Full Notification

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

Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken
 
The Hoboken Health Department reported the following new COVID-19 cases:
 
June 27: 2 new, confirmed cases
June 28: 2 cases
June 29: 2 cases
 
Hoboken has a total of 598 known, confirmed COVID-19 cases (one case was removed from last week) while fatalities remain unchanged at 29.
 
Indoor dining postponed indefinitely
 
Yesterday, Governor Murphy indefinitely postponed the resumption of indoor dining in New Jersey. As a result, Hoboken establishments are permitted to continue take out and outdoor dining options only.
 
Preparing for 4^th of July weekend and beyond
 
As residents prepare for the 4^th of July weekend and the rest of the summer, I ask everyone to please exercise caution about gathering with groups of people and limiting travel, especially to hot spots, when possible. In other states, such as California, reports have indicated that gatherings during Memorial Day weekend among friends and family with relaxed social distancing contributed to additional cases of COVID-19 and higher hospitalization rates.
 
My suggestion, as difficult as this may be, is to spend time with only household members this weekend (and beyond whenever practical), and if that is not possible, to limit contact with others to outdoor settings, with appropriate social distancing, and face masks when social distancing is not possible. On the news, we’ve seen a number of instances where extended family members have spread COVID-19 to others through parties, gatherings, and especially in indoor settings, without anyone realizing it at the time. Please, take measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 this weekend and throughout the summer, and remember that outdoor settings with social distancing are much safer than indoor gatherings with others.
 
Playground re-opening on Thursday
 
Based on a number of factors including Hoboken’s low rate of infection and the physical and mental health of our children, we are opening up playgrounds beginning this Thursday. After hearing feedback from parents, taking into account the safety of our children, and considering guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are requiring any child over two years of age, as well as any parent accompanying a child, wear a face cover or face mask in a playground area or playground park (with the exception of a medical condition). This is especially important given the significant social distancing challenges on playgrounds.
 
As we mentioned last week, City staff will regularly sanitize park surfaces. We are also suggesting parents bring sanitizer to the park and go to the playground during early morning and off-peak hours. Parents and children should limit time to one hour at the playground to help minimize overcrowding.
 
Updated 14-day quarantine list from NJ Department of Health
 
The New Jersey Department of Health has updated a list of states that residents should self-quarantine for a full 14 days after returning from. These now include 16 states (doubling from last week), all with rising rates of COVID-19: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Please limit your travel to any of these locations.
 
Outdoor dining – table service only
 
To provide additional guidance on the Executive Order I signed last week to minimize overcrowding at establishments with outdoor dining, all individuals patronizing a restaurant’s outdoor areas must be seated when ordering or consuming all food and beverages, and at all times except when entering and leaving and to utilize the restroom. Patrons are prohibited from purchasing drinks at an outdoor bar area, as only business staff is permitted to distribute and serve food or beverages. City staff have spoken to certain establishments to clarify these rules and regulations. While I understand these restrictions appear very controlled in contrast to life as normal, we feel they are necessary to support our small business community through a cautious and incremental approach, and through practices that minimize spread of infection. Your understanding and cooperation is greatly appreciated.
 
As a reminder, the following rules and regulations are in place within the City of Hoboken:

• All businesses must require any patrons waiting for entry into an establishment or outdoor seated area to wear face masks, and social distance at least six feet from others. Face masks do not need to be worn when seated at an outdoor café.
• No business is permitted to serve “to go” drinks to standing patrons waiting for a table
• Capacity of an outdoor café, outdoor sidewalk café, or any other outdoor area is limited to the number of seats available.
• Only patrons who are seated are able to be served, and everyone must be seated while consuming beverages or food.

If you observe a business that is not following these rules and regulations, please send an email with any photograph to [email protected]. The Zoning Office, Police Department and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have used the submissions to work with a number of these businesses to update seating arrangements and overcrowding issues. I’m thankful the majority of businesses have been responsible and worked with the City to promote social distancing, however a select few have been given written and verbal warnings by OEM, with future violations resulting in the revocation of the respective business’ sidewalk café.
 
“Mask up” signs going up in Hoboken
 
Over the next few days, we are requiring all restaurants with outdoor dining to place a “mask up” sign at parklets/streateries/outdoor cafes, and a “no mask, no entry” sign directly at the entrance to the establishment.
 
According to health experts across the world, face masks - if worn by a majority of the population - will significantly help curb the spread of COVID-19 until a vaccine is found. Bottom line: wearing a face mask shows you respect and care about others. Please help us save lives and wear one.
 
Update on indoor gyms
 
According to Governor Murphy, the following activities are permitted at indoor gyms starting July 2, as provided by his office:
 
“individualized indoor instruction by appointment only where an instructor is offering training to an individual, and the individual’s immediate family members, household members, caretakers, or romantic partners.  If a gym or fitness center is offering multiple simultaneous instructions at the same facility, these instructions must take place in separate rooms or, if they take place in the same room, must be separated by a floor-to-ceiling barrier that complies with all fire code requirements.”
 
We will continue to allow fitness centers to operate outdoor classes on City fields, given the safer options of outdoor workouts with social distancing. When the Governor does eventually allow indoor workouts with capacity limits, we encourage all fitness clubs and gymnasiums to continue with outdoor workouts to offer customers this alternative.

Hoboken Relief Fund
 
As a reminder, if you are an individual or small business owner in Hoboken who has been financially impacted by COVID-19, you can still apply for relief through the Hoboken Relief Fund. Visit http://www.hobokenrelieffund.com to apply before the deadline of July 3.
 
Thank you,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor