Gloucester Twp. Cancels Fall Events Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Four major events held annually in Gloucester Township have been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, township officials said on Tuesday.

Gloucester Township has canceled its Pumpkin Festival, Trunk-or-Treat, Food and Craft Beer Festival and Drive-in Movie Night events as the pandemic continues to plague the township and the country.

“Although this was a very difficult decision to make, it was made with the health and wellness of our residents in mind,” Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer said in a statement. “All of these events draw large crowds and would potentially pose a major health risk to our entire community. We can’t wait to bring these events back bigger and better in Fall 2021 and I hope that you and your family will join us.”

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

The announcement of the cancellations follows the cancellations earlier in the year of Gloucester Township Day, National Night Out and the township’s 325th Anniversary Celebration.

As of Tuesday, there are 992 cases of the coronavirus in Gloucester Township with 59 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths, according to numbers provided by Camden County. Read more here: Latest Coronavirus Updates In Gloucester Township

Ten Gloucester Township police officers had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Sept. 1, according to Mayer. They all contracted the disease during the course of their duties, but have all recovered and returned to duty, Mayer said.

“The men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department have been working in an unprecedented way to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “The Gloucester Township Emergency Management Team, led by Mayor David Mayer, has been coordinating with our national, state, county, surrounding government and community partners. We remain 100 percent capable of responding to and handling emergencies as we have throughout the pandemic. I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women of the Gloucester Township Police Department who have stepped up to every challenge that we have encountered. Thank you to all who have expressed support to us and for all of the cooperation provided to us during the pandemic.”

Police have continued to serve the public during the pandemic, including breaking up two big parties that violated Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order and the township’s noise ordinance, among other local ordinances. Read more here: Gloucester Twp. PD Breaks Up Party Attended By Hundreds Of People

“I express my gratitude to all of the first responders and frontline workers: our Emergency Management Team, AMR EMS, our six fire departments, and all of the medical workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic,” Mayer said. “I’d like to thank our Gloucester Township Police Department who put their health and safety on the line every day and adjusted their operations tremendously to ensure the safety of our community during this crisis. I would also like to thank our Public Works Department who performed essential services in our community including road maintenance, waste removal, and the cleaning and sanitizing of our township properties; and all of our municipal employees who were working remotely, returning residents’ phone calls and monitoring emails. Last but not least, I commend our school districts for facilitating such a smooth transition into remote learning for all of our students.”

Mayer also reminded residents that there are resources available for those who still need help. There is help available for small businesses, rent and mortgage, and food as well as other essential services. All of these resources can be found at https://glotwp.com/gethelp/.

See related: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know