Belleville Declares State Of Emergency: Coronavirus Update

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville municipal officials declared a local state of emergency on Tuesday as the town continues to take measures to keep residents safe in the wake of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The declaration of emergency, which takes effect at 5 p.m., gives township officials broader power in the efforts to combat the virus, authorities said.

The move comes as Clara Maass continues to treat four positive cases of COVID-19. Two of the cases are Belleville residents, officials said.

• See related article: Positive Coronavirus Case At Clara Maass Hospital In Belleville

Because of the state of emergency, daycare centers in Belleville will be closed starting Thursday. Also, Belleville playgrounds and parks will be closed until further notice, officials said.

Town officials issued the following updates and recaps on Tuesday.

New Information

• Mayor Michael Melham has held discussions with local supermarkets to try to get special early hours for seniors.
• Regarding the Library Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, members of the public can participate by emailing their comments to Librarian@bellepl.org by 5 p.m. on the night of meeting.
• The Council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, March 24, will be streamed live on the Township’s Facebook page. The public can participate by emailing their comments to township clerk, KCavanagh@bellevillenj.org, by 5 p.m. the day of the meeting.
• Essex County is continuing the Meals on Wheels program to serve Belleville seniors.
• The school district is continuing to distribute meals to students.
• County officials are working to set up a drive-through testing center. It’s anticipated it will be up and running by early next week.
• Residents with coronavirus-related questions can email the township at coronavirus@bellevillenj.org.

Recaps

• As of Monday, March 16, public access to Town Hall has been prohibited, unless residents have prior business to complete, or have an appointment. We encourage all residents in need of municipal services to use our Municipal website to obtain email and phone numbers for all departments.
• The Belleville Public Library is closed until further notice.

CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY, NATIONWIDE

The number of people with the coronavirus in New Jersey had risen to 178 as of Monday. Authorities say three people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Gov. Murphy has declared a state of emergency, schools across the state have begun to close, and local governments and community organizations have launched their own efforts to protect residents from the virus.

State health officials say it is critical that older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease and heart disease lower their risk of exposure.

"We certainly understand the public's concerns about testing availability, and we are working with the county executives to set up testing options for our residents," Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli said Sunday.

"I know all the actions being taken can cause concern, but that is all part of the public health response to reduce the impact on our state," Persichilli said. "As I said yesterday, we can expect cases in communities across the state to increase."

There have been more than 4,600 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Tuesday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which says the disease also has killed 85 people nationwide.

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WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the state of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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