Coronavirus Antibody Testing To Be Available In Hoboken Wednesday

HOBOKEN, NJ — Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in his nightly coronavirus update on Wednesday that the city will launch an antibody testing site for residents starting next Wednesday. Unlike some antibody tests, this one will show both current and past infection.

"The site will be one of the first rapid antibody testing sites in the region, with results provided in 10 minutes or the same day via text message," Bhalla wrote.

Visit http://hobokennj.gov/antibody to sign up for an appointment. Proof of residency is required.

The city had already tested first responders last week. Twenty-five out of 260 tested positive.

Bhalla said the testing will reveal covid-19 antibodies built up from current and past exposure, "important data as we begin to plan for a safe re-opening for our city."

A city press release noted, "Unlike certain other antibody tests, the Boditech rapid tests also tests levels of IgM, the first antibody to appear in the response to initial exposure, which would indicate a current infection. If an antibody test comes back positive for either IgG or IgM, the individual should not assume he or she has full immunity to COVID-19, and continue to take precautions including social distancing."

Scientists are unsure right now whether a positive tests means a person will have full immunity, but the information may be valuable for other reasons. Read more here.

The city expects to test up to 750 people the first day. Residents can also be tested May 25 or May 27. Find out more details from the city's press release here.

Hoboken, a mile-square city of 53,000 across the river from New York City, was one of the first cities in the country to encourage residents to self-quarantine and to mandate other coronavirus restrictions.

In other Hoboken coronavirus updates:

STATISTICS

• Bhalla had said on Tuesday that the Hoboken Health Department confirmed an additional two cases of covid-19 in Hoboken, for a total of 540. Twenty-six residents have passed away due to the virus, including one case just reported from April. On Wednesday, Bhalla said no new cases had been reported.
• On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy said the state had confirmed 898 new cases of the virus, and 198 more people had died since the day before. The state death toll is now 9,508.
• The rate is lower than Thursday, April 30, when the state reached an all-time high death rate. That day, Murphy had said that 460 New Jerseyans had been lost to the virus in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes. The daily fatality rate has slowly come down since then, but officials are reopening facilities in the state cautiously to avoid another spike in cases.
• The governor said Tuesday that in order to start reopening, the state is planning to trace people who've had contact with patients, and institute other measures. READ MORE.

TESTING

• Riverside Medical Group has conducted 1,529 tests on Hoboken residents, with 208 positive and 1,309 negative cases. Any resident, regardless of symptoms, can get a 15-minute rapid test at the Riverside site in uptown Hoboken by appointment by calling 201-420-5621 (Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) If you don’t have health insurance, the city will pay the cost.
• Bhalla said that people should call the Community Emergency Response Team hotline (above) for a rapid test, as opposed to calling Riverside Medical Group directly.
• There are other medical offices in Hoboken with tests; if in doubt about what to do, call your physician.

SCHOOLS

• Over the weekend, Gov. Murphy clamped down on in-public graduation ceremonies, saying they need to be held virtually. But on Wednesday, he issued an order allowing graduations and other gatherings that respect social distancing, Executive Order 142. Specifically, it permits the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses, and "car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events."
• Last week, Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey schools will be closed for the rest of the year. After discussing with the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governor said that spring sports will not resume for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

PARKS

• Most Hoboken parks reopened on Friday. READ MORE.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

• Hoboken has announced that one of its farmers' markets will restart in June. READ MORE.
• The city and Patch both have directories of businesses that are open and closed. Check it out or add your business easily. READ MORE.
• The city will be closing off certain blocks for businesses to expand and draw foot traffic. READ MORE.
• Here's what you need to know about applying for unemployment and other benefits during coronavirus. MORE.
• Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.

NURSING HOMES

• New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities, and have charged that the facilities are undercounting the numbers and not adequately protecting residents and staff. The state has faced questions for weeks from the press about how they will address the problems. They announced plans last week to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard to help make changes.
• The state has begun releasing death toll statistics for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

Got local news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To keep up with local breaking news when it happens, and get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.