Hoboken Coronavirus Site Has Now Conducted 10,000 Tests

HOBOKEN, NJ — On Monday, the city of Hoboken and Riverside Medical Group reached a milestone of providing over 10,000 coronavirus tests to Hoboken residents at the Riverside testing site under the 14th Street Viaduct, the city said. People can drive or walk up and get a 15-minute rapid test.

“I’m very appreciative to Dr. Brahmbhatt and the entire Riverside Medical team for providing over 10,000 COVID-19 tests for Hoboken residents,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “Thanks to our partnership with Riverside, Hoboken residents have had access to a reliable source of testing that has helped keep our community as safe as possible. Thank you also to our Community Emergency Response Team for facilitating testing appointments for residents since the very first day of the pandemic, as well as the Hoboken Health Department for working with Riverside on extensive contact tracing.”

“Riverside Medical Group is committed to serving Hoboken and its surrounding townships during this unprecedented health crisis,” said Dr. Raj Brahmbhatt, Chief Medical Officer at Riverside Medical Group. “Our collaboration with Mayor Bhalla and his take-charge approach to this pandemic aligns with Riverside’s views on how best to protect our communities. We will continue to offer rapid testing for as long as there is a need.”

Riverside Medical Group and the City of Hoboken partnered to provide one of the first public COVID-19 testing sites in Hudson County in early April. In mid-April, Riverside became one of the first testing sites in the tri-state area to use rapid tests and to test asymptomatic patients.

Positive covid-19 cases identified through Riverside’s testing site are reported to the Hoboken Health Department, which facilitates immediate contact tracing from Hoboken’s health officers. The Hoboken Health Department has conducted over 10,000 contact tracing calls since the beginning of the pandemic.

Hoboken residents and employees of Hoboken businesses are eligible to receive a COVID-19 test through Riverside Medical’s testing site under the 14th Street Viaduct. Those looking to schedule a covid-19 test should call the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline in City Hall, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at 201-420-5621.

The City of Hoboken will pay for the cost of any resident or Hoboken business employee without health insurance at Riverside’s testing site.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Saturday that there's a lesson in the recent news about President Donald Trump and top-level White House officials contracting coronavirus.

"This development should serve as a real wake-up call to all of us, that covid-19 is still a formidable opponent requiring vigilance in all aspects of our lives," Bhalla wrote in a virus update for residents on Saturday night. "Even the most powerful and well protected people in the country can’t escape covid-19 if it isn’t taken seriously."

Hoboken was one of the first cities to begin shutting facilities in March. Since then, the city of 53,000 people — across the river from Manhattan — has seen 31 fatalities from the virus, the last in May.

A total of 805 Hoboken residents have tested positive for covid-19 as of Saturday night.

To see the reporting from this weekend on the Hoboken cases and trends, click here.

Other recent Hoboken coronavirus updates:

TESTING

Riverside Medical and Prompt MD both have offered testing.

To check out PromptMD, click www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd.

Riverside offers rapid, 15-minute tests as well as PCR tests six days a week. Residents can schedule a test with Riverside by calling the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline at 201-420-5621, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. No symptoms are required. People may walk or drive up to the testing center at Fifteenth and Madison streets.

PAST HOBOKEN STATISTICS

• For a story on last week's Hoboken coronavirus statistics and updates, click here.
• See earlier data here.
• Here are past statistics on Hoboken residents under 16 testing positive for the virus.

HOBOKEN SCHOOLS

• The Hoboken public schools reopened Monday, Sept. 14 remotely, and reopened on-site Sept. 21 for those who requested it.
• The district offered a reopening plan giving parents a choice of either full-time on-site learning (until 3 p.m.) or full-time distance learning. In the buildings, there are restrictions, such as kids wearing masks and maintaining a 6-foot distance.

LOCAL BUSINESS

• More than 50 of the city's restaurants opened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
• Some of those have added "streateries" for outdoor dining. READ MORE.
• Two of the city's weekly farmers' markets reopened in June. READ MORE.
• The city has been closing off certain blocks for businesses to expand and draw foot traffic. READ MORE.
• Restaurants in New Jersey can allow indoor dining at 25 percent capacity. Read about Hoboken indoor dining here.
• The city of Hoboken is making it easier for restaurants to continue to offer outdoor dining through the winter months.

HOBOKEN LIBRARY

• See story here.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
• Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics late in spring 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.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

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

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