Hoboken Mayor Bhalla Sends Out Coronavirus Update, School Link

HOBOKEN, NJ —Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla sent out an update on Tuesday afternoon regarding the city's preparations for the novel coronavirus that has proven fatal to more than 2,000 people around the world. He also said the local schools superintendent posted her own update, linked below.

Bhalla said he had gotten an update from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in a conference call on Tuesday afternoon.

It was reported Tuesday afternoon that a ninth person has died in the state of Washington from the virus.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

Below is Bhalla's message, and a link to the message from the schools:

<blockquote>Over the past week, my administration and the city of Hoboken has been in close contact with Governor Murphy’s office and the New Jersey Department of Health, along with local hospitals regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our city at this time, we are taking all necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.

I encourage all residents to take the following steps recommended by the NJ Department of Health to prevent the spread of the flu and the common cold, which can also help prevent the Coronavirus:

• Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid contact with people who are sick

• Stay home while you are sick and avoid contact with others

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing

• Receive a seasonal flu vaccine (while the vaccine can’t necessarily prevent the Coronavirus, it can minimize the number of residents with flu-like symptoms)

• Review and follow all Center for Disease Control (CDC) travel advisories when planning travel. If you become ill after returning home, call your healthcare provider before going to a doctor’s office or emergency department of a hospital.

According to recommendations from the CDC, the use of masks is not effective at preventing the spread of the coronavirus unless they are health care workers, experiencing flu-like symptoms, or are taking care of someone who may be infected.

This afternoon, my staff participated in a conference call with Governor Murphy’s office to receive the latest updates from the State. According to the state, the immediate health risk from the Coronavirus to the public is considered low at this time.

However, in an effort to maintain a healthy environment, our city employees have increased the frequency of cleanings and sanitizing procedures in municipal buildings in accordance with CDC guidelines. We continue to encourage our staff to practice proper hygienic practices, such as frequent hand washing and seek proper medical attention, if necessary.

Superintendent of Hoboken Public Schools Dr. Christine Johnson recently provided an update regarding district guidelines and policies regarding the Coronavirus, which can be viewed by clicking here: https://www.smore.com/k1s6a-the-herald.

My administration will continue to work closely with the Hoboken Health Department, the Office of Emergency Management and all first responders to appropriately plan for the event of a localized impact. As updates come from the sdtate, we will continue to provide necessary communication to the public about the Coronavirus.

For additional information on safe practices and prevention, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Residents with questions about the Coronavirus can also call the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 800-222-1222.

Thank you to all residents for your understanding as we strive to maintain a healthy environment for our residents.</blockquote>