For Immediate Release
March 21, 2020
MIDDLETOWN, NJ – The Middletown Township Department of Health and Social Services received confirmation of 4 more positive COVID-19 cases, making this a total of 7 confirmed cases in Middletown. Direct contact persons, organizations and workplaces will be notified by health officials as they receive information from the patients. Due to privacy laws, information allowed to be shared is limited.
Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced Executive Order No. 107 directing all residents to stay at home until further notice. The order provides for certain exceptions, such as obtaining essential goods or services, seeking medical attention, visiting family or close friends, reporting to work or engaging in outdoor activities. The order also prohibits social gatherings, mandates work from home arrangements for employees when possible and invalidates conflicting local and county regulations. Executive Order 107 further directs the closure of all non-essential retail businesses to the public effective 9:00 PM. (Click HERE to view a list of critical business that are allowed to remain open.)
There is a new COVID-19 Information Hub available: covid19.nj.gov. The website has information that residents, healthcare providers, businesses and organizations, schools, and others will find helpful. The covid19.nj.gov website also has LIVE updates and announcements, as well as case counts by county. Additionally, if you would like to receive texts regarding updates and alerts as it relates to COVID-19, please text NJCOVID to 898-211.
A drive-thru Community-Based Testing Site is scheduled to open at PNC Arts Center (Exit 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel) on Monday, March 23rd from 8am-5pm. The site is open for NJ residents who are showing symptoms of the virus currently (fever 99.6 or higher, respiratory symptoms or shortness of breath). Take this self-assessment test to see if you qualify. Testing is free and will be covered by the federal government or personal insurance company. Individuals are encouraged to bring insurance cards if you have one. If you do not meet the criteria for testing, you will be turned away. The testing site will be open daily, even on weekends.
Township officials continue to stress the importance of social distancing in an effort to flatten the curve of this public health crisis. We also ask that you monitor yourself and family members for signs and symptoms of this virus, including fever, cough, shortness of breath or other respiratory illness. If you experience any of these, please contact your medical provider by phone before walking into their office.
If you have further Township-related COVID-19 questions, call the Health Department at 732-615-2095, email covid19@middletownnj.org or visit www.middletownnj.org/coronavirus. We also encourage residents to register for Township emergency alerts, including any emergency information about COVID-19, by texting MiddletownNJ to 888-777 so we can communicate information to you quickly.
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