Coronavirus Pandemic, Perth Amboy

   *Photos by Paul W. Wang

Press Release 3/30/20

Dear Residents, 

As our state grapples with the spread of the Coronavirus, the City of Perth Amboy and the Office of Emergency Management is taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our community. My heart goes out to all the families that have experienced this virus first-hand or that have lost someone because of it. I ask each of you to think of those families before leaving your homes, if unnecessary, so we can help flatten the curve of this contagious virus. 

 I cannot stress this enough. Hospital staff are putting their lives in danger to make sure they provide the best care to our communities during this global pandemic. It is our responsibility to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the State of New Jersey to ensure their safety. I strongly request your cooperation and adherence to our emergency orders, as listed on our city website to contain the spread of the coronavirus and to reduce the loss of life across our state.  

 As of today, March 30, 2020, there are 59 confirmed cases of Perth Amboy residents with the coronavirus. I know that number sounds alarming but as testing becomes more available, the reporting of COVID-19 cases will likely increase and we will have a closer estimate of how many people are infected within our community. Please be advised that the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center is open for testing of COVID-19. To facilitate the best use of resources, residents are asked to contact their health care provider to asses if they are symptomatic with evidence of a respiratory infection. If you do not have a primary doctor, residents are urged to call the Jewish Renaissance Hospital at 732-376-9333 to make an appointment. A prescription is required to get tested and there will be no walk-ins accepted. This is for the protection of our healthcare workers, the individuals being tested, and for your own protection as well. 

 Your children’s well-being is out top priority. As such, all schools were closed on March 16 until further notice. Free breakfast, lunch and dinner has been made available to all children of Perth Amboy thanks to the generosity of our community partners and the Perth Amboy School District. For a complete list of hours, parents and caretakers are encouraged to visit the city’s website for more information. 

 Last week, I informed our community that two staff members of the Perth Amboy Public School System had tested positive for COVID-19 and a third staff member was still being investigated. Workers or students who may have been in close contact with the staff members have been contacted by the Middlesex County Health Department as a precautionary measure. We also took the drastic measure of closing all playgrounds. We need to ensure the safety and well-being of our community comes first, and we cannot do that if people continue to treat this pandemic like nothing more than a cold. We need the residents of Perth Amboy to comply with the restrictions set forth by the City of Perth Amboy. 

 I also want to add that we are increasing our emergency protective measures with the help of our local enforcement agency and the Office of Emergency Management. The Perth Amboy police department will continue to enforce evening curfews. Individuals not adhering to the stay at home directives of the state and local agencies, will be issued a citation, unless they essential employees or traveling for crucial and necessary items such as food, medical assistance and prescription drugs.

 Due to the evolving nature of information, residents are encouraged to contact the 24/7 NJ COVID-19 call center at 1-800-962-1253 for up-to-date information. New Jersey residents can also call 211 or text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive text information and stay informed. The state also launched a COVID-19 site with many helpful resources and a symptom checker, so please visit their site at www.covid19.nj.gov.

 My team and I have also tried our best to keep our city website as updated as possible. Please visit www.PerthAmboyNJ.org for helpful resources for our residents and business owners. While few essential businesses are allowed to remain open under the directives of Governor Phil Murphy, residents are encouraged to report any employers, organizations, or entities that are violating any part of Executive Order 107 by visiting www.covid19.nj.gov/violation. 

 In times of crisis, we are reminded of our strength and courage as a community. As your mayor, I thank you for your cooperation so that our office and community partners can provide seamless care to the residents and workers of Perth Amboy.

   Thank you and God bless you all. 

   Mayor Wilda Diaz