Second Maplewood Resident Dies Of Coronavirus

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee said Monday night the city had lost a second resident to coronavirus. Not wanting to give away confidential information about gender, the mayor wrote, "I am saddened to inform you that we have lost another member of our community today. They were 84 years old. On behalf of our Maplewood Township Committee, please join my colleagues and I in praying for the family at this time."

Maplewood also lost a resident who was 44 to the virus last month.

Statewide, 1,003 New Jersey residents have died of the virus, said Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday.

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Mayor McGehee said that the Maplewood Public Health Division now has reported a total of 97 coronavirus cases, including the person who passed away. The Public Health Division investigates and works to obtain the recent contact history for new cases.

In Essex County, 4,233 people have been diagnosed with the virus.

The mayor also said it might be best to discontinue house cleaning services. (Some have suggested still paying their maid if that person needs the money and can't work.)

"Traditional interactions and services that some of us may have been accustomed to have been disrupted," McGehee wrote. "This includes cleaning services at private residences. We advise that you strongly consider the discontinuation of house cleaning services. This action, regardless of whether you are not present in the home, potentially creates an unnecessary situation for multiple parties including the individuals hired to clean your home, the members of our household, and the members of the next household that the cleaning service visits."

In that vein, the mayor pointed out that social distancing, to slow the spread of the virus, extends to soccer games and other gatherings. He said even people in their cars should be mindful.

"Although it is important for us all to make a conscious effort to get fresh air and physical exercise ... it is equally important for us to practice social distancing in public spaces, especially in our parks," he said in a nightly update. "It is not OK to play soccer pickup games or to not be mindful of others trying to exercise and neglect to provide your fellow resident 6 feet of social distance while they walk, run or bike. Drivers, if you see people walking in the street attempting social distance, please do your part, slow down or even stop for a couple of seconds to allow pedestrians the opportunity to stay safe."

The mayor listed these COVID-19 resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222
• Maplewood COVID-19 website: https://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/covid19
• Essex county COVID-19 Testing Site: www.EssexCOVID.org

If you have received a positive confirmed diagnosis from your healthcare provider but have not heard from the Maplewood Public Health Division in 24 hours of the diagnosis, call the division at (973) 762-8120.

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