Press Release 6/8/20

PERTH AMBOY – Together with Mayor Wilda Diaz, The Citizens Campaign and Perth Amboy Civic Trust today announced the formation of the Perth Amboy Beat-COVID Task Force.  The Task Force will ensure that health protocols, indexed for daily activities and, incorporating best infection prevention health practices will be communicated to all residents and businesses in a consistent and reinforcing manner.

The Task Force will also recruit community volunteers to assist with the assembly and distribution of quarantine kits, the distribution of masks and other tasks essential to limiting new infections and returning to public life.  Quarantine kits include disposable eating utensils, masks, disinfecting cleansers, gloves and other items essential to successful isolation by people who have tested positive or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19  and are living in more crowded situations.   

The Task Force is comprised of Wilda Diaz, Mayor of the City of Perth Amboy; Dr. David Roman, Superintendent of Perth Amboy Public Schools;  Carmen Southward, District Director of Operations; Larry Cattano, Deputy Chief and Office of Emergency Management Director; Thomas Shanahan, COO, Hackensack Meridian Hospital; Doug Dzema, Executive Director, Perth Amboy Housing Authority; Barry Rosengarten, Chairman, Perth Amboy Business Improvement District; and Cesar Romero, Perth Amboy Civic Trustee.  It is the key component of a Beat-COVID plan presented to Mayor Diaz by the Perth Amboy Civic Trust.

“As we re-open our city for business we must make sure we do so with all the precautions necessary to keep our residents and businesses  safe and healthy, ” said Mayor of Perth Amboy Wilda Diaz.  “The Perth Amboy Beat-COVID Task Force will ensure that our residents, businesses and non-profit organizations have  the clear guidance they need to stay safe and defeat COVID-19.”

Perth Amboy Civc Trustee, Cesar Romero said, “Perth Amboy’s Civic Trustees looks forward to working with the Task Force in enlisting community residents in the essential tasks required to Beat- COVID.” The Perth Amboy Civic Trust is comprised of two dozen, volunteer Civic Trustees who meet in monthly No-Blame Solution Sessions.  These citizen leaders work together to identify cost-effective, evidence-based solutions to the major challenges facing their city.