Full Notification

November 18, 2020 Knowlton Township Covid-19 Update:
This week Warren County is reporting another jump in positive cases, an additional 221 positive cases since last week, for an average of 31.5 cases per day and a positivity rate of 12%.  There have been 12 hospitalizations this week with 5 patients in intensive care.  Knowlton is now at 22 positive cases with 19 recoveries. 
    
Yesterday, the mayors of locals towns met with county health officials as well as senior management from Atlantic Health System. Atlantic Health, which operates the Newton, Hackettstown and Morristown Hospitals, is currently providing Covid-19 testing at the Med-Express in Hackettstown and the Sussex Urgent Care in both Newton and Sparta locations. Warren County will reopen a testing site on December 1, 2020;  the location and times are to be determined.   Local hospitals are filling but have additional capacity at this time, which is a result of several factors, including that the average age of Covid patients is younger than it was in the spring and that drug and treatment therapies for Covid patients have improved.  Atlantic Health management recommended that all county residents get their flu shot to preserve hospital capacity for Covid patients.  

County health officials mentioned that several school sports teams have seen positive cases in recent weeks and that local superintendents may be making decisions soon about instituting all-remote-learning.   

For the sake our keeping our businesses and schools open, as well as protecting those with compromised systems,  please wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing.
 
On the State level:
In response to increases cases statewide, Governor Murphy issued Executive Orders 194, 195, and 196.  These make the following changes:

• No indoor seating at bars
• Restaurants, bars, and businesses that serve food or drinks indoors to close at 10:00 PM.  They can continue takeout and serving outside after 10:00 p.m.
• Municipalities and counties can impose additional restrictions on the hours of operation of non-essential retail businesses, food and beverage establishments, and recreation and entertainment businesses after 8:00 p.m.
• Indoor and outdoor gathering limits have been lowered.  The number of individuals permitted at indoor gatherings is 10 people.  There are exceptions for indoor religious services, political activities, weddings, and funerals.  
• The number of individuals at outdoor gatherings is limited to 150 persons or fewer. Weddings, funerals, and religious and political activities are not subject to the outdoor gatherings limit.

  
On the local level:
Help is needed to re-supply local food banks, many of which are being used heavily now.  The closest one to Knowlton, located at the United Methodist Church at 509 Route 94, is currently feeding approximately 20 local families.  They are in need of grocery store gift cards or non-perishable food items including:

• Frozen Turkeys
• pasta
• macaroni & cheese
• canned vegetables
• canned fruit
• snack packs for children
• juice
• any other donation

Anyone who can help should leave donations at the door of the church under the pavilion.  Knowlton Deputy Mayor Debra Shipps will also pick up any donations.  Contact her at 908-217-0836 or [email protected].  
The staff will disinfect all products before being shared.  Anyone picking up a bag of food can do so in a drive-through pickup line of cars.  The foodbank is open on the last Saturday of each month.