Scotch Plains and its health department along with our County, State and Federal Health Agencies are closely monitoring the Coronavirus outbreak and its potential impact in the United States and our area in particular. 

Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat. 

This webpage is dedicated to important updates and resources as it relates to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and its impact on the community.

Scotch Plains Township has been notified by the Rahway Regional Health Department that two members of Scotch Plains Community have died as a result of the COVID-19 virus.  One death occurred yesterday, Friday April 4th.  There is no immediate information about the other death.   

As of today, the total number that have tested positive for the COVID19 virus in Scotch Plains is 71 including the two deaths. As available, the Township will post limited, allowed details concerning the two deaths and those who have tested positive on its coronavirus webpage. 

Mayor Al Smith stated, "Our thoughts are with the families that have lost their loved ones, and we ask that everyone respect their privacy. I speak for the Township Council and all of Scotch Plains in saying our hearts break for these families.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.” 

The Mayor continued, “It is so important at this critical time that we  all continue to follow the “Stay At Home Order,”  practicing social distancing if you must go out,  frequently washing your hands and sanitizing surfaces to protect them from becoming breeding grounds for the virus.  Our lives and the lives of our loved ones and the community in general depend on each of us doing these basis health requirements.”

Echoing the thoughts of Fanwood Mayor Collen Mahr, Mayor Smith stated, "I want to extend my gratitude to all hospital staff, caregivers, doctors, nurses, and first responders who are putting their lives on the line during this troubling time.  They continue to risk their lives every day to protect ours, and we are all eternally grateful to them. Please join me and the Township Council in keeping them, their families, and the victims of this horrible virus in our thoughts and prayers during this uncertain time.”

You can honor and show your support for our essential workers  by  participating in the Illuminate Scotch Plains & Fanwood event scheduled for Sunday evening April 5, 2020 by leaving an extra light on or placing a candle in the window to light the way for all these extraordinary individuals. Let’s light up Scotch Plains!

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in conjunction with governmental, educational and healthcare partners, have opened the state's first County-run, drive-through facility for testing of the COVID-19 virus at Kean University.

Please note that testing is by appointment only and you must be registered through your doctor or healthcare provider. Union County residents, Union County First Responders and essential personnel, who have been instructed by their doctor or healthcare provider to be tested for COVID-19, must be given a prescription and registered by their doctor or healthcare provider on a secure portal where they will receive an appointment for the drive-through.

This is the only way to receive an appointment to be tested. For the safety, health and security of the volunteers at the site, the testing location will not allow patients without vehicles to enter campus, even with a valid prescription and appointment. If you do not have your own transportation, please discuss with your healthcare provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Also, if you believe you may have symptoms of COVID-19, there is a self-assessment tool that you should use that has been developed by the State of New Jersey. This tool will assist you to determine what actions you can take to protect you and your loved ones’ health and help determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, and can be accessed at https://self.covid19.nj.gov/

The Union County COVID 19 drive-through facility is being run by the County through a partnership with the Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) in Summit, the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ Barnabas Health) in Rahway. The Freeholder Board, County Manager and his staff worked with State Senators Joseph P. Cryan, Nicholas P. Scutari, Governor Phil Murphy’s office, Kean University, and the New Jersey State Department of Health in bringing the facility online.

IMPORTANT CHANGES AT THE COUNTY TEST SITE: 

To be able to provide a larger amount of testing to our residents we are speeding the process at the COVID-19 Drive Thru Facility at Kean University in the following manner: 

If you have a VALID PRESCRIPTION for Covid-19 testing please email COVID19TEST@UCNJ.ORG with the following information:  Your name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth and a photo of your script, and then you may directly go to our Union County Drive-Thru Testing Center for COVID-19 at Kean University.  The testing Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm.

Social distancing involves taking measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the opportunities for exposure. The general recommendation is to avoid crowds and close contact by keeping six feet between yourself and others. When social distancing is properly implemented, it can be an important strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Grocery Stores and Specialty Food Stores Executive Order No. 107 designated grocery stores and other stores that sell food goods as essential. The supply chain for these stores has not been disrupted and these stores are permitted to operate during their normal operating hours. These stores should continue to follow social distancing and hygiene best practices. 

Click here to view the New Jersey Department of Health Social Distance Guidelines for Retail Businesses.

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy today (March 24) announced the launch of a new online portal to connect New Jersey residents with jobs in critical industries responding to COVID-19. The jobs portal is available here: https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov.

Employers in critical industries should submit information about openings with urgent hiring needs related to COVID19 here: https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/intake.

The jobs portal already has more than 12,000 openings and more are being added every day. These openings are in industries that are critical to New Jersey’s COVID-19 response, such as grocery stores, shipping and logistics, healthcare, janitorial services, human services, and warehousing.

By connecting workers to these new openings, the tool will allow New Jersey residents to get back to work while increasing these key industries’ capacity to perform their essential duties. 

NJEDA has announced the launch of initiatives aimed at stabilizing and revitalizing local small businesses, mid-size businesses, and startups or other early-stage companies during this time of need in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detailed information and eligibility requirements for the new programs are available at cv.business.nj.gov. There is additional information available on the following:

• SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 
• SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE LOAN PROGRAM
• PROGRAMS TO MOBILIZE CAPITAL TO MICRO-, SMALL, AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES
• ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT PROGRAM
• CREDIT FLEXIBILITY TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES 

Community mitigation is a set of actions that persons and communities can take to help slow the spread of respiratory virus infections. Community mitigation is especially important before a vaccine or drug becomes widely available.

Click here to view the CDC's nine-page infographic defining a framework for actions in the community to both prepare for and mitigate community transmission of COVID-19 in the United States.

Selection and implementation of these actions are guided by the local characteristics of disease transmission, demographics, and public health and healthcare system capacity.

The goals for using mitigation strategies in communities with local COVID-19 transmission are to slow the transmission of disease and in particular to protect:

• Individuals at increased risk for severe illness, including older adults and persons of any age with underlying health conditions
• The healthcare and critical infrastructure workforces  

These approaches are used to minimize morbidity and mortality and the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Individuals, communities, businesses, and healthcare organizations are all part of a community mitigation strategy.

Signals of ongoing community transmission may include detection of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with no epidemiologic link to travelers or known cases, or more than three generations of transmission. Implementation is based on:

• Emphasizing individual responsibility for implementing recommended personal-level actions
• Empowering businesses, schools, and community organizations to implement recommended actions, particularly in ways that protect persons at increased risk of severe illness
• Focusing on settings that provide critical infrastructure or services to individuals at increased risk of severe illness
• Minimizing disruptions to daily life to the extent possible

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents that essential County services will continue to operate during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, and that certain social services will be expanded or modified to provide assistance to those in need. In support of statewide efforts to slow the spread of the virus, certain non-essential activities and programs have been suspended. 

“In response to the outbreak, Union County has implemented a comprehensive plan to continue providing essential services, including social services and public safety services, while also taking preventive measures in accordance with the recommendations of public health experts,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “By working together, we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our community.” 

Public health professionals have determined that COVID-19 is a serious public health concern that requires swift, decisive action in order to prevent it from spreading. Most persons with COVID-19 do not experience extreme symptoms, but persons who are elderly or who have underlying health conditions are at risk for severe illness or death.

Members of the public with questions about COVID-19 can call the New Jersey Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 1-800-222-1222. The call center is open 24/7 and offers guidance in several languages.  Please note that this number is for the general public only.

Click here to read the entire statement from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Due to the current outbreak of the Coronavirus/COVID-19, the Township of Scotch Plains is providing this guidance in an effort to protect the community from unnecessary transmission of the COVID-19 virus within the community.

• Facilities and business must enforce frequent hand washing for all employees during the workday
• Facilities and business must sanitize all touchable surfaces daily and if necessary, during the day

• Provide hand sanitizers in offices and work areas and to employees as appropriate Provide disposable tissues to all offices and places where people gather
• Set internal policies to remove and keep ill employees from the workplace until they are symptom free

If you have any questions regarding the Coronavirus call the State Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also visit the State Department of Health Website at www.nj.gov/health/topics/ncov. You can also call the Township of Scotch Plains Health Department at 908-322-6700 or visit www.scotchplainsnj.gov/coronavirus/. 

Click here to read the entire document.