Office of the Mayor - COVID-19 Update No. 6

MARCH 22, 2020 @ 1:30pm                     COVID-19 UPDATE NO. 6

All:

1. Based upon a directive from the Monmouth County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund all playgrounds in Oceanport parks (Trinity Park, Charles Park, Community Center Park, Evergreen Park and Blackberry Bay Park) shall be closed to the public as of 6:00 pm, Sunday, March 22, 2020 and shall remain closed to the public until further notice. Signs prohibiting the use of the playgrounds will be posted at each of the playgrounds this afternoon.
2. All tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball/softball/other fields in Oceanport parks remain open and available for use subject to users following best social distancing practices (at least 6 feet of separation at all times) with individuals who are not “immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners” as set forth in page 5, paragraph 2(6) of Executive Order No. 107 (2020). Additionally, no more than ten (10) people may congregate in any public area, even if observing proper social distancing practices. If we find that our residents are not following best social distancing practices within our parks, we will have no option but to further restrict the use of the parks.
3. Under Executive Order No. 107, when in public (walking, jogging, shopping, etc), “individuals must practice social distancing and stay six feet apart whenever practicable, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners.”
4. In order to comply with the mandates and the Governor’s Executive Order No. 107, beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 (a) the Borough of Oceanport’s municipal building will be manned by a reduced staff and (b) on-site staffing will be staggered so as to reduce person to person contact among the work staff. Consistent with the directives of Executive Order No. 107, moreover, Borough employees who can work from home will be directed to work from home.
5. Public access to Borough Hall remains curtailed, but the front lobby has drop boxes and contact instruction forms for use by the general public to facilitate document filings, payments, and all other transactions necessary for the Borough and the public to keep the daily business of government moving forward.
6. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 107, all brick and mortar NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL business had to close by 9:00 p.m. on March 21, 2020. The complete list of the exceptions to this closure order, as of right now, are as follows:
   1. Grocery stores, farmer’s markets and farms that sell directly to customers, and other food stores, including retailers that offer a varied assortment of foods comparable to what exists at a grocery store
   2. Pharmacies and alternative treatment centers that dispense medicinal marijuana
   3. Medical supply stores
   4. Retail functions of gas stations
   5. Convenience stores
   6. Ancillary stores within healthcare facilities
   7. Hardware and home improvement stores*
   8. Retail functions of banks and other financial institutions
   9. Retail functions of laundromats and dry-cleaning services
   10. Stores that principally sell supplies for children under five years old
   11. Pet stores
   12. Liquor stores
   13. Car dealerships, but only to provide auto maintenance and repair services, and auto mechanics
   14. Retail functions of printing and office supply shops
   15. Retail functions of mail and delivery stores

*Note: Per our 8:00 p.m. conference call with the Governor’s Office on 03/21/20, this includes automotive parts stores

7. The State of New Jersey will be providing guidance and/or protocols regarding inspections for, and the issuance of, certificates of occupancy by this coming Tuesday. Municipalities have been inundated with requests for clarification on this issue.
8. The entirety of all of Governor Murphy’s COVID-19 related Executive Orders can be accessed from the CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION (COVID-19) section of the Borough’s website at oceanportboro.com. Scroll down the homepage and look to the lower right hand side of your screen.
9. As of today at 9:00 a.m., there are no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the Borough of Oceanport.
10. If you are experiencing any symptoms of this virus, your first call should be to your Primary Care Physician. They will guide you on how to get tested and where. At present, testing is being performed on symptomatic patients only.
11. FEMA, in conjunction with the State of New Jersey, will open a drive through testing center at the PNC Arts Center beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020. Testing protocols are that first priority will be given to first responders, health care workers and those showing symptoms. As Governor Murphy aptly stated, these testing centers are not for the "worried well."
12. For the latest information from the State of New Jersey: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml
13. This isn’t martial law. The Governor wants us to continue with our lives, but with as little person to person contact as possible. If you need to, get out, walk around and get some fresh air while the weather is nice. We are all in this together. If you see someone you know while you are out, say “hello,” keep a safe distance away from them and hold a conversation from a distance. It’s like having a conversation in public on your speakerphone, only less annoying and more socially acceptable to the people nearby.
14. Control the things that you can control: Wash your hand, cover your face when you cough or sneeze, try not to touch your face, keep a safe distance from others, and stay home as much as possible.

Jay Coffey

Mayor of Oceanport

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