Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman Tests Positive For Coronavirus

CARTERET, NJ — Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman announced Monday he has coronavirus, and he is currently self-quarantining at home. He said his condition is improving and he now has just a lingering cough. He also got his positive test results back Monday, after being tested a week ago.

Carteret currently has 35 positive coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, March 31.

"Today I have become one of the more than 144,000 Americans and 13,000 New Jersey residents to date who have tested positive for covid-19, more commonly referred to as coronavirus," said Reiman in a public Facebook post Monday.

"There should be no stigma associated with covid-19 and people should not feel shame or embarrassment by the fact they have contracted it," he said. "Instead, impacted individuals need to share that information with family, friends and others to stop the spread. My case appears very mild and today a week later I have just a cough but many other residents and Americans are dealing with much more serious effects of the virus."

Reiman said he was in contact early last week with several people who would later test positive for the virus.

"I have self-quarantined since early last week on the advice of my physician after being informed I was in contact with individuals who had tested positive," he said. "I later began to develop several minor symptoms of covid-19 including a 24-hour fever, headache, muscle pain and a cough. Initially diagnosed as a seasonal upper respiratory infection, days later medical professionals advised me to undergo testing and to continue to self-quarantine pending the results."

Reiman said that as soon as he learned he had been exposed to those who had it, "I immediately removed myself from interactions with others including the public, borough staff, family and friends and followed all guidelines set forth by the CDC."

He said he went to get tested at Doctors Medi Center at 835 Roosevelt Avenue in Carteret, where he said the staff was "extremely professional and provided comfort and guidance."

"I was tested last week and I received the results this morning, nearly seven days later, which is a long time to wait for results," said Reiman. "But it shows the importance of self-quarantining and following the advice of the CDC and Governor Murphy’s executive orders to help stop the spread of the virus."

"Although I have been informed by doctors that I can return to work, I have decided, out of an abundance of caution, to remain at home for the remainder of the week and to continue to avoid any interaction with others," he said. "I continue to conduct borough business through phone conference, call-in and email communication with department heads, staff and the public."