The Hoboken Office of Emergency Management has declared an order closing all gyms, health clubs, daycares, rec centers, day camps, and their movie theatre in their latest move to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“[I] hereby order that the following businesses within the City of Hoboken are hereby ordered closed: all gyms, health clubs, recreation centers, movie theaters, daycare centers, and day camps,” says an order signed today by Hoboken OEM Coordinator Sgt. William Montanez.
The city’s only movie theatre is the Bow Tie Cinema, located at 409-415 14th Street, and is also home to a New York Sports Club, CKO Kickboxing, and Crunch Fitness – among many other fitness facilities.
The order will remain in place indefinitely until it is declared lifted in writing.
The latest preventative measure by the city comes after they set up two coronavirus hotlines (one for general info and one for senior assistance).
Other measures undertaken include barring the public from City Hall and suspending street sweeping to curtail the need to move cars.
“I completely recognize that these decisions will undoubtedly cause an inconvenience for residents and in most cases, alter our day to day lives,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“But, we have to take into account the very serious predictions outlined by health experts from across the United States and the world, that the spread of COVID-19 is much likely to get worse before it improves.”
A man in his 40s was announced as the first presumptive positive case of the coronavirus in the Mile Square City yesterday afternoon, and while Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he was “a model case” of how to deal with symptoms, the city continues to be proactive in assessing the situation.
As of this writing, three people in Hudson County have been confirmed as presumptive positive cases of COVID-19: the aforementioned Hoboken man, a 32-year-old West New York man, and a 41-year-old Jersey City woman.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Mayor Ravi Bhalla.
