Full Notification

Below is an update from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla on COVID-19: 
Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken 
The Hoboken Health Department has confirmed the following, new COVID-19 cases in Hoboken: 
 
November 20: 21 new, confirmed cases
November 21: 14 new, confirmed cases
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hoboken has had 1,299 known, confirmed cases of COVID-19. Fatalities remain unchanged at 31. As of Thursday, 1,047 residents have fully recovered. Utilizing data provided by the State. The Hoboken University Medical Center is currently treating 11 patients with COVID-19, which includes three Hoboken residents. 
 
Governor Murphy yesterday reported an additional 3,635 cases and an additional 23 COVID-19 related fatalities. 
 
Given the continued surge in COVID-19 cases in Hoboken, state-wide and throughout the country, I continue to urge residents to take the necessary precautions to stay safe, especially on weekends. We all want to socialize and gather with friends and extended family, but it’s not worth it to unknowingly become a super-spreader, especially given the potential for asymptomatic spread of the virus.  
 
Please, remain vigilant, and help us protect our most vulnerable residents, some of who may not survive if they get exposed to the virus.  
 
Hoboken Public School District shift to remote learning 
According to Superintendent Christine Johnson, the Hoboken Public School District will shift to remote learning for grades PK-12 this upcoming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in advance of Thanksgiving. This is in addition to the remote learning announcement from November 30 – December 7. For more information on this decision from Dr. Johnson, her newsletter for parents can be read here: https://www.smore.com/5m6wx-the-herald.  
 
Additional testing appointments for Hoboken residents 
We continue to do our best to add COVID-19 testing to keep up with the record demand in recent days, and have more than doubled our testing appointments from previous weeks. Our new testing partners, Medicine Man Pharmacy and ivee are adding testing appointments to what was previously announced on Thursday.  
 
Medicine Man Pharmacy will be adding approximately 125 COVID-19 testing appointments on Monday, November 23 between 9 am and 1 pm at the Multi-Service Center (124 Grand Street, 2^nd floor gymnasium). The tests provided on Monday are PCR tests, which will be administered through Star Labs. To sign up for an appointment, please visit http://resilhealth.com/medicineman. 
 
Ivee will be adding approximately 100 COVID-19 testing appointments on Tuesday, November 24 at the Multi-Service Center (124 Grand Street, 2^nd flood gymnasium). To sign-up for these additional appointments, please visit: https://calendly.com/covid-ivee/ivee-x-hoboken-covid-19-testing?month=2020-11&date=2020-11-24.   
 
Thank you again to our four testing partners, who are doing an incredible job of increasing testing and keeping our residents as safe as possible – Riverside Medical Group, Prompt MD, Medicine Man Pharmacy and ivee.  
 
The State of New Jersey has also added mobile testing options in Jersey City, free of charge and no appointment needed, which can be utilized by Hoboken residents: 
 
COVID-19 testing in Jersey City, option 1 
 
Date: November 23 and 25 
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm 
Location: United Way, 857 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City 
Who: Open to all, first-come, first-serve 
 
COVID-19 testing in Jersey City, option 2 
 
Date: November 23 and 25 
Time: 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm  
Location: Mary McLeod Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City 
Who: Open to all, first-come, first-serve 
 
Hoboken residents (ages 5 and up) can also receive a free COVID-19 test (as well as a flu shot) at Hudson Regional Hospital. Appointments are required, please call 201-388-1097 to schedule one, Monday through Friday (9 am – 4 pm). COVID-19 testing is provided at Hudson Regional Hospital on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
 
Results through testing with Prompt MD 
If you were tested for COVID-19 through the City’s partnership with Prompt MD at 605 Jackson Street and have not received your test result after 72 hours, please email [email protected]. You can also call Star Labs at 732-529-5100, and if those two options do not yield results, you can email [email protected] and the Hoboken Health Department can follow up with the lab.  
 
Please also check your spam folder in your email as well, with results sometimes showing up there. 
 
Clarification on potential closure of non-essential businesses 
One common question I’m receiving from residents is whether the City can shut down non-essential businesses such as bars, restaurants for a period of time to curb the virus, similar to select other cities and states. While we made the decision to close bars, restaurants and non-essential businesses on our own as a City before the State in mid-March, ever since the Governor and the State declared a State of Emergency, the decision on business closures now rests with the State, not the City. If Governor Murphy and the State decide to close non-essential businesses or impose further restrictions, we will comply and follow the state’s lead. 
 
Contact tracing with Hoboken businesses 
I thank the many Hoboken business owners for complying with our contact tracing requirement, in situations where there is a potential, prolonged exposure with employees including bars, restaurants, gyms, health clubs, salons, and barbershops. Bars and restaurants that utilize QR codes can utilize electronic sign-ins for customers electronically, similar to Anthony David’s in Hoboken. When directed to the QR code for the menu, the requirement for name and email is populated, which is easy and sufficient for the City’s purposes.  
 
Thank you Hoboken, please stay safe. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Ravi S. Bhalla 
Mayor