Wayne Township Coronavirus: 1 New Death, 26 New Cases

WAYNE, NJ — Wayne Township Mayor Christopher Vergano reported one new death and 26 new positive test results in a Monday afternoon news conference. In total, Wayne Township has seen 105 people die from COVID-19, and 963 residents have tested positive.

Vergano said "75 to 80 percent" of deceased were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. 11 of the new positive test results came from long-term care facilities from dates ranging from April 6 to April 24, he said.

Of the 26 new positive test results, 11 are men and 15 are women with an average age of 58. The ages ranged from 23 to 93.

The newly reported death is as follows:

90-year-old male died April 24.

Vergano also spoke about assisted living and long-term care facilities during the news conference, urging to people to stay away from the nursing homes as the populations that live there are at the highest risk of contracting the coronavirus.

"From the beginning of this health crisis, one of the biggest fears I've had has been the safety of our most vulnerable elderly residents, and those living in the 12 nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the township," said Vergano.

Vergano went on to explain that, aside from township health inspections, Wayne is not responsible for inspection of assisted living facilities, after, he said, there were many questions on the subject.

Schools: Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday New Jersey schools would remain closed for the rest of the year. Spring sports seasons will also be cancelled. Read more: New Jersey Schools Closed For Rest Of Academic Year: Gov. Murphy

Primary Elections:

Primary elections in Wayne Township have been rescheduled from June 2 to July 7 due to the coronavirus, Vergano announced Thursday. In a related move, the last day to register to vote has now been moved to June 16.

Shopping:
Some stores in Wayne Township provide shopping hours specifically for people who are at a high risk of contracting the new coronavirus.

• Stop & Shop — 6 a.m to 7:30 a.m. — daily
• Trader Joes — 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. — daily
• Costco — 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
• ShopRite — 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. — Wednesday
• Jack's Super Foodtown of Wayne — 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. daily

Town Hall decorations:
A section of Wayne Town Hall will be illuminated with red, white and blue lights in memory of those who have died from COVID-19, said Vergano.

Testing:
Drive-thru testing will continue Tuesday at William Paterson University. Testing is provided from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Passaic County residents with a prescription from a doctor.

Taxes:
The mayor also said that in accordance with Gov. Murphy's executive order, the grace period on property taxes due May 1 has been extended to June 1. Vergano originally announced that the grace period would be extended until June 1.

Donations and Volunteering:

• CASA of Passaic County is selling yard signs emblazoned with the phrase "Thank you to all the heroes among us." They can be purchased at passaiccountycasa.org.
• The drive-thru Passaic County testing facility at William Paterson University is in need of volunteers to complete a variety of duties. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to email volunteers@passaiccountynj.org.
• Residents can also help out by making a monetary donation to the WIN Food Pantry. Checks can be made out to the WIN Food Pantry and sent to PO Box 3341, Wayne.
• The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive in Wayne next month. Vergano said those hoping to donate blood must first pre-register online using the sponsor name "WayneYMCA" as the keyword.
• Donations can also be made to Flag of Greater Wayne through Venmo (@Flagofgreaterwayne) or Zelle at flagofgreaterwayne@gmail.com, or by mailing a check made out to Flag of Greater Wayne to the Mayors Office, 475 Valley Road, Wayne.

How the Virus Spreads:
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person.

Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.

While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses.

This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.