COVID-19: Montclair cases rise to 64

By GWEN OREL
orel@montclairlocal.news

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in New Jersey rose by more than 2,000 for second straight day, while a travel advisory is now in effect for the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state area.

The Montclair Health Department reported that there are 64 confirmed cases, and 10 fatalities; an increase of nine since yesterday, but no new deaths since Friday.

The state reported 13,386 total cases as of Sunday afternoon, March 29, according to the New Jersey COVID-19 dashboard. That is an increase of 2,262 cases since Saturday’s update.

In total, 141 people have died in New Jersey after contracting the virus, up 21 from Saturday’s update.

As of Saturday, Montclair was reporting 55 residents who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, resulting in 10 deaths. Calls and emails to the township Sunday requesting new information were not returned at press time.

All 10 residents who have died had underlying health conditions, according to Montclair officials.

Essex County saw 141 new cases from Saturday to Sunday, as it remained New Jersey’s second-hardest-hit county, with 1,227 total cases to date. Bergen County leads the state with 2,169 positive tests.

Today is the first day since the crisis began that Gov. Murphy did not hold either a call-in or streamed press conference to provide the latest updates on the COVID-19 situation.

Late Saturday night, the national Centers for Disease Control issued a travel advisory for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, asking residents of those states to avoid all non-essential travel for 14 days.

“This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedule. The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory,” the CDC states.

Those three states have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus; New York’s 52,000 cases amount to almost half of all cases in the U.S. A total of 728 New Yorkers have died as a result of the virus.

New Jersey has more than 11,000 confirmed cases and 140 reported deaths, and Connecticut has more than 1,000 confirmed cases and 27 reported deaths.

All social gatherings have been banned, including weddings and funerals. Gov. Murphy reiterated at yesterday’s briefing that homeowners that banks and lenders are being directed to give a 90-day grace period on mortgage payments to those affected by COVID-19, and to waive late fees. There is also a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. Utilities are also prohibited from cutoffs due to non-payment.

The COVID-19 portal also has a form where employees can file a complaint against a business that may be in violation of the state’s rules on non-essential businesses.

TESTING SITES

As of Saturday night, there were seven sites where Essex County residents could be tested for COVID-19. Only people showing symptoms will be allowed to be tested. Residents should call ahead to alert staff that they are coming, and to ascertain that tests are available.

Note that while the two FEMA-operated sites are are offering tests free of charge, the other locations may either charge a co-payment or bill your insurance. The sites are:

Bergen Community College (FEMA)
400 Paramus Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
No appointment, drive-in only

PNC Bank Arts Center (FEMA)
Garden State Parkway, Exit 116
Holmdel, NJ 07733
No appointment, drive-in only

American Family Care Urgent Care
480 Pompton Ave., Suite 6C
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
973-239-2300

CityMD Newark Urgent Care
617 Broad St., Newark, NJ 07102
862-201-4596
walk in, no appointment

The Doctors’ Office Urgent Care of West Caldwell
556 Passaic Ave., West Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-808-2273

American Family Care Urgent Care
464 Eagle Rock Ave., Suite C,
West Orange, NJ 07052
973-669-5900

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Montclair Local has provided a list of shopping resources with information on times and hours of local supermarkets, and contact info for volunteer and paid shoppers. (Full list below).

Aging in Montclair reports that they have started a phone tree. Any senior, not just members of AIM, can call the 1-973-707-5088 number to ask about benefiting from their programs.

The Office of Emergency Management for the Township has announced the following links that are resources available to small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:

The US Small Business Association;

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

The State of New Jersey;

https://faq.business.nj.gov/en/collections/2198378-information-for-nj-businesses-on-the-coronavirus-outbreak

https://www.njeda.com/about/Public-Information/Coronavirus-Information

NJ Department of Labor;

https://www.nj.gov/labor/employer-services/business/covid.shtml

SHOPPING RESOURCES

• Robin Schlager:
973-509-4031, rschlager@montclairnjusa.org

• Abraham Dickerson:
862-250-3957

• Christopher Moccia, paid shopper:
973-600-3785, christophermoccia@gmail.com

• Nextdoor Montclair: app and website

• Facebook.com/ShareMontclair

• Facebook.com/SecretMontclair

• Acme Supermarkets
510 Valley Road

• Localacmemarkets.com, 973-746-0058
7 a.m.-10 p.m., pharmacy open until 9 p.m.
7-9 a.m. for seniors and immuno-compromised
Delivery and pickup available
Hiring now

• Whole Foods Montclair
701 Bloomfield Ave.
wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/montclair; 973-746-5110
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
8-9 a.m. for seniors
Delivery available

• Kings Food Markets
650 Valley Road
kingsfoodmarkets.com
7 a.m.-8 p.m.
7-8 a.m. for seniors and immuno-compromised
Delivery and pickup available
Hiring now

TESTING SITES

SHOPPING RESOURCES

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