Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 8/28/2020
County of Bergen Expands Small Business Grant Program To Restaurants and Other Essential Businesses:
County Executive Jim Tedesco announces that all Bergen County small businesses with up to 19 or less full-time employees will be eligible to apply for the Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program which is set to open its next round of funding in phases starting on Monday, August 31st. The program which first opened in July, was only initially available to “non-essential” businesses forced to close as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Approximately $6,041,838 has been awarded to 754 small “non-essential” businesses in Bergen County thus far with applications still under review.
Like before, eligible businesses will be able to apply for up to $10,000 to offset the costs of rent payments, property mortgage, and utilities expenses.
The next round of applications will open in three staged phases:
- Restaurants and Food Service Establishments – application opens Aug 31
- Essential Retail – application opens Sept 7
- All Small Businesses – application opens Sept 14
The deadline for all three phases will be Friday, October 5, 2020 at 5p.m. To apply for the program and for more information, business owners can visit www.BergenCountyCARES.org.
To qualify for the Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program businesses must fall under the following criteria:
- Businesses must have a physical location in Bergen County, NJ and must provide evidence that they are a valid operating business in the State of New Jersey (i.e. Certificate of Formation or Incorporation, latest corporate tax returns, sales tax returns and/or payroll tax returns).
- Must have 19 or fewer full-time employees.
- Businesses must have been open and operating on March 1, 2020.
- Businesses owned by county employees and elected officials, as well as their immediate families, are not eligible.
- Must provide affidavit stating company has not received any Federal, State or other funding or Federal/State documents showing date and monetary amount of all received assistance
Priority will be given to businesses that have not received any Federal grant assistance, New Jersey Economic Development Authority or US Small Business Administration grants or other grant assistance.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to small businesses across Bergen County as they continue to endure the uncertain reality of whether or not they can keep their doors open. That is why the County of Bergen has decided to expand the Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program to essential businesses that meet the same criteria as non-essential businesses so they can apply for much needed financial relief,” said County Executive Jim Tedesco.
“Our Bergen County small businesses have struggled to survive during the pandemic, and we want to help them stay alive. We shared our federal CARES Act money with non-essential businesses starting in July, and now we are pleased to extend a financial helping hand to even more of our small businesses,” said Bergen County Freeholder Chairwoman Mary Amoroso.
Receipt of grant funds through the Bergen County Small Business Grant Program is a one-time opportunity. Any business that has received grant funds during any phase of the Bergen County Small Business Grant Program is not eligible to receive additional grant funds through the program.
The Bergen County CARES Small Business Grant Program is funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Federal relief fund. For administrative and troubleshooting questions, please email BergenCountyCares@co.bergen.nj.us or call 201-336-6011.
Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 181, which permits gyms and health clubs, as well as amusement and water parks, to reopen their indoor premises to the public on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 a.m., provided these facilities comply with the health and safety standards issued by the Department of Health.
Under the Department of Health’s Executive Directive, gyms and health clubs who reopen will be required to adhere to the health and safety standards listed in the "Guidance for Health Clubs/Gyms/Fitness Centers". These standards, which will also apply to other recreational businesses that offer fitness classes and activities, include the following, among others:
- Limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 25 percent of the stated maximum capacity;
- Conduct a temperature screening and questionnaire of staff and clients upon entrance to the facility;
- Limit indoor group activities (e.g., classes) to no more than 1 individual per 200 square feet of accessible space or less, with all individuals being able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other individuals during the entire class;
- Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings at all times, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health, such as when in the water and in other situations where the presence of a mask would pose a risk to the individual's health, or where the individual is under two years of age;
- Demarcate six feet of distance between equipment, or blocking off equipment (e.g. every other machine) to maintain six feet of distancing between individuals using equipment;
- Require that reservations, cancellations and pre-payments be made via electronic or telephone reservation systems to limit physical interactions;
- Limit occupancy in restrooms to avoid over-crowding;
- Inform clients to arrive dressed to workout/train and bring their own hand towel, water, yoga mat, boxing gloves, and any other equipment;
- Not permit the use of showers, with the exception of gyms with pools, which can have individually partitioned showers or communal showers with installed barriers/partitions at least six feet apart;
- Limit locker room use to hand washing and restroom use only; and
- Adopt infection control practices and enhanced sanitization protocols.
Activities such as swimming in an indoor pool, tanning, outdoor dining, pick-up of food or beverage, and retail sales, which are otherwise permitted but which are not governed by the guidance, remain subject to applicable standards outlined in Executive Orders, Executive Directives and guidance.
- For a copy of Executive Order No. 181, please click here.
- For a copy of the Department of Health’s Executive Directive, please click here.
- For a copy of the Department of Health's Guidance for Health Clubs/Gyms/Fitness Centers, please click here.
Governor Slightly Reduces Travel Quarantine Requirement for Visits to U.S. States:
Governor Phil Murphy has announced that residents traveling to New Jersey, whether visiting or returning home, from 32 states with high COVID-19 rates must self-quarantine for 14 days when they enter New Jersey. That is a slight reduction from a high of 36 states in effect one month ago.
The Governor said quarantining is important to “keep the curve down” in New Jersey, which has been able to reduce the number of new infections and death due to COVID-19.
To offer some guidance to residents, here are Frequently Asked Questions for travelers, as provided by the state.
- What is the 14-day quarantine travel advisory and how will it work?
- Individuals traveling to or returning to New Jersey from states with increasing rates of COVID-19 are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. This includes travel by train, bus, car, plane and any other method of transportation.
- How are impacted states being identified?
- The quarantine travel advisory applies to states identified as having a positive COVID-19 test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents.
- What does it mean to quarantine?
- Quarantined people may stay at home or another location. If you are quarantined and you become ill, you can seek medical treatment from a healthcare provider.
- Am I expected to quarantine in a hotel? Is there somewhere I should quarantine?
- Travelers and residents who are returning from impacted states should self-quarantine at home, or a hotel or other temporary lodging. Individuals should leave the place of self-quarantine only to seek medical care or to obtain food and other essential items.
- If I am from one of the impacted states, can I just get a diagnostic test and not self-quarantine?
- You may choose to get a diagnostic/virus test, but you must still self-quarantine for 14 days. If you test negative, you are still advised to self-quarantine for 14 days because you remain in the incubation period.
- How will the self-quarantine be enforced?
- The self-quarantine is voluntary, but compliance is expected. It is expected that individuals will follow the recommendation to self-quarantine.
- I am from an impacted state and rented a shore house for a week. What should I do?
- You may wish to cancel your reservation and visit at a later date. Contact your travel agent or real estate agent to inquire about any potential cancelation and/or refund.
- Are there support services for individuals who are required to self-quarantine?
- Contact your local health department or 211 if you need additional information about available support services for self-quarantine.
- Is anyone exempt from the travel advisory?
- Yes. Individuals who are traveling to New Jersey from impacted states for business are exempted from the application of the travel advisory.
- Does the quarantine recommendation also extend to passengers flying to New Jersey on connecting flights that stop in impacted states before arriving in New Jersey?
- No. Examples of brief passage include but are not limited to: stopping at rest stops for vehicles, buses, and/or trains; or layovers for air travel, bus travel, or train travel.
Governor Murphy Announces New Modifications for This Year’s General Election:
Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order to make modifications to this year’s primarily vote-by-mail (VBM) General Election. The order clarifies Executive Order No. 177.
Effective immediately, Executive Order No. 179 makes the following modifications:
- Requires county clerks to publish a notice reflecting this year's primarily vote-by-mail process;
- Permits county boards of elections to continue counting ballots every day until counting is completed; and
- Requires election audits to be completed by December 4, 2020.
Copy of Executive Order No. 179
Upcoming Board, Committee, Commission Meetings:
Meeting Links and Passwords for upcoming Board, Committee, and Commission Meetings are posted here.
- Environmental Commission 9/1 at 7:30 p.m.
- Shade Tree Commission 9/14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Communications Commission 9/14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Public Events Committee 9/14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Flood Commission 9/14 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 252 individuals in Oakland who tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Bergen County has a total of 21, 424 positive Coronavirus Cases, and the State of NJ has 189,713 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.