelee, Dawn Mackey, and Scott Katz for their efforts to coordinate this initiative for the benefit of our business community. Please donate at westfieldunitedfund.org and check out the video of today’s performance on Facebook if you missed it. 

Hearing today’s performance and knowing it brought a much needed mental break to the community was a very good way to wrap up what has been an extremely challenging week for everyone. I am so grateful for all of your messages of support, resilience, and concern for one another. #welovelocal 

-- Mayor Shelley Brindle