Kinnelon COVID-19 Activity Update For Sept. 21, 2020

Press release from the Borough of Kinnelon:

Sept. 21, 2020

COVID-19 Activity

The numbers of new COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths in NJ continue to decline. The rate of transmission has recently been fluctuating between .92 and 1.06. Anything above 1.0 is considered concerning. The higher the number, the greater the risk of viral spread throughout the community. The good news is that this rate has consistently averaged below 1.0 over the last several weeks. The numbers had been particularly better in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the State, but now the remainder of the State has consistently improved and is now considered low in case activity with only the Southwest region considered to have moderate activity. Within the Pequannock Health Department’s jurisdictions, the number of new cases has been relatively flat for some time, with only minor activity.

Please see the link below for the NJ Regional COVID Activity Reports through September 12th.

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/

Contact Tracing and Disease Investigation

The NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) has provided additional contact tracers to our local Health Department from this newly formed State work force. They support the operation while under the direction of the Pequannock Health Department’s nurse supervisors. Now that schools and universities have reopened, the Pequannock Health Department is working closely with these institutions to contact trace, isolate and quarantine individuals to quickly contain any spread of the COVID-19 virus that may be identified within these institutions.

Schools Reopening

In the initial week of reopening, of the 584 public school districts in New Jersey, more than 180 school districts across the state<https://www.nj.com/education/2020/08/nj-sends-389-school-reopening-plans-back-to-districts-for-revisions-180-districts-seek-all-remote-start-for-students.html> had indicated that they planned to begin the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote learning, while 59 districts planned to fully reopen. The remaining districts, which represents the majority, had planned on starting the new school year with a hybrid mix of in-person and remote learning, according to state officials. All school reopening plans needed to be reviewed and approved by the NJ Department of Education before they were allowed to be implemented. The Pequannock Health Department is providing guidance and is working closely to assist with COVID surveillance, planning and implementation in all five public school districts, private schools and universities within our jurisdictions.

Attendance at Crowded Gatherings Can Increase Risk of COVID Transmission

As we continue to see moderate weather, recreational activities can create opportunities for crowded gatherings. Thankfully, recreational activities may now include indoor dining and visits to a theater. It cannot be stressed enough that large, crowded gatherings, where social distancing isn't being practiced and where face masks aren't being worn when necessary, may be unsafe and could contribute to the spread of COVID-19. The public must continue to be diligent about the following, while enjoying activities:

* Distancing six or more feet

* Wearing masks/face coverings when appropriate

* Practicing hand hygiene

* Avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth

* Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces

* Staying home when symptomatic

* Following all of the requirements and advisories set forth in the Executive Orders and Executive Directives.

* Adhering to isolation and quarantine recommendations and orders from the Health Department’s contact tracers and disease investigators

Vaccine Update

The NJDOH has been asked by the CDC to begin planning strategies for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to begin as early as October 31, 2020. At this time, priority groups are being established to receive vaccines based on the highest risk populations. Upon the completion of Phase Three trials and approval from the FDA to proceed, NJ will begin receiving shipments of the vaccine and it will begin to be disseminated to the population by priority group . At this time, the method of determining the quantities of vaccine each jurisdiction will receive will be based upon population size and other considerations such as the level of risk within these populations. Early planning indicates that vaccines will be allocated incrementally to the States from late October through the end of December. The vaccines will likely require a two shot regimen, either twenty one or twenty eight days apart, depending on which vaccine is given. This is still in the early stages of planning, so everything is subject to delay or change.

Executive Orders

There have not been any new Executive Orders relevant to COVID-19 since my last communication, however, here are the latest orders that were issued:

Executive Order No. 180 Extends the Public Health Emergency On August 27, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 180. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103, which was previously extended on April 7, May 6, June 4, July 2, and August 1. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed.

Executive Order No. 180 extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor's authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Executive Order No. 181 Allows Gyms, Indoor Amusement and Water Parks Effective 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 “Health clubs,” as defined by N.J.S.A. 56:8-39, which include gyms and fitness centers, as well as amusement and water parks, can open their indoor premises as of 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, provided that such businesses adopt policies that include, at minimum, the following requirements:

* Limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 25 percent of the stated maximum capacity, if applicable, at one time, excluding staff.

* Require that reservations, cancellations, and pre-payments be made via electronic or telephone reservation systems to limit physical interactions. Such policies shall, wherever possible, consider populations that do not have access to internet service or credit cards.

* Install a physical barrier, such as a shield guard, between customers and employees wherever feasible or otherwise ensure six feet of distance is maintained between those individuals, except at the moment of payment.

* Limit the use of equipment rented or otherwise provided by the business to one person at a time, and that a distance of no less than six feet distance form others utilizing exercise equipment is maintained, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners, and sanitize such equipment before and after use.

* Demarcate and post signs that denote six feet of spacing in all commonly used and other applicable areas or where people may form a line.

* Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal.

Executive Order No. 183 Allows Indoor Dining and Performance and Entertainment Venues

Ø Indoor Dining

Effective at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020, restaurants, cafeterias, dining establishments, and food courts, with or without a liquor license, bars, and all other holders of a liquor license with retail consumption privileges, collectively referred to as “food or beverage establishments,” are permitted to offer in-person service at indoor areas, provided that the establishment complies with the following requirements:

* Limit the number of patrons in indoor areas to 25 percent of the food or beverage establishment’s indoor capacity, excluding the food or beverage establishment’s employees.

* Ensure that tables where individuals or groups are seated are six feet apart in all directions from any other table or seat and that individual seats in any shared area that is not reserved for individual groups, such as an indoor bar area, are also six feet apart in all directions from any other table or seat.

* Require indoor patrons to wear face coverings while inside the indoor premises of the food or beverage establishment. When seated at their table or their individual seat, indoor patrons shall wear face coverings until their food or drinks arrive, and after individuals have finished consuming their food or drinks, they shall put their face coverings back on. The face covering requirement does not apply if the patron has a medical reason for not wearing a face covering or is a child under two years of age.

Ø Performance and Entertainment Venues

Effective at 6:00 a.m. on September 4, 2020, entertainment centers where performances are viewed or given, including movie theaters, performing arts centers, and other concert venues, may open their indoor spaces to the public with the following requirements:

* Limit the number of patrons in any indoor room where a performance is viewed or given to 25 percent of the stated maximum capacity, if applicable, at one time, excluding the entertainment business’s employees.

* Regardless of the capacity of the room, such limit shall never be larger than 150 persons.

* Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while in the indoor portion of the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age.

Other restrictions may be applicable for the activities specified in the above mentioned Executive Orders. For additional information, please refer to the entire list of Executive Orders and Executive Directives at the links below.

Additional Links

Please see the link below for an up to date list of all Executive Orders:

https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/approved/eo_archive.html

Please see the link below for an up to date list of Executive Directives that the Health Department is responsible to enforce:

https://www.state.nj.us/health/legal/covid19/

“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

— Marie Curie

Thomas Cantisano

Health Officer

Pequannock Township Health Department

This press release was produced by the Borough of Kinnelon. The views expressed here are the author's own.