VIDEO: Hoboken Cheers Workers From Windows Amid Coronavirus

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken residents took to their windows on Saturday night to applaud the emergency, health, and other workers who are trying to keep residents safe amid the spread of coronavirus. As of Saturday night, 85 Hoboken residents had been confirmed with the virus, but officials said that a third of the patients in the local hospital were coronavirus patients from all over — and the staff may run out of ventilators.

"Unfortunately, with the apex not projected to hit for at least another week or two, we are likely to see an even greater amount of confirmed cases," Bhalla wrote in an update Saturday night.

The mile-square city of Hoboken has 53,000 residents, many of whom commute across the river to Manhattan.

On Saturday, Gov. Phil Murphy said that 140 New Jersey residents have died of the disease and more than 11,000 are confirmed to have it. The same day, the president announced that New Jersey residents may be asked to stay within the state.

Nationally, it was reported that an Illinois infant died from coronavirus, the first child that young in this country to die from the disorder.

Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for free Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.

Residents who have questions about coronavirus can call 211 or contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222.

Experts say that the novel coronavirus, because it's new, is more lethal and much harder to treat than the flu.

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.

Got a Hoboken news tip or just want to reach out? Email caren.lissner@patch.com.