Hoboken Mayor To Return To Work After Virus Exposure

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla will continue "self monitoring" for coronavirus for 14 days after finding out last Friday that one of his contacts tested positive, the city's Health Department said Tuesday night. On Wednesday, city spokesman Vijay Chaudhuri clarified that the mayor would return to City Hall that day.

On Friday, Chaudhuri had announced, "Out of an abundance of caution, Mayor Bhalla is quarantining safely at home for the weekend. He regrets he will be unable to give remarks at the September 11 interfaith service, but to protect the safety of all participants and residents, is holding to the same advice he gives to others who may have been at risk: self-isolate and avoid contact with others until it is safe to do so."

On Tuesday, the city released a new statement from the Hoboken Health Department:

"Last week, Mayor Bhalla had a low-risk exposure to a contact who tested positive for COVID-19 later in the week. Out of an abundance of caution, Mayor Bhalla went into self-quarantine at home as soon as he learned of the positive test, and subsequently received a negative COVID-19 result from a test he took yesterday. Given the mayor’s low-risk exposure, which included a brief verbal interaction with face masks, along with the negative test result, a self-quarantine is no longer necessary. Mayor Bhalla will continue to self-monitor for the full 14 days.

"A full 14-day quarantine is necessary for anyone who returns from a high-risk state, or who had a high-risk exposure such as being in prolonged contact within 6 feet of and individual for longer than 10 minutes, or for example, were at a large indoor gathering without face masks. Had Mayor Bhalla had a high-risk exposure, he would have been advised to quarantine for a full 14 days, consistent with the recommendations provided to Hoboken residents.

"The mayor, his staff, and others who may have been in contact with the individual who tested positive have been appropriately following all health and safety guidelines as provided by the Hoboken Health Department."

Chaudhuri did not respond to a question from Patch of whether the contact was a government official or worker.

He clarified Wednesday that Bhalla would be back at City Hall that day.

Hoboken, a mile-square city of 53,000 people, is located across the river from Midtown Manhattan.

Hoboken has suffered 31 fatalities from coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. The last fatality was in May.

Here are other recent Hoboken coronavirus statistics:

• This past Thursday, Bhalla said that 729 residents have tested positive in Hoboken since the beginning of the pandemic. See a recent update here.
• Here are statistics on Hoboken residents under 16 testing positive for the virus.

Here is other coronavirus information for Hoboken:

SCHOOLS

• The Hoboken public schools reopened Monday, Sept. 14 remotely, and are set to reopen on-site Sept. 21 for those who requested it.
• The district has 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 will be restrictions, such as kids wearing masks and maintaining a 6-foot distance.

LIBRARY
See this story.

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.

LONG-TERM CARE

• New Jersey residents have become 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 to help make changes.
• The state released 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.
• 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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