Advisory
Please postpone holiday travel if possible
As with the Thanksgiving, we are recommending to residents to postpone traveling during the holidays, and limit gatherings with members outside the immediate household, if possible. Indoor gatherings among non-household members remain one of the top ways COVID-19 is spreading among residents according to contact tracing from the Hoboken Health Department. I recognize how difficult this is, but staying home - if you can - is the best way to help protect your loved ones during the holiday season.
If you need a test, one is available for you
We continue to work with our testing partners to provide even more testing options for Hoboken residents and business employees. Our partners - Riverside Medical, Prompt MD, ivee and Medicine Man – have all increased appointments and worked with us to help meet the significant demand. Below is the COVID-19 testing schedule we’ve arranged through December 12, with all testing by appointment on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Riverside Medical Group
Dates: Every Monday through Saturday
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Location: 351 16th Street (Bijou Properties location)
Type of testing: Rapid (Abbott ID Now), and PCR
Who: Hoboken residents only
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside
Note: Riverside Medical Group patients should call their Riverside primary care office to schedule a COVID-19 test and should not use the online sign-up form.
Medicine Man Pharmacy
Date: Saturday (December 5), Wednesday (December 9), Saturday (December 12)
Time: 8 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents only
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/medicineman
ivee
Date: Wednesday (December 9), Thursday (December 10)
Time: 8 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Multi-Service Center (124 Grand Street, 2nd floor gymnasium)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for Wednesday appointments: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203385402088151
Link for Thursday appointments: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203386785588171
Note: When signing up for testing through ivee, you will need to provide your information first and then a link will be sent to choose an appointment time.
Prompt MD
Dates: Monday (December 7), Tuesday (December 8), Thursday (December 10), Friday (December 11)
Time: 8 am – 3 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd
PCR testing through Prompt MD and Medicine Man Pharmacy utilizes Star Labs. If tested through these two providers and results have not been received through email after 72 hours, please email [email protected]. You can also call Star Labs at 732-529-5100, and if those two options do not yield results, you can email [email protected] and the Hoboken Health Department can follow up with the lab. Test results through ivee will be emailed directly to individuals.
Star Labs has indicated they will soon launch an online system that will allow those who were tested to check on their test results after a certain period of time. We will provide the information when Star Labs launches this feature.
I’m greatly appreciative to our partners at all four medical providers, along with Bijou Properties for providing Riverside additional space, for ramping up testing during this holiday season.
Door-to-door senior testing
I’m pleased to share that we are conducting door-to-door testing in three senior buildings next week, to help provide tests for our elderly population. We recognize that it may not always be easy to travel to get a test, so we’ve partnered with Fusion Diagnostics Laboratories to accompany our Health Department to test seniors in Fox Hill Gardens (Monday, 9 am – 5 pm), Columbian Arms (Tuesday, 9 am – 12 pm), and Columbian Towers (Tuesday, 1 pm – 6 pm).
Common mistake when getting a COVID-19 test
A common and understandable mistake we are continuing to see is when residents are getting a COVID-19 test after an exposure. If you were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you should not get a test until at least 5-7 days after the exposure. If you were in close contact with a friend on Wednesday morning, for example, and the friend tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the earliest you should get a test would be five days after your last interaction, which would in this case be Monday morning. If you got your test on Friday, for example, it is very possible that the test would not turn up a positive test, while if you took it on Monday or Tuesday, it would show up positive.
Vaccine update
According to Governor Murphy and the State of New Jersey, the first shipments of approximately 76,000 doses of a vaccine are being sent to certain New Jersey hospitals, to help test the storage system in hospitals. Initial doses are anticipated go to front-line and healthcare workers, people over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions once the FDA grants emergency approval. The state estimates that a broader rollout to the public could occur by the spring. The goal from the State of New Jersey is to have 70% of the adult population vaccinated within six months once a vaccine is approved and available.
Childcare assistance through State of NJ
The State is providing financial assistance for New Jersey families with children ages 5-13 attending a partial or fully remote school. If your household income doesn’t exceed $150,000 or less, you are eligible to apply for funding. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.ChildCareNJ.gov.
Discounts for PPE for small businesses
As a reminder, small businesses and non-profits are eligible for discounts of up to 70% for PPE through the State of New Jersey. The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 10. For more information, visit http://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.
Thank you Hoboken, please stay safe and remain vigilant.
Sincerely,
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor
Update from Mayor Bhalla on COVID-19 (12/4); sign-up for testing this week
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 in Hoboken:
December 2: 12
December 3: 16
December 4: 21
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,516 known, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hoboken along with 1,112 full recoveries and 32 deaths. Hospitalizations have increased to 24 COVID-19 patients at the Hoboken University Medical Center, which now includes five Hoboken residents.
Governor Murphy and the State today reported the following:
- 5,673 new COVID-19 tests, the second straight day of a record high in cases
- 48 COVID-19 related deaths
- 4,367 seven-day average of new cases
- 3,315 hospitalized patients and 615 in ICUs
- 10.42% positivity rate on November 30 (based on 49,845 tests)
- 1.05 state-wide rate of transmission
Please postpone holiday travel if possible
As with the Thanksgiving, we are recommending to residents to postpone traveling during the holidays, and limit gatherings with members outside the immediate household, if possible. Indoor gatherings among non-household members remain one of the top ways COVID-19 is spreading among residents according to contact tracing from the Hoboken Health Department. I recognize how difficult this is, but staying home - if you can - is the best way to help protect your loved ones during the holiday season.
If you need a test, one is available for you
We continue to work with our testing partners to provide even more testing options for Hoboken residents and business employees. Our partners - Riverside Medical, Prompt MD, ivee and Medicine Man – have all increased appointments and worked with us to help meet the significant demand. Below is the COVID-19 testing schedule we’ve arranged through December 12, with all testing by appointment on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Riverside Medical Group
Dates: Every Monday through Saturday
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Location: 351 16th Street (Bijou Properties location)
Type of testing: Rapid (Abbott ID Now), and PCR
Who: Hoboken residents only
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside
Note: Riverside Medical Group patients should call their Riverside primary care office to schedule a COVID-19 test and should not use the online sign-up form.
Medicine Man Pharmacy
Date: Saturday (December 5), Wednesday (December 9), Saturday (December 12)
Time: 8 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents only
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/medicineman
ivee
Date: Wednesday (December 9), Thursday (December 10)
Time: 8 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Multi-Service Center (124 Grand Street, 2nd floor gymnasium)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for Wednesday appointments: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203385402088151
Link for Thursday appointments: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203386785588171
Note: When signing up for testing through ivee, you will need to provide your information first and then a link will be sent to choose an appointment time.
Prompt MD
Dates: Monday (December 7), Tuesday (December 8), Thursday (December 10), Friday (December 11)
Time: 8 am – 3 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for appointments: http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd
PCR testing through Prompt MD and Medicine Man Pharmacy utilizes Star Labs. If tested through these two providers and results have not been received through email after 72 hours, please email [email protected]. You can also call Star Labs at 732-529-5100, and if those two options do not yield results, you can email [email protected] and the Hoboken Health Department can follow up with the lab. Test results through ivee will be emailed directly to individuals.
Star Labs has indicated they will soon launch an online system that will allow those who were tested to check on their test results after a certain period of time. We will provide the information when Star Labs launches this feature.
I’m greatly appreciative to our partners at all four medical providers, along with Bijou Properties for providing Riverside additional space, for ramping up testing during this holiday season.
Door-to-door senior testing
I’m pleased to share that we are conducting door-to-door testing in three senior buildings next week, to help provide tests for our elderly population. We recognize that it may not always be easy to travel to get a test, so we’ve partnered with Fusion Diagnostics Laboratories to accompany our Health Department to test seniors in Fox Hill Gardens (Monday, 9 am – 5 pm), Columbian Arms (Tuesday, 9 am – 12 pm), and Columbian Towers (Tuesday, 1 pm – 6 pm).
Common mistake when getting a COVID-19 test
A common and understandable mistake we are continuing to see is when residents are getting a COVID-19 test after an exposure. If you were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you should not get a test until at least 5-7 days after the exposure. If you were in close contact with a friend on Wednesday morning, for example, and the friend tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the earliest you should get a test would be five days after your last interaction, which would in this case be Monday morning. If you got your test on Friday, for example, it is very possible that the test would not turn up a positive test, while if you took it on Monday or Tuesday, it would show up positive.
Vaccine update
According to Governor Murphy and the State of New Jersey, the first shipments of approximately 76,000 doses of a vaccine are being sent to certain New Jersey hospitals, to help test the storage system in hospitals. Initial doses are anticipated go to front-line and healthcare workers, people over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions once the FDA grants emergency approval. The state estimates that a broader rollout to the public could occur by the spring. The goal from the State of New Jersey is to have 70% of the adult population vaccinated within six months once a vaccine is approved and available.
Childcare assistance through State of NJ
The State is providing financial assistance for New Jersey families with children ages 5-13 attending a partial or fully remote school. If your household income doesn’t exceed $150,000 or less, you are eligible to apply for funding. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.ChildCareNJ.gov.
Discounts for PPE for small businesses
As a reminder, small businesses and non-profits are eligible for discounts of up to 70% for PPE through the State of New Jersey. The deadline to apply is Thursday, December 10. For more information, visit http://covid19.nj.gov/ppeaccess.
Thank you Hoboken, please stay safe and remain vigilant.
Sincerely,
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor
Address/Location
City of Hoboken, NJ
94 Washington St
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 201-420-2000
