Full Notification

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

Impact of COVID-19 in Hoboken
 
The Hoboken Health Department has reported the following, new COVID-19 cases in Hoboken:
 
October 10: 12
October 11: 7
October 12: 3
 
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hoboken has a total of 855 known COVID-19 cases. Fatalities remain unchanged at 31.
 
Update on new cases
 
Based on the extensive contact tracing of the Hoboken Health Office, we are seeing an upward trend in positive cases in individuals 25 years and under, many of whom attended large social gatherings, including indoor parties here in Hoboken and other locations. Other trends include cases associated with both travel outside New Jersey to hot spots and other regions and international travel, as well as members of the same household getting the virus from a family member.   
 
New method of scheduling COVID-19 test with Riverside Medical
 
Starting today, we have worked with Riverside Medical Group to start a new process of scheduling COVID-19 tests at Riverside’s site under the 14^th Street Viaduct. Instead of calling the CERT hotline, appointments should be scheduled by visiting www.hobokennj.gov/riverside on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Please have your insurance card available to upload. If you are booking a test for a child, please enter the child’s name along with your insurance and contact information. We hope this new process will increase efficiencies and reduce delays in getting a COVID-19 test with Riverside, and we will monitor the process this week to make any necessary adjustments.
 
COVID-19 testing through Riverside is available for Hoboken residents or Hoboken business employees, only. Residents must bring government identification or a utility bill to verify residency, and business employees must bring proof of employment with them at the time of testing.
 
Prompt MD resuming COVID-19 testing on Monday, October 19
 
Prompt MD will resume testing of up to 350 Hoboken residents on Monday, October 19 at 605 Jackson Street between 8 am and 3 pm. To sign-up for a test, please visit www.hobokennj.gov/promptmd. Testing with Prompt MD is ideal for those residents who may have traveled over the Columbus Day weekend, given the amount of time necessary before a COVID-19 test provides accurate results.
 
Thank you to CERT for the service to Hoboken
 
As we transition to an online-sign up system for COVID-19 testing and reducing hours at the call-center, I want to take a moment to again thank all of the volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members for going above and beyond to staff the COVID-19 hotline at City Hall since March. The CERT members have been an invaluable part of our pandemic response assisting thousands of residents, and we are greatly appreciative for their efforts.
 
Reminder about timing for COVID-19 test
 
As a reminder from the previous update, if you believe you were exposed to COVID-19, traveled to a high-risk state, or were in a high-risk situation, please wait at least 5-7 days after the potential exposure date or date returning from traveling to get a COVID-19 test, in order to get accurate results. If you returned from traveling during the Columbus Day weekend yesterday, the Health Department strongly recommends waiting until at least Monday to get a test, and quarantining for a full 14 days. If you were in one of those high-risk situations, please get tested even if you are asymptomatic, out of an abundance of caution. A number of residents who previously came back from traveling to hot spots were asymptomatic but still did the responsible thing and got tested, and ended up with a positive results – likely saving other residents from getting infected.
 
For a list of hot-spot states, please click here: https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/travel-and-transportation/which-states-are-on-the-travel-advisory-list-are-there-travel-restrictions-to-or-from-new-jersey.
 
Please continue to take precautions from COVID-19
 
I’m incredibly proud of the resilience of our residents and the progress we’ve made as a City, but we must not forget that we’re still in the middle of a national pandemic. As a government, we continue to do everything within our power to keep our residents safe, including providing continued testing for residents, conducting extensive contact tracing, prioritizing outdoor activities and dining, and much more.
 
But the reality is, in the absence of a vaccine, it is on each and every one of us to continue treating the virus as a formidable opponent that can appear anytime if we aren’t careful – especially as we approach the colder months. I know I can sound like a broken record, but please continue taking the following precautions:

1. Wear a mask – especially when around others and most especially in indoor environments around others
2. Social distance whenever in the vicinity of others
3. Avoid indoor parties, including indoor birthday parties – which can easily turn into super-spreader events
4. Limit interactions beyond the household, but if doing so – be responsible and do so outdoors and in small sizes/within your bubble
5. Prioritize outdoor activities as opposed to indoors 

I also encourage residents who have questions about testing – when to get tested, quarantine guidance, the effectiveness of testing, and more – to read the Nixle alert provided on October 9 here: https://local.nixle.com/alert/8291946/?sub_id=0.
 
Deadline to register to vote
 
As a reminder, the deadline to register to vote in New Jersey to be eligible to vote in the upcoming November election is today. You can register online by clicking here: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register.
 
Haven’t received your Vote By Mail ballot?
 
All registered voters in Hoboken should have automatically received their Vote By Mail (VBM) ballot in the mail. For residents who are registered to vote but have not yet received their VBM, please call the Hudson County Clerk’s office at 201-369-3470 (extension 6) between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or email the clerk’s office at [email protected] to request a new ballot. If you’ve received your ballot, I encourage you to fill it out as soon as you can and place it in the mailbox or in the voter drop-box at City Hall (Newark Street between Washington Street and Hudson Street).
 
As an update, for those who wish to vote in-person on Election Day, a total of nine polling sites will now be open in Hoboken to vote on provisional (paper) ballots.
 
The polling sites are below, and also included on the attached map.
 
1ST WARD: Districts 1-1,1-4, 1-5, 1-6: City Hall, 94 Washington St. (Court Room/Council Chambers)
1ST WARD: Districts 1-2,1-3: 1 Marineview Plaza, Community Room (4th between Hudson & River Sts)
2ND WARD: Districts 2-1, 2-2: Brandt School, 201 9th street
2ND WARD: Districts 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6: Fox Hills Senior Citizens Building, 311 Thirteenth Street
3RD WARD: Districts 1-7: Hoboken High School, 820 Clinton Street
4TH WARD: Districts 4-1, 4-5: Hoboken Fire House, 43 Madison Street Street
4TH WARD: Districts 4-2, 4-3,4-4, 4-6, 4-7: Multi-service Center , 124 Grand
5TH WARD: Districts 1- 7: Wallace School, 1114 Willow Ave.
6TH WARD: Districts 1- 7: Demarest School, 401 Garden St.

For additional voting information for the upcoming election, please visit the Hoboken City Clerk's website by clicking here: https://www.hobokennj.gov/departments/city-clerk. 

Hoboken Policing Policy Task Force Survey  
 
As a reminder from a previous announcement, we invite Hoboken residents to take a brief survey from Hoboken’s Policing Policy Task Force. The task force was put together by the city and consists of residents, police officers, and city council members. The goal of the task force is to review policies and procedures for the Hoboken Police Department. As part of this goal, this survey will help us determine how Hoboken residents interact with the police department.

Survey (English): https://arcg.is/GX0On

Survey (Spanish): https://arcg.is/0zuPGK

As always, please stay safe.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ravi S. Bhalla
Mayor