Montclair, NJ – Two Bergen County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli says we can expect more. A Paramus private school has temporarily closed because dozens of students attended a bat mitzvah last month at a Westchester temple that’s been linked to the coronavirus, Daily Voice reports.

New Jersey has developed an electronic, web-enabled system, Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CDRSS), allowing public health partners statewide to instantly report and track incidences of the virus.

Montclair’s Health Department is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will provide updates accordingly. The Montclair public health nurses monitor reports of any communicable diseases and communicate with doctors, hospitals, schools and residents to ensure appropriate follow up.

You may have already noticed supermarket shelves looking bare, some people are stocking up for a two-week supply of food in the event of a local outbreak. Parents are also trying to explain the virus to teens and tweens.

In Montclair, Toni’s Kitchen has changed its practices due to coronavirus, to protect guests and volunteers when they gather to share a meal. These practices include new cleaning and prevention protocols in its kitchen; asking volunteers who have traveled China, South Korea, Iran, Italy or Japan to take themselves off the volunteer schedule for 14 days after their return to the States; asking any volunteer who is sick is asked to stay home, especially those with respiratory symptoms including fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing; and any guests who are ill will be given a ‘to-go’ meal.

Toni’s Kitchen is also installing an additional sink on the way into the space to expand hand-washing capacity for guests, and will be moving to disposable (compostable) dinnerware.

Montclair School District shared its preparations with parents in a recent email. MPS school district preparations include the following steps:

  • Daily communication with the Montclair Department of Health.
  • Meeting or exceeding NJDOH guidelines for schools.
  • Procedures in place to ensure students and staff who become ill at school will be attended to and sent home as soon as possible.
  • Evaluating field trips on a case-by-case basis.
  • Notice will be provided if school closure is necessary, with preparations for continuation of learning.
  • Custodial staff will increase the level of cleaning and disinfecting in each building.

Bloomfield School District is also directing parents to the NJ Department of Health’s page on the coronavirus and offers some tips for reducing germ transmission.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, you can call a 24-hotline with trained healthcare professionals standing by to answer questions: 1-800-222-1222. The call is free.

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