Cranford To Remember Its 103 Victims Of COVID-19 Tuesday Night

CRANFORD, NJ — On Tuesday evening, Cranford will join communities throughout the country in the National Tribute to COVID-19 victims. Officials will light the tree across from the Municipal Building and ask residents to turn on porch or walkway lights or place a candle outside to remember and honor the 103 Cranford residents lost to the disease.

Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty wrote in an email, "We invite Cranford Houses of Worship to ring their bells at 5:30 pm as part of the National Tribute organized by the Biden-Harris Inaugural Committee. We are approaching one year since the pandemic turned our lives upside down and forever changed some families, businesses and the hundred little things we took for granted."

On Tuesday, the Biden Inaugural Committee is hosting the nationwide COVIDMemorial observance (livestreamed here) in honor of those who passed away due to the virus. Among other towns, the town of Westfield is hosting its own livestream. The national livestream will be here: https://bideninaugural.org/wat...

Prunty noted, "It is not over. COVID-19 is not a hoax. It is real and more than 1,000 Cranford residents have been infected. COVID-19 will continue to spread causing more people to get sick and possibly lose their life if we disregard safety measures."

She noted, "In these past 10 months, so many of you showed strength, innovation, kindness and most of all, respect for others by following safety protocols. Please continue to protect yourself and protect others. Wear your mask. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. Avoid crowds. Limit unnecessary trips."

The township will continue to post information about confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Facebook and Cranfordnj.org, Prunty noted.

By Tuesday, the American death toll due to coronavirus was expected to surpass 400,000 lives.

The state of New Jersey recently expanded the groups eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, including health care volunteers and people ages 16-65 with certain chronic health conditions. Read more about where else to get vaccinated in Union County here.

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