Full Notification

Below is an update from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla on COVID-19:

I want to start by commending the staff at Stan’s Sports Center, a longtime Hoboken business, for initiating the “Community Tee Project” to create t-shirts with the brands of other local Hoboken businesses. Stan’s Sports Center is selling these custom-made shirts to the public, with $10 from each shirt going directly to the business or non-profit with the shirt’s logo, to help support that businesses’ staff. This is another innovative way our community is giving back to others during this time of need.
 
Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken
 
The Hoboken Health Department reported an additional two confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday in Hoboken, for a total of 540 known, confirmed cases. We neglected to include the information on Friday’s confirmed cases in Hoboken, which were four, and reflected in the total. Sadly, the Health Department also provided information of an additional male in his early 80s who passed away in mid-April, which was recently reported by a hospital. Hoboken now has 26 COVID-19 related fatalities.
 
To date, Riverside Medical Group has conducted 1,529 tests on Hoboken residents, with 208 positive and 1,309 negative cases. Any resident, regardless of symptoms, can continue to access a COVID-19 test at the Riverside site by appointment by calling 201-420-5621 (Monday through Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm). If you don’t have health insurance, the City will pay for the cost of your test.
 
City-run farmers market to continue
 
We are carefully reviewing various activities that have been considered routine for years, due to the safety challenges of COVID-19. One outdoor activity that we have determined can safely re-open with added precautions, beginning June 2, is our Hoboken Farmers’ Market, located on Garden Street between 4^th and 5^th Streets. I believe it’s important for residents to continue to have access to fresh produce and products in order to stay healthy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The vendors and staff have agreed to additional social distancing regulations including increasing the space between each vendor by operating on both sides of the block, a requirement of all staff, vendors and customers to wear glove and face masks, and each side of the street operating in one direction with pedestrian traffic. I ask residents to please take extra precautions when heading to the farmers’ market.
 
Unfortunately, the private organization that normally runs the uptown farmers market on Garden Street at 14^th Street has decided to cancel their farmers market for the rest of 2020.
 
Face mask donations
 
Thank you to the many residents who have dropped off face masks for our first responders, Community Emergency Response Team, and frontline workers. We continue to accept any additional donations, which would be very much appreciated. Please drop off any face masks in the basement conference room of City Hall at 94 Washington Street (entrance on Newark Street between Washington Street and Bloomfield Street)
 
Food donations are there for anyone in need
 
If you are in need of food, the Hoboken Food Pantry continues to provide meals to anyone who needs it. Please do not hesitate to contact the pantry, which treats all calls as confidential, at 551-285-6555 or email [email protected].
 
Reminder of street cleaning resuming May 18
 
As a reminder, street cleaning resumes for the week beginning on Monday, May 18. Keeping Hoboken safe also requires cleaning personal protective equipment (PPE) and other litter from our streets, which is only possible during street cleaning. The street cleaning schedule beyond next week will be made in the near future, with notice provided to residents.
 
Door-to-door senior testing tomorrow
 
Dr. Javed Islam from Prompt MD is providing door-to-door COVID-19 testing for seniors in an additional building in the Hoboken Housing Authority tomorrow. Thank you to Dr. Islam and his team for continuing this service for our seniors.
 
Antibody testing for Hoboken residents
 
A public schedule for antibody testing for Hoboken residents and information on signing up will be provided tomorrow (Wednesday).
 
Open Streets survey
 
Over 1,500 people have responded to the open streets survey following our “open street” pilot on Jefferson Street. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide us with this valuable feedback. We will be providing the results of this survey in the coming days, and will use this information as we plan for a potential next phase of our open street initiative. If you haven’t yet filled out the survey, please visit http://www.hobokennj.gov/openstreetssurvey.
 
Thank you Hoboken, and please continue to wear face masks and social distance at all times outdoors.
 
Sincerely,

Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor