Wednesday, March 11, 2020

City of Hoboken recommendations on the ChiCom-Wuhan Virus

The City of Hoboken offers some common sense recommendations on the ChiCom-Wuhan Virus.
Note, while no children have been reportedly harmed ending in fatalities, they are known to be carriers.

Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency joining New York, Florida and Washington State.

The problems with China, Iran and Italy particularly hard hit have been heightened by the heavy traveling surrounding the Chinese holiday. Northern Italy with a large Chinese ethnic population in the Lombardy region traveling to China has led to a full national quarantine lockdown.

The US due to the actions by President Trump earlier this year minimized a similar outcome but there may be thousands of cases unknown to this point based on the ease of transit by carriers and those ill. The biggest problem is not the .1 - 1% mortality rate but the overwhelming of hospitals to handle the numbers infected. In Italy, this has become a critical mass problem.

Update: The President will address the nation at 9:00 pm tonight from the Oval Office.

Official release:

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Wednesday March 11, 2020, 

City of Hoboken, NJ


Advisory: COVID-19 update from Mayor Bhalla


Below is an update from Mayor Bhalla regarding COVID-19 preparations:

My office, along with the Hoboken coronavirus (COVID-19) task force, continues to closely monitor recent developments regarding the outbreak. Currently, there are no presumed positive COVID-19 cases in Hoboken.

While we have not suspended recreation activities in Hoboken for children, we ask that parents take the following precautions for their children:
  1. If your child is sick, has a fever or flu-like symptoms, do not send him or her to scheduled practice or games. If our coaches are concerned about the health of your child, he or she could be sent home;
  2. If your child is sick and cannot attend school, he or she should not participate in a scheduled practice or game;
  3. Please keep your child home for 24 hours after there are no longer signs of a fever or other flu symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches);
  4. Players should practice good hand hygiene by washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before and after scheduled practices or game;
  5. Players should avoid touching their face, eyes, nose or mouth;
  6. Please encourage your child to remember to cough and sneeze into their elbow to help prevent the spread of germs, and to wash their hands after anytime they cough, sneeze, or blow their nose;
  7. Players should not share drinks or snacks with each other;
  8. Players should avoid high-fives and handshakes;
  9. Sanitize hard surfaces and shared equipment that leagues utilize;
  10. If volunteers are uncomfortable or cannot attend league or district meeting(s), utilize free phone/web conferencing service. 
Yesterday, I suspended all senior activities and trips at the multi-service center to protect the health and safety of our seniors. The Meals on Wheels service that delivers meals to our homebound seniors will continue to operate.

The Office of Emergency Management has activated the volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which will be handing out flyers with information about COVID-19 at transit stations.

To protect the health and safety of employees and residents related to COVID-19, Hoboken is taking the following measures to expand sanitizing procedures:
  • Hop buses: cleaning and sanitizing the interior of each bus multiple times per day;
  • Municipal garages: cleaning and sanitizing ticketing machines and pay stations;
  • Taxis: we are requesting each licensed Hoboken taxi driver clean and sanitize the interiors of taxis multiple times per day;
  • City buildings, and restroom facilities in parks: further enhancing implemented sanitizing practices of cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, and adding and refilling additional hand sanitizer dispensers when needed
Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy announced that consumer cost-sharing for medically necessary COVID-19 testing and testing-related service will be waived for certain groups. Click here for more information and to find out if you are eligible: https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200310a.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3gvgSWOAB5kbBDkM_KuSY5wd0oyKnHsSJvfVcWLGI29rSG9ObAYNwoCcQ

As a reminder, please stay home if you are sick. Wash and sanitize your hands frequently, and work from home if you can. Please avoid large, discretionary gatherings whenever possible.

If you are in Hoboken and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should contact your healthcare provider first instead of going to the emergency room. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1. You may also contact the Hoboken Health Department at 201-420-2000 ext. 5211 if you believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19.

For the most up to date information, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at http://www.nj.gov/health or the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov, or call the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Thank you to residents for your continued assistance and patience.

Previous communications from the City regarding COVID-19:

March 10 COVID-19 update: https://www.hobokennj.gov/news/coronavirus-update-from-mayor-bhalla

March 8 COVID-19 update: https://www.hobokennj.gov/news/update-from-mayor-bhalla-regarding-coronavirus-preparations
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