Coronavirus: West Orange St. Patrick’s Parade Postponed (UPDATED)

WEST ORANGE, NJ — UPDATE: On Wednesday night, West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi announced the West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade has been postponed "in the interest of public safety, the health and well-being of our community." Read his full message. Our original article follows below.

On Monday, as part of an advisory about the concerns surrounding the coronavirus that’s reportedly killed at least 27 people in the U.S., township officials in West Orange confirmed that the 69th annual West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade will still kick off at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.

• See related article: West Orange St. Patrick's Day Parade 2020 (Where, When)
• See related article: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

West Orange township officials released the following statement about the coronavirus dubbed COVID-19 on Monday:

“The public should be advised that parade organizers take seriously the confirmed cases and spread of the COVID-19, novel coronavirus, in New Jersey. The situation is closely being monitored by officials but the parade will proceed forward as planned. The priority is to minimize any threats to public safety by following common sense guidelines set forth by the CDC. Many of these suggestions are similar precautions used to prevent the spread of the flu. They are, but not limited to, washing your hands, avoid kissing and handshakes, and using hand sanitizer when possible. The most relevant COVID-19 FAQ’s have been addressed by the West Orange Health Department and can be read at the link on www.westorange.org/coronavirus . Other links to the CDC website for a more detailed list of guidelines can also be accessed from the town website.”

West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi urged residents to enjoy the parade, while also keeping a heightened sense of awareness.

“The public perception of the threat can easily be overshadowed by the fear of the unknown and misinformation,” Parisi said. “The overall situation is best left to the advice of experts in the field who are better suited to guide us.”

• Read the March 9 notice here
• Read the West Orange Health Department’s FAQs about COVID-19

Last week, officials with the Township of West Orange and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) said they’re “closely monitoring the situation” and have been coordinating efforts with school officials.

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the West Orange Public School District, Superintendent Scott Cascone said in a video on Monday.

• See related article: West Orange School Officials Address Concerns About Coronavirus

NO DOOR-TO-DOOR

On March 9, West Orange officials issued a warning about reports of CDC teams allegedly going door-to-door in the township.

According to officials:

“Please be aware that there have been reports of individuals going door to door claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control in other parts of the state. The CDC does NOT deploy teams to go door to door. Residents should contact law enforcement if this activity is reported.”

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.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.