Entering December, active COVID-19 cases continue to rise for the tenth consecutive week.
As of Dec. 3, there were 262 active cases, according to the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Three residents have died including a 82-year-old woman, a 70-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man.
OEM said that 2,472 residents tested positive, regardless of where that test was given, as of Dec. 4.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 85 Bayonne residents have died, and 2,125 have recovered.
COVID-19 hospitalizations at BMC remain low because most residents recover at home. There were 19 COVID-19 patients at BMC as of Dec. 4. OEM does not have data on Bayonne residents in hospitals other than BMC.
Maintain ‘COVID-sense’
Chief of Police Robert Geisler gave the weekly COVID-19 video update on behalf of Mayor James Davis on Dec. 3.
Geisler said that as active cases continue to rise in the city, the same is occurring within the Bayonne Police Department (BPD). However, Geisler said he has reallocated resources within the department to ensure sufficient staffing and deployed more officers on patrol for the holidays.
The BPD continues to employ safety guidelines to mitigate the spread of the virus as previously mentioned during Geisler’s last COVID-19 update. But sometimes, following safety guidelines proves impossible in some scenarios due to the nature of the job.
“At a time when we are all encouraged to social distance, the men and women of the Bayonne Police Department often do not have that luxury,” Geisler said.
Geisler said that members of the BPD interact with residents in the community hundreds of times per day, putting themselves and their families at risk.
To mitigate the spread of the virus, residents are encouraged to use “COVID-sense” by wearing masks, social distancing, and practicing good hygiene.
Getting tested
Drive-thru testing is again available. Bayonne Medical Center (BMC) has reinstated its drive-thru testing program, but not at Veterans Stadium, which ceased operations in July.
Now patients with a prescription and an appointment can be tested inside their vehicles at the Emergency Room Driveway entrance at BMC. This testing takes place every day from, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. by appointment only.
The RiteAid at 54th Street and Broadway offers free testing for all residents over 18 via drive-thru. Visit riteaid.com to register. Residents do not need to be symptomatic, nor do they need a prescription.
CityMD at 904 Bayonne Crossing Way offers COVID-19 tests for walk-ins only; call 551-497-5675 for more information.
Residents can also get tested at Broadway Care Pharmacy at 516 Broadway and Total Care Pharmacy at 596 Broadway. For more information, call 201-437-5100 for Broadway Care Pharmacy and 201-535-5080 for Total Care Pharmacy.
Additionally, testing is available by Dr. Ahab Gabriel at 449 Avenue C and Hudson DNA and Testing at 150 Pulaski Street. Call 201-374-1103 for Dr. Ahab Gabriel and 201-994-6594 for Hudson DNA and Testing.
CityMD and BMC are conducting antibody testing. Residents should call 2-1-1 for a list of testing sites throughout the state.
The Bayonne Health Department is immediately notified of positive results and contacts individuals to begin contact tracing. It advises residents who have recently taken a COVID-19 test to be sure to answer their phones for contact tracers and BHD staff.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
