coronavirus

Monroe new COVID-19 cases remain low, township loses one more resident

MONROE – Monroe officials reported two new COVID-19 cases, which bring the total number of cases to 758, according to the Monroe Township Office of Emergency Management on June 25.

The cases include one new case in a long-term care facility and one new case community-wide.

The township has lost one more resident to COVID-19, which bring the total number of residents lost to 115, 81 in long-term care facilities and 34 community-wide.

There are 49 COVID-19 cases reported from the New Jersey Training School for Boys.

The book drop at the Monroe Township Public Library reopened on June 15. Materials must be returned to the book drop slot near the library’s drive thru window only. Book drops at the Senior Center and Community Rec Center will remain closed at this time. For the safety of patrons and staff, items will be quarantined for three days before check in. Please allow up to five days for materials to be removed from one’s record. Due dates on items checked out prior to closure have been extended through July 1. Overdue fines have been waived.

On June 22, the library began appointment-based curbside pickup. For more information visit www.monroetwplibrary.org.

The township announced the cancellation of the township Recreation Summer Day Camp, July Fourth fireworks at Thompson Park, and all Senior Center group programming through July 31 in the best interest of public health and safety.

The Monroe Township Food Pantry provides assistance for residents, families in need. For more information contact Karen Theer at 609-448-7140. Another resource is the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Services (MCFOODS) Directory, which directs people to an agency in their area that can provide them with emergency food assistance as well as Jewish Family Services. For more information and MCFOODS email [email protected] or call 732-729-0880 and for Jewish Family Services call 609-395-7979.

Donations to the food pantry can be mailed to Office of Senior Services, 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831, Re: Food Pantry. Checks should be made payable to “Friends of the Senior Center” with “Food Bank” written in the memo line of the check.

The Monroe Township Department of Works yard is open from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 8-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

Antibody testing is now available along with COVID-19 testing at MyInstaDoc, 298 Applegarth Road for anyone wishing to be tested. The facility will serve pre-registered COVID-19 testing patients from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Antibody blood testing will be conducted in-office by appointment.

To be considered, a patient must be free from all COVID-19 symptoms for no less than 14 days. This test will assess them for subclinical infection in the past.

The COVID-19 drive-thru testing site serves pre-registered patients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and drive-up patients from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays. Pre-register at www.myinstadocmonroe.com or call 609-207-3220 to speak with a medical professional. A person does not have to be symptomatic to be tested.

COVID-19 testing is also available at Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care in Monroe at 215 Applegarth Road. The facility is offering antibody blood testing and COVID-19 nasal swab testing walk-in or by appointment from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekend. For more information call 732-263-7922 to schedule an appointment.

For more information visit www.COVID19.nj.gov.

For Middlesex County information on COVID-19 information visit discovermiddlesex.com/covid19/ or www.middlesexcountynj.gov/covid19.