Gloucester Twp. Hispanic Heritage Ceremony Canceled Amid Pandemic

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Another Gloucester Township tradition has taken a hit in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. The township’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration has been postponed due to the pandemic, according to township officials.

Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, and Mayor David Mayer and Gloucester Township Council would typically honor outstanding Latino members of the community during a meeting in October.

The township usually takes nominations on its website, and those who are selected are honored with a special celebration and the presentation of awards. However, due to the current health pandemic, the township has postponed this year’s ceremony until next year, officials said.

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Township Council held virtual meetings for a few months, but are meeting in person again. However, state restrictions on the number of people who can attend an indoor gathering — 25 people or 25 percent capacity — would have an impact on the annual celebration.

The announcement came after the township already announced a slew of fall event cancellations, including its Pumpkin Festival, Trunk-or-Treat, Food and Craft Beer Festival and Drive-in Movie Night events. Read more here: Gloucester Twp. Cancels Fall Events Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

In the spring, Gloucester Township Day, National Night Out and the township's 325th Anniversary Celebration were all canceled.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,055 cases of the coronavirus in Gloucester Township with 58 confirmed deaths. Three new cases reported on Tuesday included a girl older than 10, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 40s.

Although only 17 cases were reported countywide on Tuesday, county officials urged caution as the fall begins. Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said officials have repeatedly warned about how critical the fall will be as the nation faces both the coronavirus pandemic and the return of flu season.

"Still, we do not know how the change of season will affect the pandemic, as we are forced to move much of our activities and small gatherings inside when the weather cools," Cappelli said. "As we move into the next stage of this crisis, please follow the guidelines laid out by our public health officials, wear masks, and continue to social distance.”

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