Full Notification

Below is an update from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla on COVID-19:

Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken
 
The Hoboken Health Department reported the following new COVID-19 cases in Hoboken:
 
August 14: 2 new cases
August 15: 0
August 16: 1
August 17: 1
August 18: 1
August 19: 1
 
Hoboken’s confirmed, known total of COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic is 693. As of Saturday, 647 residents have fully recovered from COVID-19. Sadly, we were informed of two previous fatalities related to COVID-19 that were only recently reported to the Health Department, a female in her late 60s who passed away in April, and another female in her mid 60s who passed away in May. I send my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. Hoboken’s fatalities now total 31.
 
Update on testing, and appointments available with Prompt MD Monday and Tuesday
 
COVID-19 testing is continuing through our partnerships with both Riverside Medical under the 14^th Street Viaduct, and with Prompt MD at our pop-up site at 605 Jackson. Dr. Islam and Prompt MD are offering COVID-19 tests this upcoming Monday and Tuesday for Hoboken residents, with appointments available at http://www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd on a first-come, first-serve basis. The pop-up site has the capacity to test up to 350 residents each day. As before, please have identification and insurance information available when signing up. Results should provided by Prompt MD within 3 days of testing.
 
Rapid testing continues to be in limited supply at Riverside due to national shortages, with mostly non-rapid tests currently utilized at their site. Those who receive a test at Riverside should have their results provided within three days of testing. Everyone with an appointment at Riverside will continue to be tested. To schedule an appointment with Riverside, please call our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from 9 am until 1 pm Monday through Friday at 201-420-5621. As before, if you receive a bill from Riverside Medical, please disregard it as Riverside staff continues to work through updating their billing process for Hoboken residents. 
 
This past Monday and Tuesday, over 650 residents were tested for COVID-19 at the Riverside and Prompt MD testing sites. We are doing everything we can to continue testing as many residents as possible, especially with schools scheduled to open this fall. Thank you again to Dr. Brahmbhatt, Dr. Islam and their teams for their continued partnership with Hoboken.
 
Voting this upcoming November
 
This week, Governor Murphy and the State announced that all registered voters in New Jersey will be receiving a vote-by-mail (VBM) ballot in the mail, with pre-paid postage. Every registered voter will have the opportunity to fill out the VBM ballot and mail it back for the November 3 general election. I would encourage all residents who intend to vote by mail to fill out the VBM and mail it back as soon as you get your ballot, to avoid any potential delays with the post office.
 
In addition, Hoboken will have certain polling locations open for in-person voting by provisional (paper) ballot, as required by the State. Anyone who prefers to vote provisionally, in-person at a polling site will have the opportunity to do so. Hoboken will have at least seven polling locations open, including one in each of Hoboken’s six wards, similar to the Primary Election. Finally. residents have the option of dropping off a completed VBM either at a dropbox administered by the Board of Elections on the Newark Street side of City Hall, or at a polling site on Election Day. For more information, please visit the Hoboken City Clerk’s website at https://www.hobokennj.gov/departments/city-clerk.
 
To register to vote, or to check your registration status, please visit https://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/elections/voter-registration/. The voter registration deadline to vote in the November 3 election is on Tuesday, October 13.
 
Poll workers on Election Day
 
Thank you to several residents who have reached out to offer to work the polls on Election Day, out of concern for the health and safety of the existing poll workers, some of whom are elderly. If you would like to serve as a poll worker on November 3, please email [email protected].
 
Social distancing task force
 
A couple weeks ago, we formed a social distancing task force made up of various departments in City Hall including Class II police officers, Office of Emergency Management, Zoning Office, Fire Department, and more. The task force continues to work with businesses to facilitate compliance with social distancing, and hand out face masks in public places, including our waterfront.
 
Although the City Council did not adopt an ordinance authorizing a potential fine for those who are not wearing face masks (when social distancing is not possible, and as a last resort), the task force will continue to provide education and distribute face masks on our waterfront and other locations. Already, they’ve distributed thousands of face masks to those without one throughout the City. Thank you to the many residents and Councilmembers who have provided very valuable and helpful feedback to my office regarding this issue, as well as to the task force members for their efforts at keeping our residents safe.
 
Small Landlord Emergency Grant
 
Applications opened on Wednesday for the Small Landlord emergency Grant (SLEG) Program, which will reimburse small residential property owners for lost rent revenue due to COVID-19, as long as the property owner forgives back rent and late fees from tenants between April and July, 2020. For more information and to apply, visit https://bit.ly/NJHMFASLEG. Applications are open until August 26 at 1 pm.
 
Update to New Jersey quarantine list
 
New Jersey has updated the states that residents should quarantine for a full 14 days after returning. The updated list includes:

• Alabama (added 6/24/20)
• Alaska (re-added 8/18/20)
• Arkansas (added 6/24/20)
• Arizona (added 6/24/20)
• California (added 6/30/20)
• Delaware (re-added 8/18/20)
• Florida (added 6/24/20)
• Georgia (added 6/30/20)
• Hawaii (added 8/11/20)
• Idaho (added 6/30/20)
• Iowa (added 6/30/20)
• Illinois (added 7/28/20)
• Indiana (added 7/21/20)
• Kansas (added 7/7/20)
• Kentucky (added 7/28/20)
• Louisiana (added 6/30/20)
• Maryland (added 7/21/20)
• Minnesota (re-added 7/28/20)
• Mississippi (added 6/30/20)
• Missouri (added 7/21/20)
• Montana (added 7/21/20)
• Nebraska (added 7/21/20)
• Nevada (added 6/30/20)
• North Carolina (added 6/24/20)
• North Dakota (added 7/21/20)
• Oklahoma (added 7/7/20)
• Puerto Rico (added 7/28/20)
• South Carolina (added 6/24/20)
• South Dakota (added 8/11/20)
• Tennessee (added 6/30/20)
• Texas (added 6/24/20)
• Utah (added 6/24/20)
• Virginia (added 7/21/20)
• Virgin Islands (added 8/11/20)
• Wisconsin (added 7/14/20)

Tress at Maxwell
 
Unfortunately, 21 trees at Maxwell Park were substantially damaged due to the recent tropical storm. An arborist has confirmed that these trees, which were uprooted, are not able to be replanted. The arborist will do an assessment regarding the replanting of new trees at Maxwell Park, in partnership with the Maxwell Condo Association and Shade Tree Commission.
 
Thank you and stay safe,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor