Princeton Declares State Of Emergency After Coronavirus Confirmed

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert declared a State of Emergency after a municipal resident was named as the first positive coronavirus case in town Friday. This marks the first positive case for Mercer County.

"We are all in this together and we will be experiencing severe disruptions in our normal course of business and lives…. And it is now up to each of us for all of us to step up and do our part," Lempert said.

Lempert made the declaration during a press conference on Friday.

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The state of emergency implemented several changes in town including:

• All scheduled public meetings, such as planning and zoning, will be canceled until April 5.
• All Mayor and Council meetings will be canceled until April 5, unless a special or emergency meeting is needed.
• All municipally-sponsored events are canceled through April 20.
• Private events that needed permits in Princeton are canceled until April 20.
• All municipal employees are barred from out-of-state travel.

"We are in an unprecedented time in our community, our country, and our planet," School Superintendent Steve Cochrane said. "We do not have all the answers in the face of this pandemic but what we do have are each other."

Cochrane noted that schools will be closed for the next two weeks and implement remote learning from home beginning on Monday. This will run through March 27. (See Related: Princeton Schools To Close For 2 Weeks, Start Alternate Plan)

Additionally, the school staff and high school students put together more than 500 meals to go home next week to families who receive subsidized meals. The meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner to cover the next two weeks. There will be 15 school buses set up for families in need to pick up the food. After the next two weeks the school district will re-access the situation to provide more food if necessary, Cochrane said.

Multiple locations in town are also closed as a precaution.

The Princeton Public Library is closing as of 9 p.m. Friday until Monday, March 30. Late fees will be waived and loan periods will be extended.

The Arts Council has canceled all classes and Princeton Garden Theater will also be closed for the next two weeks.

Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter assured residents that emergency services will not be affected.

"Our police, fire and EMS are ready and prepared," Sutter said. "You won't see degradation in our services."

The 49-year-old Princeton resident is the municipality's first positive case of the new coronavirus, the Princeton Health Department (PHD) announced Friday. (See Related: Princeton Woman Is Town's 1st Positive Case Of Coronavirus)

The woman attended the same private party on Feb. 29 where two people from the Boston area were later tested and found to be positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) when they went back to Massachusetts. (See Related: Princeton Party Update: 3 More Test Positive For Coronavirus)

Developments in the new coronavirus outbreak continue to unfold rapidly in New Jersey now that the number of cases has risen to 50, and one person has died. (See Related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know)

For those that would like to help Princeton has two options, donations or volunteering. Donations of food, household items and medical needs are being collected for vulnerable residents. And volunteers are needed to distribute these donations. To learn more donating or volunteering in Princeton click here.

(Correction - Princeton residents are not being advised to stock up supplies.)

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