Coronavirus ‘Lockdown’ In Newark, Irvington, Orange, East Orange – Newark, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — They’re calling it “Operation Lockdown,” and it could mean a hefty fine if you’re caught partying on the streets.

On Tuesday afternoon, the mayors of four Essex County cities – Newark, Orange, East Orange and Irvington – announced they will be launching a joint crackdown to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. (Watch the video below)

Residents of the four cities are being told to stay at home and come out for “emergency purposes only.” Those who don’t will face summonses, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said.

All non-essential and non-emergency travel is barred on the streets of these communities for the duration of the lockdown, officials said.

The operation began Tuesday and lasts for the next seven days. The lockdown will be reassessed at the end of that period, Baraka said.

According to the mayors, the crackdown is needed because some people continue to ignore Gov. Phil Murphy’s recent stay-at-home order, which requires people to avoid mass gatherings and all unnecessary travel.

The order provides for certain exceptions, such as:

obtaining essential goods or services
seeking medical attention
visiting family or close friends
reporting to work
engaging in outdoor activities

As of Tuesday evening, New Jersey had 18,696 cases and 267 deaths linked to COVID-19, according to state health officials. Essex County has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state at 1,900, behind Bergen County’s 2,909.

“Many of us are listening, but some of us have not gotten the picture, which allows the virus to continue to spread,” Baraka said.

In Newark, for example, police issued 161 summonses and closed 15 businesses on Monday after they violated the city’s ongoing shelter-in-place order.

During the lockdown, police will be patrolling the borders of the four cities and making sure that cars aren’t moving about “unnecessarily,” Baraka said.

“We’re doing this because we want to save lives,” Baraka stressed.

OTHER OPERATIONS

In addition to Operation Lockdown, the four cities will be carrying out three other initiatives: Operation Wipedown, Operation Clean Business and Operation Mobile Wellness Checks.

Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren said owners of senior citizen buildings and complexes are required to wipe them down three times a day with a disinfectant. That includes all “touch points” such as doorknobs, elevators, countertops and mailboxes.

Inspectors will be checking to see if they’re in compliance and will take necessary action, he said.

“This is something that we can’t skip around, this is serious,” Warren said. “Our seniors – as all the science has shown – are our most vulnerable population.”

According to East Orange Mayor Ted Green, any businesses allowed to stay open also need to keep touch points sterilized as part of another related effort, Operation Clean Business.

Employees and customers must practice social distancing, and at the close of the business day, owners should to sanitize their businesses. Health inspectors will be ensuring this is done, he said.

Irvington Mayor Anthony Vauss said that collaboration between the four cities is nothing new.

“This virus is serious,” Vauss urged. “It doesn’t know the difference between Irvington, Newark, East Orange and Orange. It’s affecting all of our people, all of our relatives, friends and family.”

Vauss said that he and his peers came together to offer a united message on how they plan to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. That includes having roving patrols of municipal police make sure people are practicing social distancing as part of Operation Mobile Wellness Checks.

“Some people are going to be uncomfortable,” Vauss said. “Some people are going to get tickets. We want to give everyone fair warning.”

Watch Tuesday’s video announcement below.

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