Category: Teaneck

Mar. 22 Update re: Drive-Up Testing Centers

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck

For Immediate Release:
March 22, 2020

Contact:
Michael Pagan

201.336.6972

 

Tedesco: BCC FEMA Test Site At Capacity for Today and Will Reopen Monday

Paramus, N.J. – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has announced that the Bergen Community College FEMA test site for COVID-19 has reached capacity and will reopen tomorrow, Monday, March 23rd, at 8 a.m. to administer more tests to residents with symptoms.

“The FEMA test site at Bergen Community College has reached capacity and will reopen tomorrow, Monday, at 8 a.m. to continue testing residents for COVID-19,” said County Executive Tedesco.  “Bergen County has the most COVID-19 related cases in the state, with five deaths. It is important that we test as many symptomatic residents as possible. We encourage those coming to the FEMA test site to please remain patient as we continue the process of administering tests.”

To be tested for COVID-19, individuals must present proof of New Jersey residency. Technicians will be screening individuals for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, coughing) and those who do not exhibit symptoms will be turned away. Physician notes are not required. However, if an individual has a physician’s note they are encouraged to bring it with them.

Bergen County Drive-Up testing site now open

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck
If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Governor Murphy Announces Opening of COVID-19 Testing Site for New Jerseyans at Bergen County Community College
03/19/2020

Testing Site Will Open Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Beginning on March 20 Open to New

Jersey Residents Experiencing Symptoms of Respiratory Illness
 
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced the opening of a COVID-19 Community-Based Testing Site at Bergen Community College in Paramus. The testing site, established in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will be staffed by the New Jersey Department of Health, the New Jersey State Police, and the New Jersey National Guard. Beginning on Friday, March 20th, the drive-thru testing center will be open seven days per week, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In order to be eligible for testing, individuals must be current New Jersey residents and experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Priority will be given to symptomatic individuals experiencing cough, fever (99.6F or above) and shortness of breath.
“Expanding access to testing is critical in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and flattening the curve in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “I am grateful to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their swift response in fulfilling our request for specimen collection kits and personal protective equipment so that we can successfully offer expansive drive-thru testing in New Jersey.”
“It is extremely important that only New Jerseys residents with fever or signs or symptoms of respiratory illness visit the testing location,” said New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. We must reserve our testing capacity for those who are sick and may exposure others.”
“We are working tirelessly to contain the spread of the coronavirus in New Jersey,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “This testing site will be a tremendous asset to our mission and an invaluable health care resource for New Jersey citizens.
“The testing of residents is a mission the New Jersey National Guard is ready to assist with in the battle against COVID-19,” said Brig. Gen. Jemal J. Beale, the Adjutant General and Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Our Citizen Soldiers and Airmen stand ready to serve where ever the Governor needs us.”

Community-Based Testing Sites are for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Individuals who are not symptomatic will not be tested, as it diverts critical resources such as testing kits and laboratory materials from those who are ill. Each site will be provided with an allocation of 2,500 specimen collection kits and Personal Protective Equipment for all staff. The specimen collections will be transmitted to the contracted laboratory twice per day and results will be reported within 2-5 business days. Testing is free and will be covered by the federal government or personal insurance company. Individuals are encouraged to bring insurance cards if they have one.

Community Based Testing Site Location
Bergen Community College
Paramus Campus – Lots B & C
400 Paramus Road
Paramus, NJ 07652

For more information about Community-Based Testing Sites, visit: nj.gov/health

 

COVID-19 Update Call Tonight — March, 18, 2020 8PM

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck

COVID-19 Update Call (typo correction)

COVID-19 Update Call

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 8 PM

This evening at 8PM, the Township of Teaneck will be hosting a Community Update on the Coronavirus.

Please join Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, Deputy Mayors Katz and Schwartz, Councilmembers Dunleavy, Romney-Rice, Kaplan, and Pruitt; Township Manager Dean Kazinci; Congressman Josh Gottheimer; Michael Maron, the President and CEO of Holy Name Medical Center; Dr. Suraj Saggar, Chief of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center; Deborah Cornavaca, Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Murphy; Teaneck Health Officer Ken Katter; Teaneck School Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving; Police Chief Glenn O’Reilly; and, Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky to discuss the latest status of the virus, preventative measures, and important contact information that will help to answer all of your questions and concerns.

To participate by telephone, please call 1-425-535-9303 at 8:00 PM. You will automatically be connected to the conference call. A recording of the conference call will be made available on the Township’s website (www.teanecknj.gov) Thursday morning.

Thank you.

ADVISORY-SUNDAY MORNING: Teaneck Mayor Hameeduddin and Teaneck Manager Kazinci to Discuss Recent COVID-19 Developments

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck

For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2020

Contact:
Michael Pagan
201.336.6972

NEWS ADVISORY – HACKENSACK – SUNDAY MORNING

Teaneck Mayor Hameeduddin and Teaneck Manager Kazinci to Discuss Recent COVID-19 Developments

Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin and Teaneck Manager Dean Kazinci will hold a news conference SUNDAY MORNING – March 15th – at 10 a.m. in the 5TH floor Freeholder Public Meeting Room at One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack, N.J. to discuss recent developments in connection with COVID-19 and the Township of Teaneck.

Also joining them will be Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Holy Name Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Adam Jarrett.

Mar 14, 2020 Statement from Deputy Mayor Mark J. Schwartz regarding COVID-19

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck
As many of you have seen and heard, our Mayor has requested all residents to self-quarantine.
Ahead of a formal announcement tomorrow, and as social media, phone, text and WhatsApps are “ringing” off the hook, I wanted to put my thoughts together to define the word “Self- quarantine”. Please keep in mind at this time this is NOT a mandate but a voluntary step.
As the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at Holy Name Medical Center has risen, we are asking that the members of our Teaneck community begin to self-quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Slowing the spread of the coronavirus is our community’s only hope to avoid overwhelming our medical system. While hand-washing and sanitizing is helpful, this disease is communicated person-to-person, and the less social interactions we have, the slower it will be able to spread.
Our highest chances of slowing the spread of this virus is when the infection rate in our general population is still low. If we wait for our infection rates in Teaneck to rise before taking these preventative measures, they will not be effective.
We need to take proactive steps at social distancing because that is known to flatten the curve.
We can’t possibly know every place everyone has been with any degree of certainly.
Let’s put our collective energies into doing what we can to help the greatest number of people.
To that end, some practices of self-quarantine include:
  • When you do have to go out in the community for groceries or medicine, only one member of the household should go, and he/she should practice Social Distancing, and maintain a 6-foot distance from all other individuals.
  • Reduce and eliminate unnecessary trips.
  • Make required travel done by a single person.
  • We will be asking our food establishments to be takeout and delivery only
  • Movie theaters and gyms will be closed.
  • Many house of worship, under request from their religious leaders, have closed
  • Many employees are working from home. Please ask your employer if you can.
Today the New York Times quoted Dr. Carter Mecher, a senior medical adviser for public health at the Department of Veterans Affairs and a former director of medical preparedness policy at the White House during the Obama and Bush administrations. We think his metaphor is helpful in understanding our situation. “A fire on your stove you could put out with a fire extinguisher, but if your kitchen is ablaze, that fire extinguisher probably won’t work. Communities that pull the fire extinguisher early are much more effective.”
As a reminder, the CDC’s tips for preventing the spread of infections include:
· Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap or clean them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
· Stay home if you feel sick.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; if tissue is not available then cough/sneeze into your bent elbow.
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Please monitor your own health and be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
· Fever
· Cough
· Shortness of breath
If you think you may have COVID-19, first contact your doctor before going to the hospital.
According to the CDC, if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 you should get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include, but are not limited to:
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
· New confusion or inability to arouse
· Bluish lips or face
Please stay tuned for more formal information from the township tomorrow.

Teaneck Schools Closed Indefinitely beginning March 16, 2020 – Important COVID-19 Update from Superintendent

Keith Kaplan / / Board of Education, Health, Safety, Teaneck

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Out of great concern for the health and welfare of Bergen County residents and all school staff during this Coronavirus/COVID-19 health crisis, the Bergen County Executive has called for ALL school buildings in this county to be closed, indefinitely, beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020.

On behalf of Teaneck Public Schools, I am appreciative of this decision.  Although we currently have no presumptive positive cases in the District, we will close all of our school buildings next week. Our district office (at the Glenpointe – 300 Glenpointe Centre “East” building – 7th Floor) will remain open with limited staff each day. In the likely event that we will need to close our school buildings beyond the coming week, I will communicate that to you by the end of next week.

IMPORTANT EXPECTATION:  During this difficult time, all school districts are required by the NJ Department of Education to continue to educate our children through a “learning from home” protocol.  To that end, please be aware of the following important actions that we are taking:

Continued Education

Over this weekend, you will receive an email from our Curriculum & Instruction staff outlining how to access your child’s lesson plans/assignments – by grade – via our district website:  https://www.teaneckschools.org

Middle school and high school students will be expected to work “virtually” (through the internet) and will be guided by their teachers in “Google Hangouts” throughout this process.  All of our middle and high school students were provided a Chromebook to take home.  If you do not have internet access at home, please contact your child’s school principal on Monday, March 16.  They will be in the school building on that day from the hours of 11am-1pm to print home instruction packets for families.  After Monday, you will not be able to enter the school buildings. If needed, you can visit the District Office at the address above.

For all other grades, the lesson plans provided will help guide you through the daily, two hour per day requirement.  For our parents with children of special needs, you will receive further information from our Special Services department this weekend.

The email you will receive will provide more specifics and will even include “how to” videos.  Just know that our expectation is for your child to complete their daily assignments. It is best to complete these over the next one to three weeks; but please note that in order for your child to receive credit for these instructional days, they MUST complete all assignments by the end of this school year. Also, if you have any questions at any time, you should contact your child’s teacher via their district email address and expect a response within 24 hours.  If you do not receive a response within that timeframe, please let your school principal know and he/she will ensure that you receive an immediate response.

Afterschool & Evening Activities

While our school buildings are closed, there will be no afterschool or evening programs – including our before and aftercare (SACC) program.  High school athletics will be suspended unless otherwise notified by our Athletics Director.  The March 18th Board Meeting is our one exception – it will take place as scheduled (beginning at 7:30 pm).  Any special recognition ceremonies previously planned for this meeting will be rescheduled.

Food Services

Although the school buildings will be closed, we will be distributing box lunches to any district family in need.  Beginning Monday, March 16, you can come to Teaneck High School from 11 am – 1 pm to pick up a boxed lunch.  There will be a tent area by the Cranford gym (facing the back parking lots).  You will be asked for your child/children’s names.  Our focus is on the health of our children.  This includes ensuring they receive a nutritional meal!

COVID-19 Resources

As we all continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines on preventative measures such as washing our hands and “social distancing”, if you have any questions, please visit the following websites:

https://www.nj.gov/health/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Additionally, Teaneck Township is providing its residents with a resource to obtain information about the Coronavirus/COVID-19 by sending an email to covid19@teanecknj.gov. A member of the Teaneck Health Department will answer your question(s) as quickly as possible.

Moving Forward

By Friday, March 20, I will let you know about our plans for the following week. Parents and guardians should continue to make childcare plans as I expect that we will likely be closed.  Our faculty have prepared lesson plans for this second week and will be working on lesson plans for a possible third week of school closings.

I realize this is an extremely difficult time and will present great hardships for our families. I appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work together to stay healthy while continuing the critical work of educating our children.

Thank you Teaneck parents and guardians!  I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

–  Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent of Schools

Teaneck Library: Important Service Changes Due to the Spread of COVID-19

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Library, Safety, Teaneck

Dear Teaneck Public Library patrons and community members,

In response to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the northern New Jersey area, we are continuing to work in close partnership with the Township of Teaneck to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of this virus and ensure the health and safety of our library patrons and staff.

Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the Township Manager’s Office and the Department of Health, Teaneck Public Library will be closed to the public, effective March 13, 2020 until further notice. All public programs, events, and meetings have been cancelled through the end of March.

The building will continue to be staffed as we work diligently to disinfect and sanitize facilities, continue providing high quality remote digital services, and prepare for a safe reopening of the building as soon as possible.

I understand how this action will be disruptive to Teaneck residents who rely on the library for critical information, access to technology, engaging materials, and enriching programs. However, the public health and the safety of residents and library staff is our number one priority.

Library staff will continue to communicate closely with Township and Health Department officials, and coordinate our response to this evolving threat to public health.

During this time, we encourage patrons to utilize the many digital remote services available, including:

For updates on library services and resources related to COVID-19, please visit the dedicated page on our website. You can also explore a complete list of digital library services that can be accessed remotely with a valid Teaneck Public Library card.

Thank you for your patience as we continue to address the challenges created by this unique situation as safely and effectively as possible.

Sincerely,

M. Allen McGinley
Library Director

March 13, 2020 Bergen Office of Emergency Management Guidance

Keith Kaplan / / Health, Safety, Teaneck

We are recommending that all mass gatherings be canceled due to the rapid spread and community transmission of COVID-19.

This is only a recommendation and we cannot force anyone to do this.

If people insist on having the gathering, we are asking that all towns institute a policy, for gatherings over 25 people, in their municipality. This policy will request that the organizer of the event documents the name and cell phone number of every individual present at the gathering and maintains that information for a period of 14 days.

Again we cannot force someone to do this but this will help the local health officer in the event someone becomes symptomatic and tests positive days later, at least they will know who this person may have come in contact with at the event and can contact those people.