Update from Mayor Bhalla regarding Coronavirus preparations

Below is an update from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla regarding Hoboken's Coronavirus preparations:

Hoboken continues to closely monitor the latest developments regarding the Coronavirus to keep the public informed. Over the past several days, my administration and the City Health Department have been in close contact with Governor Murphy’s office and the New Jersey Department of Health to receive regular updates. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in Hoboken.

Under my direction, the City of Hoboken has formed a Coronavirus task force that consists of members of the Hoboken Health Department, Hoboken Police Department, Hoboken Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Hoboken Public School District, Stevens Institute of Technology, and my office. All departments have begun preparations should the Coronavirus be confirmed in Hoboken. City staff continuesto implement enhanced sanitizing procedures in public buildings.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the best thing residents can do is to stay home if you are sick. Symptoms of the Coronavirus could include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, which could appear in as few as two days or up to 14 days after exposure.

If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, please call your healthcare provider first instead of going to the emergency room. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1. Additionally, if you are in Hoboken and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, you may also contact the Hoboken Health Department at 201-420-2000 ext. 5211. Healthcare providers with questions may also contact the Hoboken Health Department.

PLEASE NOTE: According to the State, there have been reports of individuals going door to door claiming to be from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) within New Jersey. The CDC is not deploying teams of people to go door to door to conduct surveillance. Please do not let anyone claiming to be from the CDC into your home. Please call the Hoboken Police Department at 201-420-2100 if you are aware of this occurring in Hoboken.

The following agencies have put out information regarding preparations for the Coronavirus:

Stevens Institute of Technology: https://www.stevens.edu/directory/student-health-services/health-advisory-update/coronavirus-2019-covid-19-information

Hoboken Public School District: https://www.smore.com/fuvmb-the-herald

Port Authority of NY/NJ: https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/alerts/coronavirus-updates.html

New Jersey Transit: https://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=3377

New York Waterway: https://www.nywaterway.com/userfiles/files/2020/AEI%20Letters/A1233_Customer_Letter_March5.pdf

According to the NJ Department of Health, additional precautionary measures should be taken on a regular basis, including:

• Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid contact with others
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
• Receive a seasonal flu vaccine (while the vaccine can’t prevent the Coronavirus, it can minimize the number of residents with flu-like symptoms)
• Review and follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) travel advisories when planning travel. If you become ill after returning home, call your healthcare provider before going to a doctor’s office or emergency department of a hospital.

For additional information on safe practices and prevention, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health at http://www.nj.gov/health, which is updated on a regular basis. Residents with additional questions about theCoronaviruscan also call the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 800-222-1222.

Thank you to all residents for your cooperation.

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