Gloucester Township Senior Events Canceled Amid Coronavirus Fears

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two events for seniors in Gloucester Township have been canceled amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus, Camden County officials announced Monday night.

Senior Yoga classes scheduled for March 11 and March 25 and Senior Meditation classes scheduled for March 18 have all been canceled. They were scheduled to take place at the Gloucester Township Community Center, 1261 Chews Landing Road.

The plan is purely precautionary and is not in response to any specific threats or belief that participants at these events are likely to have, or spread, the virus, officials said.

They were among a number of events canceled throughout the county, a majority of which are specifically intended for the senior community, which is particularly susceptible to coronavirus.

“This prophylactic measure should not be a cause for alarm. The majority of our residents can still enjoy large events and gatherings if you are being proactive, responsible, and exercising good hand hygiene and respiratory practices,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. said. “At the same time, we are actively considering county-sponsored events on a case-by-case basis to determine if it is in the public interest to cancel or reschedule, and thus reduce the possibility of community spread of this virus, especially among our vulnerable populations.”

Public facilities run by the county will remain safe and are being actively cleansed and sanitized to ensure the health and safety of all visitors, county officials said. In recent days, all departments have implemented new guidance to janitorial and sanitation employees focused on keeping surfaces in high traffic areas clean with disinfectant solution, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons and handrails.

“Every day, thousands of Camden County residents rely on County-operated facilities such as the Board of Social Services and Camden City Hall to receive critical government assistance, documents, and other core services,” Cappelli said. “We want to ensure our residents that facilities operated by the county will be kept to the highest standards in order to protect the health of all residents and visitors to Camden County.”

On Friday, a Cherry Hill man in his 60s was identified as the first presumptive positive case of coronavirus in Camden County. He has been hospitalized in stable condition and in isolation since March 3. Read more here: First Presumptive Case Of Coronavirus Reported In South Jersey

Four employees at the Cooper Urgent Care Center in Cherry Hill were exposed to him the same day, and are currently self-quarantined. Read more here: 4 Cooper Staff Quarantined After Possible Coronavirus Exposure

On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and a public health emergency, effective immediately, to ramp up New Jersey's efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Read more here: NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Declares State Of Emergency Because Of Coronavirus

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The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state's coronavirus webpage.