Gloucester Township, County Officials Prepare For Coronavirus

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township is taking proactive measures in the event coronavirus spreads to the region, Mayor David Mayer said on Wednesday.

Mayer, members of the Office of Emergency Management, members of the police department, members of AMR EMS and representatives from both the Gloucester Township K-8 and Black Horse Pike Regional school districts met with the Camden County Health Department to discuss coronavirus preparation on Wednesday.

Later in the night, Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed the first presumptive case of coronavirus in New Jersey. A man in his 30s has been hospitalized in Bergen County since Tuesday. Read more here: First Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus In NJ: Governor

“We are doing our best to not only prepare residents, but also educate them,” Mayer said. “We also recommend that all residents stay informed with up-to-date news and recommendations from healthcare professionals.”

Globally, at least 85,000 people have been infected and 3,000 people have died from COVID-19, reports say, including nine in Washington. New Jersey health officials also issued a long list of coronavirus outbreak guidelines for the state's schools and colleges this week. Read more here: NJ Issues New Coronavirus Guidelines For Schools, Colleges

Local officials issued their own guidelines on Wednesday:

You can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses with these actions:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe (Don’t forget to clean your cell phone!).
• Please sure to wear protective gloves, and wash and sanitize your hands regularly.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Refrain from shaking hands.

You should know that you have a much higher chance of contracting the flu, and that we should take precautions the same way we do to avoid the flu. It should also be noted that in most cases that someone has been infected with the Coronavirus, the survival rate is very high, and it can be treated with anti-viral drugs.

Most experience flu like systems, and those fatalities that have occurred involved persons who were previously medically fragile (elderly, sickly, etc.).

The situation is fluidly changing, and officials are monitoring the situation to maintain preparedness.

"The best thing to do right now is to clean your hands, and disinfect as best you can," Mayer said. "We will continue to work with our schools and public safety partners to ensure we are doing all we can do."

Anyone who has any questions about Novel Coronaivrus (COVID-19) can all the New Jersey Department of Health Hotline anytime of the day at 1-800-222-1222 For additional information and preventative tips, visit:

• www.nj.gov/health/coronavirus
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• https://www.globalmedicalresponse.com/coronavirus