Full Notification

Below is an update on COVID-19 from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla:
 
The Hoboken Health Department has reported the following, new COVID-19 cases:
 
May 15: 4
May 16: 5
May 17: 0
May 18: 0
May 19: -1 (previous confirmed case removed)
May 20: 2
May 21: 1
 
As indicated in the previous update, Hoboken is trending in a positive direction with a continued reduction in cases. It is abundantly clear that vaccinations are protecting our residents from the virus, and are working as intended. I thank everyone who has made the choice to get vaccinated, which is returning our City and region back to normal and facilitating our continued recovery.
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a total of 5,008 known, confirmed COVID-19 cases. Carepoint is treating six patients with COVID-19, which now includes one Hoboken resident. Fatalities remain unchanged at 52. As of Tuesday, the rate of transmission in New Jersey is .53, the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic.
 
As of Friday, 95% of Hoboken seniors 65 years of age and up have been provided with at least a first dose, with 86% fully vaccinated. 62% of Hoboken residents 18 years of age and older have been provided with at least one dose, and 53% fully vaccinated. 54% of the entire Hoboken population, regardless of eligibility, has been provided with at least one dose, and 45% fully vaccinated. Through our partnership with Medicine Man Pharmacy, approximately 650 Hoboken children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been provided a first-dose Pfizer vaccine.
 
Update on COVID-19 vaccines; walk-in clinic today from 9 am – 1 pm
 
As a reminder, Medicine Man Pharmacy and Compounding and the Hoboken Health Department are hosting a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic today from 9 am until 1 pm at 605 Jackson Street, for all members of the community ages 12 and up. The vaccines offered through Medicine Man are Pfizer (ages 12+, two doses) and Johnson and Johnson (18+, one dose). Medicine Man has also added a walk-in vaccine clinic on Tuesday, May 25 at 605 Jackson Street from 4-7 pm with the same vaccine options, for anyone 12 years of age and up. Registration for both today’s clinic and Tuesday’s clinic is optional: http://www.hobokennj.gov/medicinemanvaccine.
 
Better Life Pharmacy and the Hoboken Health Department will also continue providing vaccines for all members of the community 18 years of age and older (Johnson & Johnson, Moderna) at the Hoboken Housing Authority at 221 Jackson Street this upcoming Thursday, May 27 from 3-7 pm, with no appointment or registration necessary.

Vaccine clinics will not take place during Memorial Day weekend.
 
Testing update
 
As indicated in a Nixle update yesterday, the last day of mass testing at our vaccination site through Riverside Medical Group was on Friday. It is a bittersweet moment for Hoboken, but also an indication that we are returning to a new normal with a substantial reduction in testing demand. I am very grateful to Dr. Brahmbhatt and his team, along with our partners at Hoboken CERT, Office of Emergency Management, and the Hoboken Police Department for efficiently running New Jersey’s first rapid testing site since April of last year. The access to testing, thanks to our partnership with Dr. Brahmbhatt and Riverside, especially in the early days of the pandemic, most certainly saved lives and helped our City at a time we needed it the most.
 
For Hoboken’s updated COVID-19 testing schedule, visit the City’s dedicated testing page at http://www.hobokennj.gov/testing. While the City’s other mass testing sites at 605 Jackson Street are also likely to close in the near future as well due to the reduced demand, all of the City’s testing partners, including Riverside, Prompt MD and Medicine Man will continue to offer COVID-19 testing in their Hoboken locations.
 
Rabies vaccine clinic for dogs and cats postponed
 
The rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats through the City of Hoboken at the Multi-Service originally scheduled for today (Saturday, May 22) has been postponed, and will be rescheduled to a date in late June.
 
Clarification on outdoor CDC/State guidelines for face masks
 
Yesterday, Councilwoman Emily Jabbour and I reached out to Governor Murphy’s office to gain some extra information regarding outdoor mask wearing for individuals, including children who are not fully vaccinated. Governor Murphy’s office clarified the following:
 
-Children are not required to wear masks in parks and playgrounds outside of school hours/setting, even if they are unvaccinated and even if they are in the area of others.
 
-Children are still required to wear masks during outdoor activity time associated with school such as recess or outdoor physical education classes. 
 
-During outdoor extra-curricular activities such as athletics or end of school activities that do not occur during the traditional school hours, mask wearing is not required. 
 
Nonetheless, parents are welcome to encourage their children to wear masks in the presence of others or in situations where social distancing is not possible, out of an abundance of caution.
 
For any athletic competitions run by schools, recreation organizations, and more, the State has offered the following guidelines:
 
-In indoor sports settings, coaching staff, parents, and spectators must wear a face mask.
 
-Athletes in indoor settings must wear face masks when not engaged in athletic competition or vigorous activity, such as when sitting on the bench, when interacting with an athletic trainer, etc.
 
-In outdoor settings, unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face masks, especially when social distancing cannot be maintained
 
-Limit the use of carpools or van pools, especially for unvaccinated individuals or children
 
Update for businesses
 
According to the State of New Jersey, capacity restrictions are now removed for all bars and restaurants, provided that tables and chairs remain six feet apart, or with partitions between groups of individuals. The Governor’s office informed my office that the State is still requiring all patrons of bars and restaurants to be seated while indoors, and face masks to be worn by anyone standing or entering or leaving the establishment.
 
Capacity restrictions have also been removed for other establishments, including religious services, retail establishments, gyms and fitness clubs, personal care businesses and more, provided that six feet of social distance between individuals and groups can be maintained. Face masks also must continue be worn, according to the State, at any indoor public places.
 
COVID-19 travel advisory lifted
 
The travel and quarantine advisories previously issued by the State of New Jersey have been lifted. Travelers to New Jersey are no longer required to quarantine when traveling domestically. For travel internationally, individuals should continue to follow the CDC’s recommendations, which can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html.
 
Thank you,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor