Health & Fitness
Howell Officials Urge Public To Ignore False Coronavirus Text
Claims of an impending national shutdown are false; there are 10 coronavirus tests in Howell through Sunday, officials said.
HOWELL, NJ — Howell officials are urging residents to ignore inflammatory text messages that warned of an "impending 'mandatory quarantine' " amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
An alert from the state Office of Homeland Security, shared by the township, warned that the text messages were designed to cause panic and are not true.
"One text falsely stated that President Donald Trump wouldenact the Stafford Act and order a two-week mandatory quarantine," the statement Howell officials shared said. The National Security Council said the text is not true.
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The text messages created additional anxiety over the weekend in the wake of the order Saturday by Gov. Phil Murphy closing all nonessential businesses until further notice to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know
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As of Monday afternoon, there were 2,844 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Jersey, and 27 people have died from it, according to the state health department.
The Monmouth County Health Department reported 158 positive cases through Sunday afternoon, including eight in Howell and one in Farmingdale. The Farmingdale case was identified as a student at Farmingdale Public School, which serves kindergarten through eighth-grade students, in a letter to parents that was published on the Howell Happenings NJ Facebook page on Sunday.
Howell officials said that as of 4:30 p.m. Sunday said they have been notified of 10 cases but but were waiting for clarification. Details about the individuals and their addresses are not being released by health officials.
"Federal and state government officials remain committed to sharing timely and accurate information on COVID-19 and actively investigating false claims that may harm national security efforts," the state letter shared by Howell officials said.
Howell Township officials are publishing daily updates on the township website.
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