Cranford Confirms A Coronavirus Fatality; Town Facilities Reopen – Cranford, NJ Patch

CRANFORD, NJ — The town of Cranford said on Wednesday afternoon that since last week’s report on coronavirus fatalities, there has one new resident death confirmed, a person who lived in a long-term care facility (usually a nursing home or rehab). The town has had a total of 539 confirmed cases, with 3 new in the last week, and 97 fatalities (including the latest).

Right now, there are 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said on Wednesday. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state announced it will make some long-term changes for the facilities.

For more on long-term care facilities in the state, see the list of coronavirus updates below.

In related coronavirus news in Union County, Westfield High School closed for two weeks as of Thursday after six students tested positive for the virus. Read more about that here.

Other statistics as of Wednesday:

Municipal Buildings Reopening

According to the town, the Cranford Municipal Building is now open to the public, but officials strongly encourage visitors to call or email ahead and make an appointment. The building, including high touch surfaces, will continue to be cleaned daily.

Please follow these instructions to access or interact with the appropriate departments:

The Library is open with limited open hours for browsing new books in adult, young adult, children, and media collections. This will be in a new, dedicated space inside the Walnut Avenue entrance area.
The area is small so one person at a time will be allowed entry for a 10-minute period.
Small children will be allowed with a parent or caregiver and must be supervised
Library users can check out items or request items located elsewhere in the Library at the Circulation Desk. Library staff will pull those items and deliver to the front desk.
Library hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Community Center

Community organizations and clubs are invited to reserve rooms for meetings or activities. The staff has information about maximum capacity for each room in the Community Center and will assist you in booking a room to best accommodate your group.
The gym and teen room remain closed and programs will not resume in person at this time.
To reserve a room or get more information call 908-709-7283.

Other Union County coronavirus information from Patch:

HOW TO GET TESTED: WALK-UP SITES

Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

GYMS

Gov. Murphy recently signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor’s office if you are experiencing difficulties.
The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can’t work due to your child’s school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

LONG-TERM CARE

New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard to help make changes.
The state released death toll statistics for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.
Other states have been dealing with nursing home deaths more recently, including a recent outbreak in a Texas nursing home.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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