Hoboken Has 17 New Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day, 11 In Its Hospital

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said Thursday night that the city recorded 17 new confirmed coronavirus cases in residents on Thursday, the highest one-day total since the end of April.

Late April was the height of the crisis in New Jersey, including one day — April 30 — in which 460 state residents passed away in 24 hours.

Bhalla also said that Hoboken University Medical Center said it has 11 coronavirus patients right now, two of whom are Hoboken residents. Bhalla had noted on Monday that the state said there were 948 patients hospitalized with the virus nationwide, 75 on ventilators.

There have been a total of 991 known cases in Hoboken since early March. Fatalities in town due to the virus remain unchanged at 31 total, with no new resident deaths since May.

Hoboken has a population of 53,000 in one square mile across the river from Manhattan, and was one of the first cities to start restricting facilities in March as the virus spread.

Bhalla said that seven more cases among residents had been recorded Wednesday, and 10 on Tuesday.

Bhalla also explained his recent executive order that says all bars and restaurants must close at 12 a.m. He said:

• "Our contact tracing has linked some COVID-19 cases to local bars and restaurants: During extensive contact tracing from the Hoboken Health Department, there have been COVID-19 cases linked to residents at various bars and restaurants in Hoboken. Contact tracing from other New Jersey health departments has linked COVID-19 cases from individuals from other cities to the bars and restaurants they visited in Hoboken as well."
• There's a likelihood of less compliance with precautions in the wee hours when "alcohol is free flowing."
• This will free police from patrolling bars at those hours so they can focus on house parties.

Bhalla also said that some have asked why the city won't close bars at 10 p.m. He said he thought midnight was fairer to the businesses.

Council members socially distance from...the council

At Thursday's special remote City Council meeting, the council was slated to hold a final vote on a measure to fine people $1,000 for holding crowded house parties in Hoboken.

But not enough council members showed up to vote to approve it.

Mayor Bhalla said he was disappointed, as he was hoping to have it enforced during Halloween weekend.

"The ordinance under consideration is even more urgent now than ever before given the alarming increase in cases in Hoboken," Bhalla said. "I thank Council President Jen Giattino and Councilmembers Jabbour, Cohen and Doyle for attempting to hold tonight’s meeting.”

Nationally, more than 225,000 people have died of the virus, including 14,477 in New Jersey. On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy said that New Jersey had entered a second wave of the virus.

See below for more coronavirus updates and testing information from Hoboken.

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Here is past Hoboken coronavirus information, testing info, and updates:

HOBOKEN SCHOOLS

• Hoboken's Wallace Primary School recently closed temporarily after two student cases were confirmed.
• Mayor Bhalla wrote Thursday night, "Our Health Department has confirmed that our schools are taking every possible safety measure to keep our children safe, and that there is little evidence that the schools themselves are the reason for covid-19 spread, as opposed to behavior outside the school...the results from contact tracing is a reminder to all parents to please take the necessary precautions to keep children safe from covid-19 and avoiding risky situations such as social gatherings without face masks, as well as indoor gatherings."
• Recently, one of the city's charter schools, Elysian Charter, closed temporarily because a student tested positive for the virus.
• 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.

TESTING

• Prompt MD has added additional testing. Proof of residency or employment at a Hoboken business is required at the time of testing. Results are anticipated within 24-48 hours of testing. http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd.
• Riverside Medical is also continuing testing for Hoboken residents at the pop-up site under the 14th Street Viaduct six days a week. Appointments can be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis by visiting http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside. If a resident has signed up for a test with Riverside but can no longer make it, please call 201-863-3346 to cancel the appointment.
• A covid-19 test is recommended at least 5-7 days after a potential exposure, and that many who have contracted the virus do not have symptoms. Receiving a COVID-19 test prior to the 5-7 days after a potential exposure may yield inaccurate results.
• If returning from a state on New Jersey’s quarantine list or have had a high-risk exposure, which includes contact of over 10 minutes to someone who has tested positive, living in the same household as someone with COVID-19 or attending a large indoor gathering without face masks, residents should self-quarantine for the full 14 days, even with a negative test result, the city says.
• If a resident or Hoboken business employee does not have insurance, the city will pay for the cost of a test through both testing sites.

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.

PAST HOBOKEN STATISTICS

• Bhalla had said last Tuesday, Oct. 20, that 22 Hoboken residents had been confirmed as testing positive for coronavirus in a four-day period from Friday to Monday inclusive, for a total of 890 cases in residents since the start of the pandemic. Bhalla said that cases are rising again partly due to indoor social gatherings.
• More than 220,000 Americans and 14,000 people in New Jersey have died from the virus.
###liheight of the crisis in New Jersey on April 30, 460 people passed away in 24 hours.
• The mayor recent cautioned residents about indoor birthday parties and traveling to Ocean and Monmouth counties. Story here.
• For an earlier story about 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.

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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