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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 4/1/2021

From Mayor Linda H. Schwager
Posted on: April 1, 2021 - 3:19pm
Coronavirus Update 4-1-2021

Mayor Linda H. Schwager Urges ‘Safe Holiday Weekend' as Cases Continue to Rise:

Oakland Mayor Linda H. Schwager is urging residents that are celebrating the holiday this weekend to please continue practicing social distancing, wear masks, and abide by indoor and outdoor gathering limits. This week the Borough has seen our highest increase in positive Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases since April 2020, with 51 new cases reported since last Friday.  Mayor Schwager would like to remind residents that as vaccine availability increases for all ages, it is still vitally important to take necessary precautions so we can all get back to normal as soon as possible.  

Additional Hours Announced for Oakland COVID-19 Testing Site:

The Borough of Oakland has announced that there will be an additional hour each day at the COVID-19 testing site, with the site opening at 9:00 a.m. beginning on Saturday April 3, 2021. In addition, testing is open on Easter Sunday April 4, 2021.  Here is the latest testing schedule:  

  • Monday’s 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday’s 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday’s 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday’s 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Walk-in’s are welcome, but registration is suggested.  Register here, https://testnj.online/reg.aspx?lid=1047.

Borough Offices Closed Friday April 2, 2021:

Borough Offices (Except for Emergency Services) are closed tomorrow, Friday April 2, 2021 in recognition of the Good Friday Holiday.  Borough Offices will reopen on Monday April 5, 2021.

Governor Murphy Announces Expanded COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility:

Governor Murphy has announced the expansion of eligibility for more frontline essential workers and high-risk groups in New Jersey’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Eligible groups include individuals ages 55-64, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, higher education educators and staff, and communications and utility infrastructure workers among others.

Beginning Monday, April 5, 2021, the following groups are eligible for vaccination:

  • Individuals ages 55-64;
  • Individuals ages 16 and up with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
  • Educators, including support staff, in higher education settings;
  • Communications infrastructure support, including engineers, and technicians, and members of the press;
  • Real estate, building, and home service workers, including construction workers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, property management, and maintenance workers;
  • Retail financial institution workers, including bank tellers, lending services, public accounting, and check-cashing workers;
  • Sanitation workers providing disinfection and janitorial services, city sanitation workers; residential, commercial, and industrial solid and hazardous waste removal workers;
  • Laundry service workers, including those working in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners;
  • Utility workers including, electrical generation and supply system, natural gas delivery, nuclear power plant, water supply, telephone, cable/fiber/optical/broadband/cellular service workers; and,
  • Librarians and support staff at municipal, county, and state libraries.

For more information about eligibility, statewide vaccination site locations, and to preregister for a vaccination, visit https://covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.

For more information on CDC criteria for eligibility, please click here.

Outdoor Gathering Limits and Increased Capacity for Large Venues:

Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 234, which increases outdoor gathering limits and increases capacity for seated events at large venues. The Order also clarifies indoor capacity limits for banquet halls and similar venues.

Executive Order No. 234 will effectuate the following changes on Friday, April 2, at 6:00 a.m.:

Outdoor Gatherings:

  • The general outdoor gathering limit will increase from 50 people to 200 people.
  • Outdoor gatherings that are religious services or ceremonies, political events, weddings, funerals, or memorial services will continue to not have any limit.
  • College and youth sporting events will be permitted up to 200 spectators if the outdoor venue can accommodate appropriate social distancing. 

Large Venues:

  • Venues, including sports and entertainment venues, with a seating capacity of 2,500 or more will be permitted to host events at 20 percent capacity indoors and 30 percent capacity outdoors. The capacity limits will continue to exclude participants, such as athletes and performers, and staff, such as coaches and ushers.  
  • Facilities that host such events must ensure that all attendees at the event remain six feet apart from other attendees, except those individuals who purchase or reserve tickets together may be seated together. Attendees will also be required to wear masks within the facility, except when eating or drinking. 
  • Catered Events

The Order also clarifies that banquet halls and similar dining establishments and venues that use a licensed caterer can host indoor celebrations and other private catered events at 35 percent of the room’s capacity, up to 150 persons.

Indoor Gatherings:

  • The general indoor gathering limit will remain at 25 people.
  • Indoor gatherings that currently have a higher limit  – religious services or ceremonies, political events, weddings, funerals, memorial services, or performances – will remain unchanged.  

Copy of Executive Order No. 234

Important Resources: