Monmouth County Halting Building Access Amid Coronavirus Concerns

FREEHOLD, NJ — Monmouth County is suspending public access to its county buildings, libraries and other county-run buildings beginning Saturday amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced Friday.

The only exception from the closure is the Division of Social Services, he said, and measures are being put in place to prevent physical contact between the public and county employees. The closures will be in place for a week, and county officials will reassess at the end of next week, he said. Employees will be reporting to work and will be available by phone and email.

Golf courses will be open, and county park spaces will be open but the buildings at the parks will be closed, Arnone said. Park programs that were scheduled have been canceled.

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Public visits at the Monmouth County jail have been suspended, and contact visits with prisoners were suspended a week ago. Temperatures are being taken on prisoners on a rotating basis but there have been no issues and just one case of the flu in the prison, Arnone said.

The county health department will open a phone bank starting Monday for those who have questions about the coronavirus. The phone bank will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There is a 24-hour hotline, 800-222-1222, maintained by the state health department also available for those who have questions. Those who are feeling anxious or overwhelmed by the concerns surrounding COVID-19 can call 732-845-2070 for support.

The county's primary concern is protecting the health of its residents and its employees, said Freeholder Susan Kiley, the liaison to the county health department.

Christopher Merkel, the county's public health coordinator, said health officials continue to urge people wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water and avoid touching their faces.

Arnone said county authorities are working to streamline communication between the county health department, which oversees 28 towns, and the health departments of the other 25 towns in the county to make sure facts are shared clearly.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. There were 50 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Friday. One man, from Bergen County, has died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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