Full Notification

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

Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken 
 
The Hoboken Health Department has reported the following new COVID-19 cases: 
 
September 10: 0 
September 11: 3 
September 12: 1 
September 13: 0 
September 14: 5 
September 15: 5 
 
The five positive results from September 15 were residents who got tested at Prompt MD’s pop-up testing site at 605 Jackson Street on Monday, with a total of 221 tested, corresponding to just over a 2% positivity rate for the day.  
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 743 Hoboken residents tested positive for COVID-19. As of Friday, the Hoboken Health Department reported 679 residents having fully recovered from COVID-19. Fatalities remain unchanged at 31. 
 
As I’ve mentioned in previous updates, as Hoboken and New Jersey continue with a gradual re-opening with schools, indoor dining and more, we expect to see an uptick in infections. Despite these re-openings, COVID-19 continues to remain a threat and it’s even more important now to continue taking important precautions: wear a face mask, avoid large indoor gatherings, and practice regular social distancing.
 
Prompt MD and Riverside Medical to continue testing 
 
Prompt MD continues to supplement COVID-19 testing in Hoboken, and will once again test residents on Monday, September 21 at 605 Jackson Street between 8 am and 3 pm. The process remains the same for an appointment, please visit www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd for a test. To receive a test through Riverside Medical, which also continues to provide regular testing, please call the Community Emergency Response Team hotline at 201-420-5621 Monday through Friday, 9 am until 1 pm. Thank you again to CERT for their continued and dedicated assistance during the pandemic. 
 
Guidance for restaurants for winter months 
 
Today, the City provided guidance for restaurants on the continuation of outdoor dining for the winter months. We are doing everything we can to work with our businesses to keep as many people outdoors in a safe, comfortable and socially distant environment. I appreciate the City Council’s partnership as we extended outdoor dining options through 2021. Below are guidelines on heating options for businesses, as well as other modifications based on resident feedback including new noise regulations.  
 
The City is permitting both electric and propane heaters for outdoor dining with approvals from the Building Department (electric) and Fire Department (propane):  
 
Propane heating 

• Propane or any other heater with an LP cylinder requires a permit from the Hoboken Fire Department. 
• Heater cannot be placed within 5’ of building, under an overhang or canopy, or within 5’ of anything combustible. 
• Fire extinguisher must be located within 25’ of heater. 
• Patrons must not interact with heater. 
• Heat tank cannot be stored inside or within 10’ of the establishment (heater can, but tank must be removed). 
• Heater must be removed during storms or snow events. 
• Heater must automatically turnoff when tipped over. Tip drill shall be performed to ensure safety. 
• Heater must be UL listed with classifications and safety instructions from manufacturer. Personnel must understand the functionality of the heater. 

 Electric heating 

• Electric heater requires approval from the Hoboken Building Department. 
• Fire extinguisher must be located within 25’ of heater. 
• Patrons must not interact with heater. 
• Heater must be removed during storms or snow events. 
• Heater must be UL listed with classifications and safety instructions from manufacturer. Personnel must understand the functionality of the heater. 

Structures and seasonal canopies 

• Per EO 163, “food or beverage establishments are permitted to offer in-person service at outdoor areas, defined as open air spaces that either 1) have no roof or cover or 2) have a fixed roof or temporary or seasonal awning or cover, with at least two open sides that would comprise over 50 % of the total wall space if the space were fully enclosed.” 
• Shade, seasonal canopies, sheds, or other structures more than 50% enclosed would be considered indoor dining. 
• Temporary “pop-up” seasonal canopies less than 10’ x 10’ do not require a permit. Larger canopies require approval from the Hoboken Building Department and Hoboken Fire Department. 
• Seasonal canopies must be removed during storms or snow events. 
• Structures may remain during storms or snow events, if approved by the Building Department (i.e., for wind loading and weight of snow). 

New noise regulations to limit local impacts:  

• No DJs and no amplified music, broadcast announcements or speakers are allowed in outdoor dining areas including sidewalk cafes, streateries, parklets, and Summer Streets. Live acoustic music is permitted until 10 PM. 
• All outdoor entertainment should end by 10 PM. 
• TVs and projectors are allowed but must be on mute. 
• TVs and projectors cannot be permanently attached to the structure, and must be returned inside at the end of the day. 
• Sound from indoor speakers or entertainment should not be plainly audible beyond the property line. 

Any business which would like to apply for a new parklet or streatery should do so by October 1, 2020. All businesses with an existing parklet or streatery should reapply for a permit by October 31, 2020, which will permit the parklet and streatery through December 31, 2021. 
 
For all applications, full guidance, and additional information regarding outdoor dining in the winter, and contact information for businesses to reach City staff, please visit the business recovery home page http://www.hobokennj.gov/businessrecovery and click the presentation link. 

Additionally, for residents, if you're looking for a parklet, streatery or outdoor cafe to dine outdoors, the business recovery website also has an interactive map on which businesses are utilizing one.
 
New York Waterway to restore commuter ferry service  
 
New York Waterway announced earlier this week that ferry commuter service will resume on Monday, September 21.  Ferry service will resume from 14^th Street in Hoboken and the Hoboken/ NJ TRANSIT Terminal to Lower Manhattan. This restored route is in addition to existing ferry service to the Midtown/West 39^th Street Ferry Terminal from Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken and 14^th Street in Hoboken. NY Waterway also has service to Brookfield Place/Battery Park City from the Hoboken/NJ TRANSIT Terminal and from Paulus Hook and Liberty Harbor in Jersey City. Face masks are required while taking the ferry. 
 
For a full schedule, please visit http://nywaterway.com/welcomeback. 
 
Update on voting in the November general election 
 
Residents may have recently received a piece of mail from the United States Postal Service. Some of the information is not relevant for New Jersey voters. To clarify, all active registered voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail (VBM) ballot, which should arrive by the end of September. Additionally, you do not need postage as all ballots include return postage. Finally, you can either mail your VBM back to the Board of Elections, or drop it off at a dropbox (next to City Hall, on Newark Street between Washington Street and Bloomfield Street) or drop it off at a polling site on Election Day.  
 
As a reminder, any resident who wishes to vote in person can vote on a provisional (paper) ballot at one of the several polling sites that will be open on Election Day. For more information on voting, and for a list of polling sites, please visit the Hoboken City Clerk’s website at https://www.hobokennj.gov/departments/city-clerk.  
 
Update on New Jersey’s 14-day quarantine list 

As of Tuesday, September 15, 30 states and jurisdictions are currently on New Jersey’s 14-day quarantine list, all with COVID-19 test rates higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or with a 10% or higher positivity rate (seven-day rolling average): 

• Alabama (added 6/24/20) 
• Alaska (re-added 9/1/20) 
• Arkansas (added 6/24/20) 
• Delaware (re-added 9/8/20) 
• Florida (added 6/24/20) 
• Georgia (added 6/30/20) 
• Guam (added 8/25/20) 
• Idaho (added 6/30/20) 
• Illinois (added 7/28/20) 
• Indiana (added 7/21/20) 
• Iowa (added 6/30/20) 
• Kansas (added 7/7/20) 
• Kentucky (added 7/28/20) 
• Louisiana (added 6/30/20) 
• Mississippi (added 6/30/20) 
• Missouri (added 7/21/20) 
• Montana (re-added 9/1/20) 
• Nebraska (added 7/21/20) 
• North Carolina (added 6/24/20) 
• North Dakota (added 7/21/20) 
• Oklahoma (added 7/7/20) 
• Puerto Rico (re-added 9/15/20) 
• South Carolina (added 6/24/20) 
• South Dakota (added 8/11/20) 
• Tennessee (added 6/30/20) 
• Texas (added 6/24/20) 
• Utah (added 6/24/20) 
• Virginia (added 7/21/20) 
• West Virginia (added 9/8/20) 
• Wisconsin (added 7/14/20) 

Note: California, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Ohio were removed 9/15/20. The Virgin Islands were removed 9/8/20. Arizona was removed 8/25/20. New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Washington were removed 8/11/20. The District of Columbia was removed on 8/4/20. 
 
Thank you, 
 
Ravi S. Bhalla 
Mayor