Free Coronavirus Tests Offered At Cranford, Springfield Pools

CRANFORD, NJ — The Union County Freeholder Board announced this week that the County Mobile Test Unit will conduct saliva tests for the public in Springfield and Cranford in the next seven days.

The free saliva tests will be administered at events in Springfield this Thursday and in Cranford on Nov. 17.

The walk-up events are open to all Union County residents and no appointment is necessary.

Those wishing to be tested should bring a smart phone or tablet and refrain from food, drink or
chewing gum 30 minutes before testing.

“The Freeholder Board continues to offer free covid tests county-wide, as we work to keep our communities safe,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We encourage residents to get tested if they have any concerns about exposure to covid-19, whether or not they have
symptoms.”

The addresses and hours are:

• Thursday, Springfield, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Springfield Community Pool, 44 Morrison Road.
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, Cranford, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Orange Avenue Pool, 1025 Orange Avenue, Cranford.

These events are sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and done in cooperation with the City of Elizabeth and Union County College.

Additional details and dates can be found at ucnj.org/walkup.

For more information and updates on all Union County services and resources during the outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and the Mobile Test Unit walk-up sites, visit the new Union County COVID-19 website at ucnj.org/covid19.

Here are some other recent Coronavirus coronavirus and reopening updates:

SCHOOLS

The K-8 Hillside Avenue School recently went remote for two weeks, and four other schools have had recent coronavirus cases. Read more here.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

NATIONAL TRENDS

• More than 238,000 people have died of coronavirus in the United States. The CDC predicts that 250,000 to 266,000 covid-19 deaths will be reported by Thanksgiving.
• More than 900 health care workers have died of the virus nationally. Others are simultaneously fighting misinformation and hoaxes as they try to fight the virus.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said last month. The state announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1.
• New Jersey residents became alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities.
• The state released death toll statistics in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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