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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 8/21/2020

From Mayor Linda H. Schwager
Posted on: August 21, 2020 - 1:18pm
Coronavirus Update 8-21-2020

Update on Borough Recycling Programs:

While the Borough remains committed to providing a robust recycling program for our residents, circumstances beyond our control during the pandemic have led to the temporary discontinuation of Styrofoam, plastic bag / film and clothing recycling. However, there are some alternatives available to residents.  See below for details.

  • Styrofoam: The Styrofoam collection program remains suspended at this time as the Borough seeks to identify another potential disposal site for the material.
  • Plastic Bags and Film: Our plastic bag and film collection program is a partnership with Trex and participating retailers.  Due to the pandemic, the retailer we have worked with is not able to accept the material at this time and we are searching for another retailer that can do so on a consistent basis.  In the meantime, residents can take their plastic bags to Shoprite for recycling.
  • Clothing: The vendor that operates the clothing bins behind Borough Hall has not provided a date for when service will resume.  As an alternative, residents may use the bins at the Elks Lodge to dispose of their used clothing.  

County of Bergen Small Business Grant Program Extension: Deadline TODAY at 5 P.M.:

Due to the success of the Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program for non-essential Bergen County businesses, the County of Bergen is happy to announce that they have extended the program and reopened the application portal for an additional week. Eligible business owners who missed the first opportunity can now apply!

The application portal, which can be found at www.BergenCountyCares.org, reopened this morning, and will close today, ‪Friday, August 21st at 5 p.m. The Bergen County CARES grant program was established to help provide relief to small businesses straddled with expenses related to COVID-19.

Businesses deemed “non-essential” per the Governor’s Executive Order that were forced to close as a measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in financial relief to cover rent, property mortgage, and utilities expenses.

The Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program is funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Federal relief fund. All administrative questions can be sent to BergenCountyCares@co.bergen.nj.us.

Emergency Grant Program to Assist Small Landlords & Tenants:

A $25 million Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program will be administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. The program will provide emergency grant funding to small property owners for COVID-19 related decreases in rent revenue for a four-month period between April and July 2020. Funded through the CARES Act, grant amounts will be generated based on the total amount of missed rental payments and the number of COVID-impacted rental units that serve low- and moderate-income tenants. Landlords who receive assistance will be required to pass along benefits to their tenants by forgiving back rent and late fees accumulated by COVID-19 impacted units. The application portal opens tomorrow, Wednesday, August 19 at 9 AM and will remain open until Wednesday, August 26 at 1 PM.

Governor Orders Vote-by-Mail General Election:

Governor Murphy has issued an executive order to create a modified vote-by-mail (VBM) election for the November 3rd General Election. The order suspends the sending of sample ballots and requires that each county’s elections officials send VBM ballots with pre-paid postage to all active registered voters for the General Election. In order to address the influx of VBM ballots, the executive order will extend the deadline to allow ballots being returned through the United States Postal Service (USPS) with a postmark on or before November 3rd to be counted as a valid ballot by the County Clerk, if received by 8:00 p.m. on November 10th. Ballots without a postmark that are received by the county boards of elections within 48 hours of the closing of polls on November 3rd shall be considered valid.

Some school districts are advising teachers and families that they will be required to adhere to the quarantine rules if they return from high-risk states within two weeks of school starting, which may impact their ability to return to school on schedule.

Updated Quarantine Advisory Issued for Individuals Traveling to NJ:

Anyone traveling to New Jersey from states or territories with significant community spread of COVID-19 are advised to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state or territory. The quarantine advisory currently applies to travelers from 35 states and territories: Alabama; Alaska; Arkansas; Arizona; California; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Iowa; Idaho; Indiana; Illinois; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Minnesota; Missouri; Mississippi; Montana; North Carolina; North Dakota; Nebraska; Nevada; Oklahoma; Puerto Rico; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Virginia; Virgin Islands; and Wisconsin.

Small and Micro Business PPE Access Program:

The NJ PPE Access Program will help ensure that New Jersey’s small and micro businesses and non-profit organizations have access to the PPE they need for their operations, their employees and their customers. Launching in early September, the first phase of the program will provide small businesses with:

An online PPE planning tool (developed with the NJ Dept. of Health) to ensure that small and micro business know what PPE they need for their business

Links to pre-selected online PPE retailers that will offer businesses:

  • At minimum 10% off their PPE purchases
  • Assurances of product quality
  • Clear and transparent product offerings and pricing
  • A limited number of choices to make shopping easier

Computer Labs Reopened at Colleges & Universities:

An Administrative Order last week has authorized the reopening of computer labs at private and public colleges and universities in New Jersey. Computer labs at public and private colleges and universities must abide by the health and safety protocols as well as sanitization requirements that are described in the Administrative Order.

Upcoming Board, Committee, Commission Meetings:

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

  • Sustainable Oakland Green Team 8/25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Borough Council Meeting 8/26 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 249 individuals in Oakland who tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Bergen County has a total of 21,310 positive Coronavirus Cases, and the State of NJ has 187,767 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.