Week’s Start: COVID-19 State, County, Local Updates & How to Help

Note: This story was updated to include stats and quotes from NJ Gov. Murphy’s Tuesday afternoon address on the COVID-19 situation …

From the state to the county and local level in New Jersey, the unrelenting “stay home” message in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic is getting more emphatic by the minute.

With New Jersey seeing a total of 18,696 as of Tuesday afternoon having tested positive for the virus, a jump overnight of 2,196 and 265 deaths (up by 69), three in their 30s, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy has continually pleaded with residents to just stay home to save lives and flatten the curve.

Citing the two young men who succumbed to COVID-19, but reaffirming that deaths from the virus tend to still hit the older and compromised community harder, Murphy stressed that the young mens’ deaths bring home the fact that “this is a reality for ALL of us.”

“I cannot be any clearer in my call,” the governor added. “Stay at home before this hits home. Please do your part to flatten this curve … We are not an average state. We are a “We can do the impossible” state. That is New Jersey. “Our job collectively is to stay at home and flatten that curve. If we do our part, we can meaningfully slow the spread and save lives … This is not about you, it’s about us. Now is the time to be selfless, not selfish … The very best thing we can do together is to stay home and to keep our distance from anyone else, even at home. “
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy, Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2020

The governor thanked everyone on the front lines, especially healthcare workers and emergency responders. He particularly pointed to the state’s “unsung heroes … home health aides, sanitation workers, retail employees, teamsters, truck drivers and transit workers. Their dedication means the world and it means that we will emerge from this stronger.”

There were 25,224 negative test results and 3,847 positives “pending further information,” according to state statistics on Monday.

In Monmouth County, officials have reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, that 1,163 people have tested positive. Of those 1,163, in the immediate Rumson-Fair Haven area, the count of positive COVID-19 cases for Rumson, a 5-square-mile borough, was 17, a jump of 12 within a week.

In Fair Haven, a 1.6-square-mile town, the count of positive COVID-19 cases is at 12. At last Monday’s call-in Fair Haven Borough Council meeting, the tally was four. It had jumped to 10 by the next day and now 12. Little Silver has 15 positive cases and Red Bank has 22. The highest number of positives in the county is now in Middletown, a 42-square-mile township, with 112.

“While this number is undoubtedly high, it is important to note that Monmouth County continues to move down on the list of New Jersey counties with the most cases, and is now seventh,” Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone said on Monday, encouraging all to continue to do their part and practice social distancing and not ever leaving home when sick. “The fact that Monmouth County went from having the third highest number of positive cases out of the 21 counties last week, to the seventh highest this week, is a testament to the effectiveness of social distancing.”

The Freeholders also noted that on Saturdays, the drive-up testing site at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel will be dedicated to testing symptomatic health care workers and first responders with valid credentials only.

The site will be open to the general public on Mondays and Wednesdays and perform 500 tests per day rather than the initial 250 daily tests.

Noting thankful, generous donations of protective masks for healthcare and emergency response workers on the frontlines in the COVID battle, the Freeholders said that there is still a critical need for more.

“Donations of protective gear is being accepted at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, in Lincroft, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday, county officials said in a release. “For additional information, or to arrange the drop-off of personal protective equipment, please call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312. The phone number is staffed every day, including weekends.”

The Rumson-Fair Haven area

In Fair Haven …

While officials in Fair Haven are trying to quell anxieties, fears and cabin fever in an unprecedented pandemic time with virtual contests and games via its recreation department (more on that later), they remind all that Fair Haven Police Chief Joe McGovern is at the helm in Emergency Management in this situation. He only provides updates, summaries and advice for residents.

Here’s what the chief had to say in his open letter to residents on Monday evening …

As of this date, the Borough of Fair Haven has a total of twelve (12) confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Our thoughts are with the residents and their families.  Given the size of our town and our population density, we are at or below the anticipated number of anticipated cases which is very positive news for our community. With the exponential increase in testing being conducted in our state, we expect the number of confirmed cases locally and abroad to dramatically increase. Once again, these numbers are confirmations of individuals testing positive for the virus and not necessarily an indicator of those suffering with dramatic symptoms or accelerated ailments.
We have taken a very proactive approach to addressing this issue here in town, to include communicating with our businesses and providing updates as the Governor’s executive orders evolve. We encourage our residents to continue to be supportive of our businesses in town. That being said, we also urge you to continue to abide by appropriate social distancing and best safe practices in order to curtail the spread of the virus. Please do not compromise our businesses or our neighbors by failing to abide by these guidelines.
The Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and our emergency service personnel are maintaining a vigilant and proactive presence while doing our best to assure all of our residents that we are staying ahead of the curve and well on top of the situation.  We are brutally aware and cautiously prepared to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our residents.
Please help us by continuing to exercise good judgement and social discipline to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community.
Thank you, Chief Joe McGovern

Seemingly just as quickly as a borough ordinance banned them, Acme has gone back to plastic bags per state and county advice, as reusable bags can pick up germs more easily, the virus able to linger on cloth for a long time.

The borough’s first virtual council meeting last Monday was deemed a success, with Mayor Ben Lucarelli, at the time of adjournment, saying that approximately 67 people had logged onto or called in to join the meeting. Usual borough meeting attendance is much lower than that, with the exception of meetings that deal with contentious issues.

April’s Fair Haven Zoning Board and Environmental Commission meetings have been cancelled.

How to help

Fair Haven Council President Susan Sorensen is rounding up an army of volunteers to sew protective masks for healthcare workers and emergency responders.

Take a look …

Fair Haven Needs, a pandemic help social media organization, is in full swing. The idea, organizers say, is to source and network assistance for those in need in the community and get it to them.

The group has rallied and in no time last week got $5,700 worth of donations and donated bag lunches from Fairwinds Deli to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. On March 29, a delivery of desserts from Rumson’s Cups and Cakes went to Riverview.

Another delivery went out on Tuesday.

“As always please reach out to me, Beth Dorsey Sanville or Amanda Lukof with questions or suggestions,” organizers said. “We are honored to be able to spearhead this effort that the incredible residents of this town have made possible through their generous donations. Thank you Fair Haven!!”

Check it out …

In Rumson …

The Rumson Police Department has been very strict about the stay-at-home edict.

Police have said that they really don’t want to see people out and about unless necessary, and that includes driving. The logic behind that, they added in social media posts, is that if there is an accident or traffic violations, it keeps them from attending to residents afflicted with COVID and possibly in an emergent situation. More traffic on the roads keeps their resources tied up.

They asked people to be vigilant about minding speed limits and particularly staying home unless a trip to the supermarket or pharmacy is absolutely necessary.

“PLEASE limit all driving and travel for essential purposes only! *** Stay at home!” police said on the department’s Facebook page.

They have provided a list of COVID-19 information sources they have deemed reliable …

Healthcare advice and needs in the R-FH area from RFH grads who are doctors

Dr. Brendan J. Mulholland of Mulholland Medical Group

Dr. Ellen Sher of Atlantic Allergy Asthma & Immunology LLC

“Years ago my medical school classmates at Georgetown and I were lucky enough to have Dr. Tony Fauci speak to us about HIV,” she said in a Facebook post. “A few years later I was interviewed by Dr. Fauci and accepted for a fellowship in Allergy & Immunology at the NIAID at the NIH. I am still in awe over this man! Listen to Dr. Tony Fauci!”

Dr. Sher recommends listening to the widely-circulated interviews with Dr. Fauci.

She has also been circulating a message from Mt. Sinai Hospital that offers a great way to help in the medical community.

That’s the latest wrap on the pandemic. Stay safe. Stay home!