East Orange, NJ, March 23, 2020: In less than one week, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed our life as we know it. We are now experiencing what it’s like to live in a world well beyond our control with restrictions we never imagined would be put in place. But the threat to our public health is a real one and we cannot take this crisis lightly. As the number of new positive cases in East Orange increase daily, we must come together and do what it takes to fight the spread of this virus. Not doing so could be a matter of life or death. The City of East Orange is strictly following the Executive Order issued by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on March 21, 2020. As a state, we are being asked to selflessly adapt to a new routine so we can protect the collective health of our communities, including those who are most vulnerable among us. Our essential personnel are working around the clock to keep our city running and I want to thank them for their commitment and to thank you for your patience.

Remember, prevention is key to flattening the curve and reducing exposure. Frequently wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Disinfect commonly touched spaces. Maintain a safe social distance of three feet or more from each other. And stay home as much as possible.

Now is not the time to panic. There is no reason to run to the store and buy in bulk. Stores will continually be restocked. For every one thing you purchase, you may be taking away from someone else who may need it to stay safe. That is not who we are. We are a community that looks out for one another and we make provisions for those who need it.

East Orange, I know this is not easy, but we can do it together. We are one city, one community, with one goal and that goal is progress. I encourage you to follow our social media pages @EOCityHall for updates, call 2-1-1 for questions and visit covid19.nj.gov or cdc.gov for information, resources and updates.

###