WOODBRIDGE – Woodbridge officials reported 13 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the township to 1,469, according to Mayor John McCormac in his daily report on May 12.
“The township continued our recent trend of lower cases of coronavirus, [the new number of cases] matches our average of the last week,” he said. “Our township numbers are still trailing the State of New Jersey and also Middlesex County on a per capita basis, which is more good news.”
The township Health Department has discovered 10 additional deaths of township residents that occurred over the last several weeks, which bring the total deaths to 64.
The total positive COVID-19 cases at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility is 48. The township is reporting statistics from the nursing home separately.
The residents at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home devastated by COVID-19 were initially counted in the township’s statistics before residents were moved to another facility out of town on March 25. On April 16, residents started moving back home after a massive cleaning effort. On May 4, the last resident has moved back to the facility.
Summerfest 2020 has been moved from June 6 to Sept. 5 in Merrill Park, Iselin. McCormac said they hope to have a ceremony during the festival to recognize the residents who passed from COVID-19 and bring together family and loved ones to celebrate their lives as well as to celebrate hero first responders and health care professionals who put their lives on the line to protect and save others.
The township’s annual fireworks display has been moved from July 2 to Sept. 6 in Alvin P. Williams Park in Sewaren.
Colonia Cares is a group of high school students from Colonia High School [CHS], who came together to sell T-shirts and lawn signs. All the proceeds are turned into gift cards from local stores and restaurants, which are then donated to local food banks as well as Woodbridge Social Services.
On May 16, CHS students will be at the Evergreen Senior Center, 400 Inman Ave., giving out T-shirts and collecting non-perishable food items, pet food and supplies, and other donations of masks and gloves.
The CHS students are also calling township seniors to check in on them during the pandemic. Woodbridge High School (WHS) has partnered with Colonia Cares to form Woodbridge Cares. The WHS students will announce their collection dates soon.
The soup kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church, 650 Rahway Ave., in Woodbridge is open again from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday for a hot lunch to go.
Keep Middlesex Moving, a non-profit transportation management association, challenges people to ride their bike during the month of May and they will donate food to the We Feed Woodbridge food banks. For more information visit the township’s website or www.kmm.org.
McCormac noted We Feed Woodbridge, which distributes food items and monetary donations to the 11 food banks in the township, has received more than $70,000 in donations.
The township has extended the grace period for the May 1 property tax bills from May 10 to May 31.
The mayor continues to urge social distancing at parks. Playground equipment is off limits and organized games or practices are not allowed. He also urges neighbors to check on people who live alone and cannot leave their homes and to continue to follow the rules and guidelines for social distancing, good personal hygiene, proper disposal of trash and avoiding non-essential travel. He also continues to warn residents of potential fundraising scams for COVID-19.
For more COVID-19 information, visit covid19.nj.gov. Visit www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us for local information.
For Middlesex County information visit discovermiddlesex.com/covid19/ or www.middlsexcountynj.gov/covid19.