Positive Coronavirus Case At Clara Maass Hospital In Belleville

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 was reported at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, authorities announced Sunday night.

The person, who does not live in Belleville, tested positive for COVID-19 at Clara Maass hospital. There are also 22 people under investigation in Belleville, township officials said.

Belleville officials have been taking proactive steps to protect local residents against the virus, and the township office of emergency management (OEM) is considering declaring a local state of emergency.

• See related article: Belleville Reacts To Coronavirus (Events Canceled, Center Closed)

The Belleville Public School District will be closed from Monday, March 16 to Monday, March 30. The district has rolled out its distance learning plans for students online. (See the district’s full message)

The Belleville Public Library is closed “until further notice.” Effective Monday, March 16, public access to town hall will be prohibited, unless residents have prior business to complete or have an appointment, officials said.

The township is taking additional measures, including:

• Street cleaning enforcement will be suspended until further notice.
• We have been in contact with two private senior facilities and have encouraged them all to take immediate action; either closing or conduct self-imposed social distancing.
• We have been in contact with our 55+ building and have advised that it close all public gathering rooms.
• We are asking proprietors of small service businesses, mainly bars, restaurants and shops to implement self-imposed social distancing guidelines.
• Bars and restaurants are encouraged to promote take out, curbside pickup and delivery options.
• Stores and shops are encouraged to voluntary reduce by 50 percent their in-house capacity and encourage a minimum of 6-foot social distancing.

CORONAVIRUS IN ESSEX COUNTY

As of Monday morning, Essex County has seen more than a dozen presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, a total that’s expected to rise, officials say.

Cases have been reported in:

• Belleville
• Bloomfield
• Caldwell
• Maplewood
• Millburn
• Montclair
• Newark
• North Caldwell
• Nutley
• West Orange

"There's no question the numbers are going to get higher and higher," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said during a Sunday press conference.

• See related article: Essex County To Close Zoo, Stop Evictions As Coronavirus Spreads

CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY, NATIONWIDE

The number of people with the coronavirus in New Jersey had risen to 98 as of Sunday. Authorities said two people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Gov. Phil 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. We are now in 13 of 21 counties, and yes, our lives will change as a result of this novel coronavirus. Our lives will change as we work together to protect our state. I continue to ask anyone who does not feel well to stay home and call your healthcare provider if necessary.”

There have been more than 3,700 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Monday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which says the disease also has killed 69 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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