WOODBRIDGE – Woodbridge officials reported five new positive COVID-19 cases, which bring the total number of cases to 1,541, according to Mayor John McCormac in his daily report on June 2.
“The count of five is exactly our average for the last two full weeks so things are really slowing down,” he said.
The number of COVID-19 cases include East Jersey State Prison and a number of related state facilities in the Avenel section of the township. McCormac said the state has reported 151 new cases from the state facilities, which bring the total number of cases to 297.
“As we noted previously, this is just a catch up from the past weeks from when the state classified those residents under the City of Rahway, but it is a staggering number,” he said. “Please remember that none of these residents have daily interaction within our community so there is really no reason to be alarmed by these numbers.”
There were 10 additional cases reported at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility, bringing the total to 65. 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.
“The state has caught up on reclassifying people from when they lived at the CareOne facility in Hanover to where they live now in Woodbridge so it is not new cases,” McCormac said.
The township is reporting statistics from the state facilities and nursing home separately. McCormac said tracking the numbers separately – general population, state facilities and health facilities – gives the township a better indication of the real impact on its everyday residents.
The township has lost two more residents to COVID-19 in the general population, which bring the total to 66 deaths, one more resident in the state facilities, which bring the total to nine and two more residents in the St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, which bring the total to 26 residents.
“Regardless of where people live we mourn their deaths and pray for them and their families during this most difficult time,” McCormac said.
The township is expected to issue guidance to local restaurants on expanding their outdoor footprints. Gov. Phil Murphy announced outdoor dining will resume on June 15.
Limited in-person retail will also start on June 15. A list generated of local businesses is on the township’s website and Facebook pages.
The governor announced hair salons and barber shops can open June 22 and youth summer programs can open on July 6. Township summers camps will begin on July 6.
Fitness centers and gyms, which include The Club at Woodbridge and the Woodbridge Community Center are on the list for reopening around the same time. More information will follow.
We Feed Woodbridge, a coalition of 11 food pantries and a soup kitchen, surpassed its donation goal with more than $102,000 in monetary donations plus thousands of pounds of food in six weeks. National reports indicate that as many as one in five children suffer from food deprivation and township officials report a 33% increase in utilization of the township’s food pantries.
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.
The Woodbridge Cares effort from Woodbridge High School students has reopened their store for sale of 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. For more information visit www.woodbridgecares.org.
The township is taking steps toward reopening Town Hall. Most interaction with local government can be done by phone, mail or on-line. Township officials are also accepting appointments if a person needs to meet with someone to conduct business. Phone numbers are on the township’s website or call 732-634-4500.
Hematology and Oncology Associates at 540 Green St. in Iselin and Excel Urgent Care at 740 Route 1 north in Iselin are offering antibody testing. For more information call Hematology and Oncology Associates at 732-913-8500 and for Excel Urgent Care call 732-874-5507.
For hours of operation for the Skyline Mini golf course and batting cages behind the Woodbridge Community Center call 732-596-4000.
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.
As of now, the township expects to hold its complete summer concert series. Some locations might move around to larger venues to allow for proper social distancing.
Bulk pickups have restarted. Officials said it will take a couple of weeks to catch up on the pickups for the list of residents who were on the list when the service was initially suspended in March. To schedule a bulk pickup for the second half of June or into July call 732-738-1311 ext. 3600.
McCormac said once the state raises the number of people who can gather, the township can start scheduling individual yard and garage sales. The township will schedule dates by section of town in the fall for the township’s usual large scale sales.
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.middlesexcountynj.gov/covid19.