Wayne Coronavirus Update: 108 deaths, 1,007 cases

WAYNE, NJ — Mayor Christopher Vergano, in a Wednesday May 6 news conference, reported two new coronavirus deaths and 30 additional positive test results.

Of the 30 positive tests, 18 are men and 12 are women. Six are between the ages of 22 and 29 according to Vergano, and the average age of those testing positive is 51. The range of ages is 22 to 91.

Vergano again stated that about 75 to 80 percent of cases are being reported from long-term care facilities, including the two newly reported deaths. Five of the newly reported tests are from long-term care facilities from dates ranging from March 30 to April 18.

As of the Wednesday news conference, there have been 1,007 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Wayne Township, and 108 residents have died.

The newly reported deaths are as follows:

• 76-year-old female died May 1
• 71-year-old female died May 3

Closures and Cancellations:

• According to the Wayne Township website, the 202 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

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 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.