East Orange, NJ, March 19, 2020: Mayor Ted R. Green and Dr. Monique S. Griffith, Director of Health and Human Services, announced the first positive case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) identified among our residents in the City of East Orange.
A 41-year-old man who was experiencing symptoms went to a hospital for testing and his results came back positive for COVID-19. He is currently self-quarantined at home. No other details are available at this time, but more information will be released as it becomes known.
Officials used this opportunity to urge residents to exercise extreme caution and to adhere to all precautionary measures that will help fight the spread of this deadly virus in the City of East Orange.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to take every safety measure you can to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This is the time to be vigilant and take heed to what our health experts are telling us to do,” said Mayor Green.
Prevention is key.
“If you are sick, stay home. If you are not sick and you are out, practice social distancing. This virus is impacting people of various ages, not just seniors. Make sure you are washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,” said Dr. Griffith, who also emphasized disinfecting your home and thoroughly cleaning commonly-touched surfaces.
Amid this unprecedented public health crisis, Mayor Green declared a State of Emergency on Monday, March 16. All city buildings and public spaces are temporarily closed to the public between Tuesday, March 17-Friday, March 27. Citizens are encouraged to conduct city business via telephone, email or online, while all emergency matters will be managed by essential personnel.
If you have any questions pertaining to the coronavirus, please call NJ 211 or text NJCOVID to 898-211. You can also speak to a healthcare professional at 1-800-222-1222.
To stay updated on closings, restrictions and updates, please visit www.eastorange.nj.gov or follow us on FB and Instagram @EOCityHall. For more information and fact sheets, please visit www.cdc.gov and www.nj.gov/health.
Mayor Green and Dr. Griffith will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall tonight, March 19, between 6pm-7pm. Questions can be called in at 862-213-3758 and you can tune in to Facebook Live@EOCityHall.
