Following their fourth diagnosed case of COVID-19, Jersey City will be closing all non-essential businesses starting at noon today, as well as limiting restaurants to take out, delivery, and drive through orders.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This morning we are taking the steps via executive order to expand our restrictions that were implemented last week. Effective noon today the following establishments will be closed,” Mayor Steven Fulop tweeted early this morning.
He clarified that that bars and nightclubs that don’t serve food, movie theaters/performance centers, gyms, fitness centers, state licensed cosmetology establishments, barber shops, day care centers, nail salons, non-urgent med offices including, dental, physical therapy clinics, and chiropractors are all included on the list.
The only exceptions will be grocery stores and cafeterias located within nursing homes or similar facilities, the mayor said.
Furthermore, the mayor said that beginning tomorrow, grocery stores with three registers or more will set aside two hours, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., for elderly, disabled, and pregnant residents to shop exclusively.
“This AM we’ll be reaching out to all of the local grocery stores (3 registers or more) + we’re going to be setting aside hours for elderly residents, ppl w/disabilities, pregnant residents so that only these residents will be in the stores from 9-11am starting tomorrow,” he tweeted.
“The stores have been receptive as this needs to be an effort where we all work together. These are the most vulnerable residents + crowded supermarkets are a challenge for these residents.”
He did not provide any further information regarding the 4th diagnosed coronavirus patient in the city.
These are all measures that were enacted in Hoboken last week after Jersey City announced a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and nightclubs on Thursday.
Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York have all also enacted 10 p.m. curfews for all residents.
There are currently 11 cases confirmed in Hudson, according to the New Jersey Department of Health as of about 5 p.m. last night
Thus far, 10 cases have been announced publicly: four in Hoboken, four in Jersey City, and two in West New York.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
