Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 6/15/2020

The Oakland Public Library Now Offering Curbside Pickup Starting Today 6/15:

Oakland Public Library has begun curbside pickup today. Call 201-337-3742 or email oaklcirc@bccls.org and request items to be checked out to you and made available for pickup outside the library at your convenience. Not sure what you want? Let our staff know what you are interested in and we will pull together some items we think will work for you. Have small children at home? Let us know their ages and we are happy to fill up a few bags of books or other items to keep them engaged. This service is for Oakland residents borrowing items available at Oakland Public Library. We will gladly consider adding items if there is enough interest, so please feel free to request whatever you are interested in.

Yard Waste Collection Update:

Yard Waste was not collected in the Reserve section of town today due to staffing issues with the hauler. Please leave out your yard waste curbside and it will be picked up during the week.

Voter Registration Deadline Tuesday June 16, 2020:

The voter registration application is available here or by calling the Borough Clerk’s office for assistance at (201) 337-8111, ext. 2001.  Applications can be dropped in the drop box at Borough Hall no later than Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Stage 2 Reopening’s today:

• The governor is permitting the following businesses and activities to resume today under Stage 2 and a related administrative order:
  • Outdoor dining can resume with certain restrictions, including a limit of eight customers per table, and requirements of at least six feet of distance between parties. In addition, for as long as indoor dining is not permitted, food or beverage establishments are required to prohibit smoking in any outdoor areas designated for the consumption of food and/or beverages.
  • Child care facilities can resume serving all children, subject to various safety guidelines.
  • Non-essential retail can operate at 50% capacity.
  • Restaurants and indoor recreational and entertainment businesses are permitted to allow individuals to tour their facilities for event-planning purposes, but such individuals must wear face coverings at all times and the facility may not provide food or drink tastings or samplings.
  • Students, who may be accompanied by parents or guardians, may enter school premises to retrieve personal belongings from lockers, classrooms, or other areas;
  • Open houses to view real estate are permitted, provided they comply with the restrictions on indoor gatherings, including the requirement that attendees wear face coverings.
  • Bicycle shops, boat dealerships, car and used car dealerships, farming equipment stores, federal firearms licensees, livestock feed stores, mobile phone retail and repair shops, motorcycle dealerships, and nurseries and garden centers can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses.
  • Car washes can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses.
  • Yard and garage sales are permitted subject to the requirements on indoor gatherings, but municipalities shall have the discretion to impose additional restrictions on these sales.
  • Special events, including fireworks displays, at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores are permitted, subject to the restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
  • Shared space tutoring service facilities remain closed to students and clients.
  • NJMVC Drop-off/Pick-up Services: Drop-off and pick-up transactions will be processed starting today (6/15) for the following:
    • At designated Licensing Centers, MVC will be processing and validating permits from driving schools and high schools on a drop-off basis.
    • At designated Vehicle Centers, MVC will be processing registration and title work from dealers. License plates can also be surrendered by drop-off at these agencies in a designated area.

Personal Care Services Reopens 6/22:

An executive order will allow personal care service facilities to reopen to the public on Monday, June 22 at 6:00 a.m., provided the facilities comply with standards issued by the Division of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health, including limiting services to appointment only, performing health screening, requiring the use of PPE, distance/barrier requirements, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices. The order will allow the opening of:

• Cosmetology shops
• Barber shops
• Beauty salons
• Hair braiding shops
• Nail salons
• Electrology facilities
• Spas, including day spas and medical spas, at which solely elective and cosmetic medical procedures are performed
• Massage parlors
• Tanning salons
• Tattoo parlors

Coach USA Reopens Commuter Service in NY and NJ Starting Today 6/15:

Coach USA, one of the largest transportation companies in North America will resume commuter services to/from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City effective Monday, June 15.  Commuter service to New York had been suspended since April 6 in an abundance of caution in the wake of COVID-19 and in accordance with government regulations.

In preparation for reopening its services, Coach USA has implemented stringent cleaning and disinfecting procedures on all buses.  Details on cleaning procedures can be viewed in the video contained in the below link.  In addition to protect passengers and employees, all are required to wear facial coverings while boarding the bus and are encouraged to keep them on while riding the bus. Coach USA buses will only allow 50 percent capacity on all commuter services to ensure an empty seat next to each passenger in accordance with social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Additionally, Coach USA will launch a new contactless digital ticketing system for select commuter services on July 1, ultimately expanding this offering to all our commuter customers in an effort to limit touchpoints and create a seamless customer experience.

• For the most up to date location specific schedules and fares visit https://www.coachusa.com.    
• For more information on Coach USA’s response to COVID-19 and a video that details bus cleaning procedures visit https://www.coachusa.com/covid-19

Upcoming Board, Committee, Commission Meetings:

Meeting Links and Passwords for upcoming Board, Committee, and Commission Meetings are posted here.

• Board of Health 6/16 at 7:30 p.m.
• Environmental Commission 6/16 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sustainable Oakland Green Team 6/23 at 7:30 p.m.

Coronavirus Positive Tests in Oakland:

Today the Borough of Oakland was notified by the Bergen County Health Department that there are a total of 238 individuals in Oakland who tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Bergen County has a total of 18,827 positive Coronavirus Cases, and the State of NJ has 167,103 positive cases.

If anyone has questions about COVID-19, you can call the 24-hour New Jersey Hotline at (800) 222-1222. You can also visit the State of NJ Coronavirus Website Here.

Important Resources:

• The latest data on coronavirus infections in New Jersey are available on the New Jersey COVID-19 Dashboard. The dashboard has been updated to provide more information on scope of the virus and hospitalizations, including the number of patients hospitalized, discharged, in critical care, in intensive care, and on ventilators, along with data on statewide ventilator capacity, numbers of positive/negative tests, and more.
• New Jersey’s COVID-19 Information Hub includes valuable resources and information for families, workers, and employers who have questions or needs arising from the current crisis.
• Testing Sites: To locate a testing location, specifics on how to get a test, and the hours of operation, click here.
• Information for businesses impacted by COVID-19.