West Orange’s COVID 19- Eight Month Update As Of Oct. 18, 2020 – Patch.com

Oct. 19, 2020

COVID 19- Eight Month Update from Mayor Parisi

Hello…this is a message from Mayor Robert Parisi

We are about to start our 8th month since the initial shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To this point, 1,667 of our neighbors and friends have been infected with the virus and fortunately, almost 1,500 of them have already recovered with more recovering every day. Regrettably, however, 187 of our fellow residents have passed away because of this pandemic. We all offer our sympathies to families that have lost loved ones and offer support to all those impacted of this virus. Today closes out a week with 54 confirmed cases; the most confirmed cases in one week since the week of June 1st, more than 4 months ago. In addition to residents, 6 Township employees have been confirmed this week as well. The Township Health Department and Nurses continue to provide a full contact tracing investigation for each confirmed case. These investigations have not revealed any single event, gathering or neighborhood that these cases can be traced to. If any resident or any person outside of West Orange was in contact with any of these confirmed cases, since the onset, Township staff would have or will contact you. In addition to cooler temperatures more receptive to virus, we are all moving around more, going to more places and in our wish to return to normalcy, perhaps being more careless than we should be. The entire State of New Jersey, as well as states across the country, are seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations. Though we cannot control what happens elsewhere, we can impact what happens here and with our own lives. We all need to get back to basics…stay home whenever possible, work remote whenever possible, support local businesses but order in, call friends rather than visiting, wash hands frequently, use sanitizer and if you must go out, follow recommendations…social distance and wear a mask! If you have any questions or need additional information, call the Township Health Department at 973-325-4120. We have a long way to go before this virus is behind us…let’s work together to keep ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe. Thank you.