Belleville Reacts To Coronavirus: Events Canceled, Center Closed

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville is taking several steps to protect local residents in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, township officials announced Thursday.

Those measures include closing and disinfecting the senior center on Franklin Avenue, ramping up cleaning in the Senior Dial-A-Ride, and disinfecting the township's municipal buildings. Some events have also been canceled "out an abundance of caution," Belleville officials said. (Learn more below)

According to State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus COVID-19 in Belleville. There is one presumptive positive case in Essex County – a 66-year-old Montclair woman.

“These measures are being put into place to protect our seniors,” Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that those over 60 in age are among the most at-risk to contracting COVID-19. While the well-being of all our residents is paramount, we especially want to take every precaution to care for our seniors in Belleville.”

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

There have been 29 people diagnosed with presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday afternoon, with one person dying from the disease. Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency, and schools across the state have begun to cancel classes. READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

In general – depending on where they live – New Jersey residents still face a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19, State Epidemiologist Christina Tan said during a Wednesday press conference.

There have been more than 1,300 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Thursday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which said the disease also has killed 38 people nationwide.

• See related article: $8B To Fight Coronavirus; NJ Lawmakers Back Huge Spending Bill

BELLEVILLE PRECAUTIONS

According to officials, the Senior Center on Franklin Avenue will be closed immediately and all Senior Clubs will be suspended indefinitely. This will allow the township to bring in a specialized company to disinfect the entire building.

The Senior Dial-A-Ride program will continue as scheduled, but the bus will be cleaned every three hours under a new protocol as a precaution.

Several other protocols will focus on the township’s municipal buildings. For example, all surfaces at Town Hall will be wiped down with disinfectant at least three times daily. Also, the township is bringing in a professional crew to clean and disinfect all municipal building out of concern for employees and residents who visit these buildings. Entry to Town Hall will be restricted to one entrance, whereby visitors will be directed to their destination and be asked not to "loiter around," officials said.

Some events have been canceled out of an abundance of caution, officials added. All recreation programs have been suspended for the next two weeks. The rabies clinic scheduled for Saturday at the Fire Headquarters on Franklin Avenue has been canceled.

However, while there is no change to scheduled Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings, the township encourages "social distancing" efforts, officials said.

Belleville police will prioritize non-emergency calls, officials said.

"It may take longer to respond to some calls," township officials said. "The police department is asking that residents remain patient and cooperative."

Because the health issue is "ongoing and fluid," residents are encouraged to continue to check the township website, www.bellevillenj.org, for further updates, officials said.

For residents without internet access, they can receive important updates by calling the Belleville Health Department at 973-450-3389.

Township officials have been in close contact with the Belleville Public School District and are advising parents to check the school district website and social media regularly for updates.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

CORONAVIRUS NEWS IN ESSEX COUNTY

Catch up on some recent stories involving COVID-19 in Essex County. (Click headlines to read article)

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Coronavirus: NJIT Moves Classes Online, Limits Visits

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Newark Police: False Alarms On Coronavirus Will Be Prosecuted

"Any false reporting of the coronavirus in our city will result in criminal prosecution," Newark's top cop said.

Coronavirus: 2 Big St. Patrick's Day Parades Canceled In Essex County

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