Hopatcong is a Step Ahead in Opening Services

As an intrepid move during a period when the state had tight COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the municipality of Hopatcong Borough conducted a Free Rabies Clinic/Dog Licensing to an expanded demographic. Their neighboring municipality Stanhope Borough had their Rabies Clinic scheduled in April cancelled and the pet license due date was extended until May 30, 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns.

Contrary to other municipalities, Hopatcong Borough expediently hosted a Free Drive Thru Rabies clinic on Friday, May 29th from 10-1pm at the outdoor Municipal grounds of its Civic Center/Senior Center (32 Lakeside Blvd., Hopatcong, NJ 07843). The drive thru not only welcomed Hopatcong and surrounding communities like Stanhope, but it also included residents of New Jersey. There was no mention of what restroom facilities were provided to those who came from remote city locations of the state to use this free clinic program.

According to stanhopenj.gov with a detailed announcement of this Hopatcong event, Pets, owners/handlers and the veterinarians administering vaccinations during this State of Emergency, were asked to adhere to the following:

• Must come in a vehicle and remain in their vehicle at all times while waiting for their turn.
• MUST wear masks and practice social distancing while at the Clinic.
• Dogs should be restrained with a non-retractable 6-foot leash or other safe control to allow a quick and unimpeded transfer to the veterinarian for vaccination.
• Cats must be in a secured carrier to prevent escape.

No instructions were listed regarding the use of a sanitized toilet facility to those remote drivers that brought their pets for vaccinations.

The Hopatcong Civic Center is in walking distance to the Lake Hopatcong State Park. This has made Hopatcong Borough an easy map find location with the state’s inner cities that find summer relief at the State Park. Unfortunately, the State parks did not open their restrooms. People were now allowed to enter the park with limited activities. In recent social media comments, there were complaints that people were relieving themselves outdoors on state park property since these toilet facilities were closed.

Ambitiously, Hopatcong Borough Inc is forging ahead in reopening its municipal services. This does not mean the Borough has the lowest rates on COVID-19 positives in Sussex County or has taken a proactive stance against infectious transmission by visitors from high positive areas that come in physical contact with its residents or employees. Despite it being a Sussex County municipality that does not having any congregate medical rehab or nursing care bed facilities in its Borough, it has a 7.38 rate of cases per 1,000 people. One wonders where these 114 positive cases can be traced to leaving some Hopatcong residents feeling uncomfortable. This information will continue to be undisclosed to the public as its elected leaders are urging them to patronize local businesses. Sussex County locations with a higher rate than Hopatcong Borough were Andover Township 32.52, Frankford Township 13.62, Franklin Borough 8.65, and Newton Township 10.26. Hopatcong Borough’s population is 14,203 (as of 2018) also does not list any doctor medical group offices, does not list any immediate care centers and it has only one local site Pharmacy that does not have a drive-up window nor deliveries to the home. This makes living here hard for those who have fragile immune issues during this pandemic . Yet, Hopatcong Borough has stepped up to the plate to provide vaccination clinics for the dogs. Perhaps Hopatcong Borough sees more promise in increasing this population. In the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 15,147, reflecting a decline of 741 from the 15,888 counted in the 2000 Census. That is a downward trend that appears to be the most reliable one in Hopatcong Borough right now.