Essex County COVID-19 sites cut hours | The Progress News | newjerseyhills.com – New Jersey Hills
CALDWELL – The Essex County COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites have reduced their hours as both vaccines and tests have become available elsewhere.
The county has been offering vaccinations to those age 5 and older and tests at the former Kmart building in West Orange and the Essex County Employee Parking Deck in Newark. Both sites will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, April 21-22 and 28-29, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, April 23 and 30.
Appointments are required for vaccinations but not for testing. Call (973) 877-8456 or go online to Essexcovid.org for information.
There is no out-of-pocket cost, although people are asked to provide their insurance information. Uninsured people will have their costs covered by the county.
During the Caldwell Board of Health meeting Tuesday, April 12, the board’s president, Betty Sullivan, said the decision to reduce hours comes after the number of vaccinated residents has remained flat since the start of the year.
The decision is subject to change, she added. “But the vaccine is available so many other places, so I’m not worried about people getting it.”
At the Caldwell mayor and council meeting Tuesday, April 5, the county liaison, Patricia Keenan, said Essex County will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines and testing for a few more weeks.
After the sites close, a mobile van will be out five to six days a week at various locations, she said.
One new case of COVID-19 was reported in Caldwell in the past two weeks, Health Officer Michael Fitzpatrick said at the April 12 meeting. A couple months ago, there were 56 new cases in a similar time period.
The number of new cases has dropped significantly since a surge in December and January.
“Now we’re in a pretty low category, and that seems to be pretty stable at the moment,” he said.
The number of cases could grow with a new variant of the coronavirus reported, he noted.
Board members discussed holding a clinic to provide second booster shots to residents age 50 and older. Residents who need a booster should call (973) 403-4623.
Maria Burak, Caldwell’s director of human services, said three children received their second booster shots at a clinic in March.
Plastic Bags
Fitzpatrick confirmed details related to the state’s new plastic bag law, which is effective Wednesday, May 4.
The law says retail stores, grocery stores and food-service businesses may not provide or sell single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products.
Restaurants and stores that are smaller than 2,500 square feet are permitted to give one plastic or paper bag to patrons, he said.
Fitzpatrick also advised restaurants to use their supply of Styrofoam takeout containers while they have them.
Burak said the borough’s Health Department is moving to a building at 24 Smull Ave. from the Caldwell Community Center. The department will be there while the building at 14 Park Ave. is renovated.
“We’re still serving 40 families a week,” she said.