3 Wayne Long-Term Care Residents Die From Coronavirus: Mayor

WAYNE, NJ — Three more residents of Wayne long-term care facilities have died from the coronavirus, bringing the cumulative total of deaths in the township to 158, according to Mayor Christopher Vergano.

Additionally, Vergano reports 15 positive test results, including 12 from long-term care facilities, bringing the total positives to 1,321.

The numbers Vergano reported during his Tuesday, May 26 news conference included reports from Sunday and Monday.

Interestingly, he said, the report the township received on Tuesday indicated that there were no new positive test results to report.

The average age of the new cases was 75, and the range of ages was 43 to 92-years-old.

Long-term care facilities, Vergano added, are required to test all staff and residents this week, so he expects more numbers to become available.

Closures and Cancellations:

• No official decision has been made by Wayne Public Schools, but the district is committed to hosting some end-of-year events. Read more: Wayne Schools Hope To Strike Balance Between Celebration, Safety
• According to the Wayne Township website, the 2020 Junior Police Academy has been cancelled.
• The Alan Purcell Wayne Animal Shelter will no longer be open to the public as of Wednesday, May 6. Adoption applications will still be accepted online.

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

Testing:

Drive-thru testing will continue on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at William Paterson University. Testing is provided from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Passaic County residents. You no longer need a prescription, nor do you need to be showing symptoms.

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 12.

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.