WOODBRIDGE – The township reported 38 new COVID-19 cases over a four-day period – the worst number of new cases since early May – which brings the total number of cases to 1,997, according to Mayor John McCormac in his coronavirus report on Sept. 11.
Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Sept. 7, 15 new cases were reported for Sept. 8, five new cases were reported for Sept. 9 and 14 new cases were reported for Sept. 10.
“For many months there were overwhelmingly individual cases every day with sometimes two people on the list from the same household and an occasional family cluster,” McCormac said. “This week there were numerous such instances, including a family of six, a family of five, a family of four, two families of three and four families of two. There was also a case of five from the same New Jersey College. Many other cases this week were in households where cases were already reported in prior weeks.”
McCormac said only seven of the 38 cases are not from households where there are other victims.
“This makes the numbers a little more bearable although victims are victims regardless of where they live and or who they live with,” he said. “There continues to be no geographical clustering as cases are spread throughout the town. The average age of cases this week was 38.”
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. The state reported zero new cases from their facilities over the four-day period. The total number of cases at the facilities to 809.
There are 68 COVID-19 cases reported from St. Joseph’s Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility. 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 moved back to the facility.
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 one more resident to COVID-19, which brings the total number of residents lost to 102 in the general population, 21 residents lost from state facilities, and 28 residents lost from the St. Joseph’s Nursing Home.
Health and fitness centers reopened on Sept. 1 with a number of restrictions. McCormac said the Woodbridge Community Center and The Club at Woodbridge buildings have been sanitized and equipment have been moved around. Employees have been trained to ensure the personal safety of the members.
A number of upcoming events include Hispanic Day at Tanzman Park on Sept. 19 and National Public Lands Day at various locations on Sept. 26.
The Woodbridge Animal Shelter will be on the look out for dogs and their human walkers. Animal Control will be giving out coupons for a free reward at the shelter.
Outside dining is permitted in 52 restaurants and bars in the township. A list generated of local businesses and restaurants are on the township’s website and Facebook pages.
Indoor dining at 25% capacity – no more than 100 patrons – began on Sept. 4.
Hair salons, hair braiding, barber shops, cosmetology shops, spas, massage parlors, nail salons, tanning salons, electrolysis facilities, tattoo parlors, daycare centers and non-essential businesses that sell bicycles, cars, used cars, boats and motorcycles reopened on June 22 as well as outdoor pools.
The outdoor gathering limit increased to 500 on July 6 with no limit for political or religious activities. On Aug. 3, the governor limited indoor gatherings to 25% for a room’s capacity, with a maximum of 25 people.
Highland Grove Pool and Spray Park on Highland Terrace opened June 22.
Senior centers Colonia, Hickory in Fords, Sycamore in Port Reading and Five Branches in Iselin, reopened on June 22, on a limited basis. There will be no luncheons or large gatherings, but seniors can call in advance to schedule times to visit for crafts, games or other recreational activities, McCormac said.
The township’s Farmer’s Market reopened on June 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Town Hall parking lot, 1 Main St. The market will include Jersey Fresh Produce from Alstede Farms, D’Orsi’s Bakery, Ice Cream Emergency, and Popcorn for the People. Want-A-Smoothie joined the number of vendors on Aug. 8 to offer table drinks. The market will run through Sept. 26. Parking is available across the street and in the train station lots.
Woodbridge Center and all indoor malls reopened on June 29. Woodbridge Center will open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information visit www.woodbridgecenter.com.
All four locations of the Woodbridge Township Public Library reopened at 25% capacity on July 6, but will remain closed on the weekends. Visits are limited to one hour.
The main library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. The Fords, Colonia and Iselin branch libraries are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. For more information visit woodbridgelibrary.org or call 732-634-4450.
The Woodbridge Library system invites township residents to enter the Summer Reading Challenge where children who read just 30 minutes per day can log in and win prizes with a chance to win an ipad. Adults can also win an ipad plus local restaurant gift certificates. Registration is quick and easy at www.woodbridgelibrary.org.
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.
With national reports indicating that as many as one in five children suffer from food deprivation and township officials reporting a 33% increase in utilization of the township’s food pantries, community efforts to collect food and money really never ends, McCormac said.
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 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.
Township officials have decided to cancel Summerfest 2020, which had been moved from June 6 to Sept. 5 in Merrill Park, Iselin, due to the concerns of the number of people gathering at one place.
Instead officials are extending the township’s Summer Concert Series by a week with the bands that would have played Summerfest 2020 – Real Diamond, a Neal Diamond cover band, will perform on Sept. 14, and Saints in the City, a Bruce Springsteen cover band, will perform on Sept. 15.
The township’s summer concert series began on July 6 – Doo Wop Monday nights of the 50s and 60s, Rock and Roll Tuesday night tribute bands from the 70s and 80s, Eclectic Wednesday nights, Local Band Thursday nights and Country Band Sundays – at concert field behind Woodbridge High School to allow proper social distancing.
All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., shows on Sundays will begin at 7 p.m. Concerts are free with food and refreshments for sale. The township will collect boxes and cans of non-perishable foods at the shows for the local food pantries.
Along with the shows at the concert field, smaller shows are held at Curtains Restaurant next to the Avenel Performing Arts Center.
Township officials will remember residents who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and other complications as well as honor police, fire, first aid employees and volunteers and health care workers who risked their lives during the pandemic at 2 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the concert field behind Woodbridge High School.
To have a loved one included in the ceremony contact the Recreation Department at 732-596-4048.
The Woodbridge Township Addiction Services will present COSMIC from 5-9 p.m. on Sept. 19. All proceeds benefit Road to Hope Charity. For more information visit www.eventbrite.com/e/cosmic-tickets-118356.
September is National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The township is recognizing National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month with a flag and teal ribbons represent Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Bulk pickups have restarted. To schedule a bulk pickup call 732-738-1311 ext. 3600.
With the increased limits on outside gatherings, the township is permitting individual garage and sales again as well as block parties, contact the Township Clerk’s office at 732-634-4500 for a permit.
A fall garage sale schedule is set for each ward – Woodbridge proper, Port Reading, Sewaren or Avenel on Sept. 12-13, Fords, Keasbey, Hopelawn or Menlo Park terrace on Sept. 26-27, Iselin on Oct. 3-4 and Colonia on Oct. 10-11.
Residents can schedule a free annual bulk pickup after the fall garage sales through the Sanitation Division at 732-738-1311 ext. 3600.
Basketball hoops and playground equipment at municipal parks are now open for use.
Township officials remind the public organized games are not permitted and encourage people to be careful and diligent about cleaning equipment before and after usage. The township will continue to also diligently clean the equipment. Non-contact organized sports began on June 22.
Playgrounds at county parks – Merrill Park in Iselin, Alvin P. Williams Park in Sewaren, Warren Park in Woodbridge, and Fords Park in Fords – reopened July 2.
The mayor continues to urge 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 as well as contact tracing 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.