Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has tested positive for COVID-19, the mayor announced on Christmas Day.
The mayor tested positive before meeting with his extended family on Christmas morning. He said that he is fully vaccinated and boosted and has mild symptoms.
“It goes to show that vaccines and boosters work,” said Bhalla on Twitter. “Protect your loved ones and get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already.”
He is the second mayor in Hudson County to test positive for COVID recently, with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop testing positive two days earlier. Fulop said that he is fully vaccinated and boosted and has no symptoms.
The news comes as both Jersey City, Hoboken and greater Hudson County are seeing COVID cases soaring throughout the holidays. In Hoboken, the city saw the biggest peak in cases in recent months with 66 cases on Dec. 16, with a seven day average of about 46 cases on that day.
The current available COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be effective at reducing the risk of infection, severe illness or death against the virus.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at mkoosau@hudsonreporter.com or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
