Full Notification

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

Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken and New Jersey
 
The Hoboken Health Department has reported the following new COVID-19 cases:
 
October 24: 11 new cases
October 25: 4
October 26: 3
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a total of 957 known cases in Hoboken according to the Health Department. Fatalities have remained unchanged at 31.
 
On Saturday, the State of New Jersey reported 1,994 new cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, the highest one-day increase since May. The amount of new cases statewide has been above 1,000 for the past 10 days. Essex County has seen the largest amount of recent new cases, followed by Hudson County up until today. Neighboring cities in Hudson County including Union City, Kearny, and Harrison have recently experienced some of the highest COVID-19 increases in several months.
 
The rate of transmission in the State is 1.23. Any amount over 1.0 is an indication that the virus is continuing to spread. The positivity rate on October 22 is 4.48%. As of today, the number of hospitalizations throughout the State rose to 948, with 178 patients in intensive care and 75 on ventilators. Given the trend of increasing cases, Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order over the weekend extending the public health emergency in New Jersey.
 
On Friday, the United States reached the highest daily numbers of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, with hospitalizations increasing in 38 states over the past week. Health experts anticipate that numbers could continue to increase in New Jersey and across the United States with more time spent indoors, where the virus is more likely to spread, due to the colder weather.
 
Cause of recent cases
 
As before, the Hoboken Health Department is reporting new increases stemming from indoor gatherings with extended family and friends, members of the same household getting the virus, and travel outside of New Jersey. Some new cases have also been traced back to certain dining establishments. The Health Department is conducting contact tracing for all new cases within 24 hours to help prevent further infections and limit outbreaks.
 
We continue to urge people to take the following precautions to help keep Hoboken safe from COVID-19: avoid indoor gatherings, limit social interactions beyond the immediate household, wear a face mask when outside the home, social distance at all practical times, and act like anyone you may come into contact with could have the virus.
 
Combatting house parties that are contributing to the spread of COVID-19
 
Over the past several weekends, the Hoboken Police Department has responded to a number of house parties that have been not only disruptive to neighbors, but have also contributed to the spread of COVID-19, as confirmed by the Hoboken Health Department during contact tracing. It’s extremely disappointing to see such disregard for public health, knowing that one party could turn into a super-spreader event that infects some of our most vulnerable residents, whose lives could be at risk.
 
To that end, I have called a special meeting of the City Council this Thursday to adopt legislation on second and final reading that institutes fines of up to $1,000 on indoor gatherings that have above 25 people AND violates other City ordinances such as noise regulations or a disorderly house. This fine would be given to both the tenant, and the property owner at which the violation occurred. I’m confident that this will be strongly supported by the City Council, and I thank Council President Jen Giattino and the entire governing body in advance for considering this ordinance.
 
Several residents have understandably asked how we came to the number 25 as it relates to the ordinance. Governor Murphy’s Executive Order regulating indoor gatherings lists 25 people as the maximum allowed in one location, with exemptions including religious or political gatherings, so long as face masks and other health precautions are taken. As a City, we cannot enact legislation that is stricter than the State, which supersedes City law. This ordinance was drafted in order to be consistent with the State’s order, so it can hold up in court if challenged. If the State regulates indoor gatherings to a number less or greater than 25, the ordinance will be modified to reflect that number.
 
Additional precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19
 
With health experts predicting a substantial rise of cases during the winter months, and a second wave already upon us here in Hudson County and New Jersey, I believe the time is now to begin taking additional precautions against the threat of COVID-19 spreading indoors. To that end, to limit situations when social distancing and other precautions are much less likely to be followed, and to take a proactive approach at reducing gatherings indoors, I will be signing an executive order closing all bars and restaurants at midnight, seven days a week. This order will take effect as of Thursday, October 29.
 
Some have asked whether or not the City can shut down bars and indoor dining completely and limit to take-out only, as we did for several months earlier in the pandemic. While we did have this authority in the beginning of the pandemic during mid-March as our shut-down orders pertaining to bars and restaurants came under the City’s emergency declaration powers, the State has since issued an Executive Order conferring this authority exclusively upon the states and away from municipalities.  Notwithstanding, authority still remains with municipalities to amend hours of operations.
 
With infections rising, the last thing we want is for Hoboken to be the location where large amounts of people are encouraged to come and party late at night, when social distancing and other health precautions are much less likely to be observed.
 
Continued testing with Prompt MD and Riverside Medical
 
As was the case last week, we are continuing to see the highest demand for COVID-19 testing since the beginning of the pandemic. As of this afternoon, testing appointments with Riverside Medical have been booked for the week, while testing with Prompt MD remains available by appointment at http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd on Thursday, October 29 between 8 am and 3 pm at 605 Jackson Street. Appointments are now available at that link for testing on Monday, November 2 and Thursday, November 5 (8 am – 3 pm) as well.
 
Staying safe during Halloween
 
As we approach Halloween, I encourage parents to consider alternatives to trick-or-treating, which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is discouraging this year due to the challenges of social distancing and inevitable interactions with others. As we put out in an earlier Nixle alert, we suggest families explore other activities, including:

• Pumpkin carving and decorating
• Halloween-themed movie night
• A Halloween-themed scavenger hunt in the home
• Decorating the house with a Halloween theme
• Virtual costume contest with friends or relatives
• Coordinating with schools to wear costumes during designated days

As a reminder, children up to age 12, along with families have the option to participate in a virtual costume contest run by Hoboken’s Department of Cultural Affairs that normally takes place at the Ragamuffin parade. For more information and to enter, visit www.hobokennj.gov/halloween.
 
As presented previously, for those families choosing to trick-or-treat with their children, the Hoboken Health Department recommends the following precautions:

• Wear a face mask, which can be incorporated into a costume or outfit
• Trick-or-treat with family members or household contacts only
• Trick-or-treat only in your local block or neighborhood – please avoid areas there that traditionally get crowded during Halloween if you do not live there
• Wait for others to complete gathering candy at a door or stoop before asking for candy, to maintain appropriate social distancing
• Coordinate with members of your block or building to host trick-or-treating during off-peak hours for children on the block, such as early in the morning on Saturday

Pre-applications for New Jersey Economic Development Corporation
 
As a reminder to businesses, pre-registration for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Small Business grant program is open, with pre-registration closing by 5:00 pm on October 27. Businesses or nonprofits with 50 or fewer full time employees may be eligible to receive up to $20,000. Funds can be utilized to reimburse revenue lost due to COVID-19. For more information and to pre-register, please visit http://cv.business.nj.gov.
 
Hoboken Business Alliance’s “Sidewalk Sales”
 
Thank you to the Hoboken Business Alliance for sponsoring “Hoboken Sidewalk Sales” to encourage socially distant local shopping. On October 30, 31 and November 1, visit five or more “Sidewalk Sales” businesses to participate in select sales, which will allow you to collect stamps and earn prizes, including gift cards of $250 and 100. For more information and participating businesses, please visit https://www.hobokenalliance.com/foodcrawl.
 
Thank you, Hoboken – please stay safe.
 
All the best,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor