Newark Mayor On Coronavirus: Cancel 'Non-Essential Group Events'

NEWARK, NJ — Planning a big party in Newark? It's time to take a raincheck, the city's mayor said Thursday.

The administration of Mayor Ras Baraka said that due to growing concerns about the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, all "non-essential public gatherings" should be cancelled for the next 30 days, as of March 12.

According to city officials, a "non-essential group event" is defined as a gathering of 250 people or more for social, cultural, or entertainment events where people are not separated by physical space of at least four feet. This includes festivals and parades.

The decision directly impacts Baraka's office, postponing his sixth annual State of the City Address, which was scheduled for Monday, May 16 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Scheduling for all events will be re-assessed at the end of the 30-day period, officials said.

CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY

There have been 23 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday morning, with one person dying from the disease. Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency, and schools across the state have begun to cancel classes. READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

In general – depending on where they live – New Jersey residents still face a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19, State Epidemiologist Christina Tan said during a Wednesday press conference.

There have been more than 1,300 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Thursday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which said the disease also has killed 38 people nationwide.

• See related article: $8B To Fight Coronavirus; NJ Lawmakers Back Huge Spending Bill

WHAT IS COVID-19?

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.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

CORONAVIRUS NEWS IN ESSEX COUNTY

Catch up on some recent stories involving COVID-19 in Essex County. (Click headlines to read article)

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Coronavirus: NJIT Moves Classes Online, Limits Visits

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Newark Police: False Alarms On Coronavirus Will Be Prosecuted

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Coronavirus: 2 Big St. Patrick's Day Parades Canceled In Essex County

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Feel Sick? Don't Come To NJ Devils Games For Now, Team Says

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