Hoboken Mayor Says Indoor Parties Are Driving Coronavirus Spike

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla reported on Tuesday that 22 Hoboken residents have 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.

Want to be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning? Sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.

"During contact tracing, the Hoboken Health Department is observing a pattern of increased cases associated with various indoor social gatherings and parties," he said, "a similar trend in New Jersey as well, which continues to have a transmission rate above 1 (indicating community spread of COVID-19). Additional cases in Hoboken have also been traced to members of the same household contracting the virus."

He said, "There have not been any clusters associated with any one location such as a restaurant or gymnasium."

He added, "It’s so important to keep up the habits we’ve practiced during the summer months ... wear a mask at all practical times, social distance, and wash your hands. As before, we ask residents to avoid any social gatherings indoors beyond members of the same household. If you are seeing friends or extended family, please try to stay outdoors as much as possible."

Recently, one of the city's charter schools closed temporarily because a student tested positive for the virus.

Fatalities in town due to the virus remain unchanged at 31 total, with no new resident deaths since May.

Hoboken, a mile-square city of 53,000 people across the river from Manhattan, was among the first towns in the region to shut facilities in March as the pandemic neared.

More than 215,000 Americans and 14,400 people in New Jersey have died from the virus. At the height of the crisis in New Jersey in late April, 460 people passed away in 24 hours.

City sponsored blood drive

People still need blood. The next City-sponsored blood drive will take place this Wednesday at the Multi-Service Center (124 Grand St.) from 2-8 p.m. with Vitalant New Jersey.

You must have an appointment to donate, and wear a mask. Those who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to a confirmed case of covid within the last 14 days will not be eligible to donate. To sign up for an appointment, visit https://donor.cbsblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/52953.

Where to get tested

Prompt MD has added additional testing this Thursday at 605 Jackson St. between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. An additional 250 testing appointments are now available for Hoboken residents and Hoboken business employees with sign-ups now available here.

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.

"Due to the recent high demand for testing, appointments have been booked with Riverside at the site under the 14th Street Viaduct through the end of the week," Bhalla said. "We are working with Riverside to maximize testing slots for Hoboken residents with the new online-sign up system, and thank the Riverside staff for their continued partnership."

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.

Residents are asked to keep in mind that 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.

Here is some past Hoboken coronavirus news:

HOBOKEN STATISTICS

• The mayor recently 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.

HOBOKEN SCHOOLS

• The Hoboken public schools reopened Monday, Sept. 14 remotely, then 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.
• Recently, one of the city's three charter schools closed temporarily because a student tested positive for the virus.

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.
• Appointments can be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis by visiting 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, although testing appointments are limited for this upcoming week due to high demand. 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.
• Residents are asked to keep in mind that 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.

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 news? Email Caren.Lissner@patch.com. Want to be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning? Sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.