Full Notification

Below is an update on COVID-19 from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla:      
      
The Hoboken Health Department reports the following new COVID-19 cases:      
      
January 8: 97      
January 9: 64     
January 10: 85     
January 11: 127     
January 12: 111
January 13: 82  
January 14: 62    
      
Since the pandemic's onset, the City of Hoboken has had 9,013 known, confirmed cases of COVID-19. 
 
Unfortunately, the Hoboken community lost another resident to this virus, a woman in her early 70s. I send my thoughts and prayers to her friends and loved ones. The City has had a total of 58 fatalities since the pandemic began. 
 
Hoboken University Medical Center currently has 31 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.  Of these patients, 12 are Hoboken residents - 7 vaccinated and 5 unvaccinated.   
 
Hoboken Health Department update
 
The following is an update from the Hoboken Health Department:       

• Cases are community widespread and associated with schools, daycare, social gatherings, travel, and work      
• The regional COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) score  remains at the level of “very high risk”      
• Symptomatic individuals using at home test kits while symptomatic have received false negative results. The individual will then retest after day 5 of experiencing symptoms and their test is then positive. According to the Hoboken Health Department, individuals should remain cautious if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms and receive a negative at home test.  

   
Ages of recent cases
  
Below is the breakdown of recent positive COVID-19 cases by age group since the last update on Jan. 10. 
  
0-11: 84
12-19: 32
20-29: 159
30-39: 158
40-49: 82
50-59: 49
60-69: 39
70+: 25 

Vaccination rate update
  
Below is the vaccination rate for Hoboken:
  
All ages: 83% (first dose)
12 and over: 95% (first dose)
18 and over: 92% (first dose)
30 and over: 99% (first dose)
65 and over: nearly 100% (first dose)
 
All ages: 71% (second dose)
12 and over: 82% (second dose)
18 and over: 79% (second dose)
30 and over: 88% (second dose)
65 and over: 99% (second dose)    
 
At-home COVID-19 testing update from the White House 
 
According to a recent announcement from the Biden administration, everyone will be eligible to order free, at-home rapid tests through the federal government starting on Jan. 19. According to the White House, free rapid tests will be available for order at COVIDTests.gov. Additionally, the Biden administration is directing all private insurance companies to cover the cost of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month for all Americans. 
 
For more information, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/14/fact-sheet-the-biden-administration-to-begin-distributing-at-home-rapid-covid-19-tests-to-americans-for-free/ 
 
Recent COVID-19 trends 
 
While infection numbers remain higher than at any point last year, trends in New York City and other urban areas in the Northeast indicate that Omicron could be trending down.  As has been the case for the past several months, hospitalization rates in Hoboken for those who are vaccinated continue to remain low, and even lower for those who are boosted. This is a stark contrast to other regions of the country with lower vaccination rates where hospitalizations are substantially higher and ICU bed availability is dwindling. The best tool we have to stay safe is to get vaccinated and boosted, if you haven’t already. There are a number of appointments currently available for vaccinations, boosters, and pediatric vaccines for anyone who is eligible.
 
Face mask Executive Order 
 
As an update to the face mask Executive Order, gyms, fitness centers, yoga studios, cycling studios, and other health clubs that require vaccinations for all staff and patrons or a face mask for those who are unvaccinated, are exempt from the current face mask requirement for indoor businesses. If these establishments do not require a vaccination or face mask for those who are unvaccinated, face masks are required for all patrons, regardless of vaccination status, whenever social distancing of at least six feet or more is not possible. This decision was made to provide an extra degree of flexibility based on feedback to the Executive Order, as well as contact tracing that has indicated that infections are an infrequent occurrence at gyms. Thank you to businesses such as Fit Foundry, which practices strict social distancing and requires face masks for those who are unvaccinated, and Prime Cycle, which requires all customers to be fully vaccinated, for helping keep our community safe.  
 
Clinic schedule   
      
The City offers testing and vaccine clinics several days per week through partnerships with local providers. Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Hoboken can make an appointment. Appointments are required for all testing and vaccination clinics. They can be booked online at www.hobokennj.gov/vaccine or www.hobokennj.gov/testing.     
      
The following is the City's testing schedule for the week of Jan. 17.     

Note: Appointments listed below may be filled based on demand; proof of residency or employment at a Hoboken business will be required at all testing sites.
 
Medicine Man Pharmacy & Compounding 
Date: Tuesday (Jan. 18), Wednesday (Jan. 19), Thursday (Jan. 20), Friday (Jan. 21), Saturday ( Jan. 22)
Time: 9 am - 5 pm (Tuesday), 3:30 - 8 pm (Wednesday, Thursday), 9 am - 4 pm (Friday), 9 am - 1 pm (Saturday)
Location:605 Jackson Street, 601 Jackson Street(Saturday)
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for appointments (required): http://www.hobokennj.gov/medicineman

Riverside Medical Group      
Date: Tuesday (Jan. 18), Saturday (Jan. 22)
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Location: 601 Jackson Street (Tuesday), 605 Jackson Street (Saturday)
Type of testing: Rapid (15-minute); PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for appointments (required): http://www.hobokennj.gov/riverside    

Prompt MD
Date: Wednesday (Jan. 19), Thursday (Jan. 20)
Time: 8 am -2 pm
Location: 605 Jackson Street
Type of testing: PCR
Who: Hoboken residents, Hoboken business employees
Link for appointments (required): http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd 

At-home testing 
The NJ Department of Health and Vault Medical Services offer free, at-home COVID-19 saliva test kits. To order your kit go to learn.vaulthealth.com/nj. For more information, go to https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/testing-and-treatment/how-do-i-get-a-free-at-home-covid-19-saliva-test#direct-link.

The following is the City's vaccine clinic schedule for the week of Jan. 17.

Note: Appointments listed below may be filled based on demand  

Medicine Man Pharmacy & Compounding  
Location: 601 Jackson Street
Who: Anyone who works, lives, or goes to school in Hoboken
Day: Tuesday, Jan 18 
Time:  3 – 8 pm 
Vaccine offered: Pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna (booster), Pfizer (booster), Johnson & Johnson (booster)
Ages: 5-11 (pediatric Pfizer vaccine), 18+ (Johnson & Johnson booster, Moderna booster), 12+ (Pfizer booster)
Sign-up for an appointment (required): hobokennj.gov/medicinemanvaccine
** Children must be accompanied by a guardian **
**Those seeking a booster shot must bring their vaccine card** 
  
Hoboken Family Pharmacy
Location: 601 Jackson Street 
Who: Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Hoboken
Day: Thursday, Jan. 20
Time: 4 – 7 p.m. 
Vaccine offered: Pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna (booster), Pfizer (booster), Johnson & Johnson (booster)
Ages: 5-11 (pediatric Pfizer vaccine), 18+ (Johnson & Johnson booster, Moderna booster), 12+ (Pfizer booster)
Sign-up for an appointment (required): https://vaccine.resilhealth.com/hobokenfamilypharmacyrx
** Children must be accompanied by a guardian **
** Those seeking a booster shot must bring their vaccine card**  
 
I hope you have a relaxing and peaceful Martin Luther King Jr. holiday tomorrow.  In honor of Dr. King and his legacy, I encourage you to seek an opportunity to volunteer in the community, help a friend or neighbor, or lend a helping hand to anyone else who may be in need.  Thank you!
 
Sincerely,       
     
Ravi S. Bhalla      
Mayor