Special Bulletin: COVID-19 UPDATE
Friday, March 20, 2020
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COVID-19 Reported Case Update
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Hillsborough Township is notifying residents of a second positive case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the Township.
The Hillsborough Township resident is currently in isolation. The Hillsborough Township Health Department is monitoring the resident and is working with the state to identify any potential contacts for follow-up. A representative from the Hillsborough Health Department will reach out to you within 24-48 hours if you were in close contact with this resident.
You can check the number of reported cases throughout Somerset County on the county
website
.
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Message from Mayor Tomson Regarding
March 24th Township Committee Meeting
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We are all operating under unique circumstances attributable to the COVID-19 virus. The next meeting of the Township Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 7:30 pm. We are working on providing residents with the opportunity to participate in this meeting remotely. Residents should access the Township website prior to the scheduled meeting to ascertain how they can participate remotely. A number of residents have expressed interest in commenting on Ordinance 2020-08 which amends Chapter 188 “Land Use and Development”, Article V “Districts and Standards”, Section 188-98 RA, RS, R, R1, R2, CR, AH, RCA, PD Residential Districts, by adding R8A Zone to apply to Block 182, Lots 9, 11.01 and 46.01 and Block 183, Lot 38.02. At the March 24, 2020 meeting, I intend to ask my fellow committee members to delay a final vote on the Ordinance and continue the public hearing to the April 28, 2020 Township Committee meeting to provide residents additional opportunity to comment on this Ordinance. Those residents may also participate and comment remotely at the March 24, 2020 meeting.
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Township Updates, Closures and Cancellations
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- The Municipal Building will be closed to the public. Please refer to our Township website for self-services functions like on-line payments, forms and contact phone numbers for departments.
- All Department of Public Works Programs are suspended until May and at that time the programs will be reevaluated. This includes ALL Clean Communities Events, Annual Cleanup Events, Sr. Curbside Pickup and Grass and Leaf drop off. If your date is cancelled we will withdraw you from the event and you will be able to select a different date when the system becomes active. Community Pass is currently NOT available to register for programs. Please check our website for updates when they become available. The Public Works yard is also closed to the public. Questions can be directed to dpw@hillsborough-nj.org or 908-369-3950.
- Hillsborough Township Fire District / Hillsborough Police Department Incident Response Temporary New Guidelines - these are the steps Hillsborough Township Fire District / Hillsborough Police Department are taking. Responses to investigations or activated alarms within the interior of a structure and to automobile accidents with patient contact, the first-responders will be dressed in full personal protective equipment along with masks, which may include self-contained breathing apparatus and medical gloves. A crew of two will enter the interior of the structure while other members will be positioned outside or will remain inside the apparatus unless needed. If you witness this type of response procedure, there is no need for alarm or panic, these are just the additional safety measures being taken during this worldwide health emergency to keep everyone as safe as possible.
- Hillsborough's Business Advocate Department continues to work with the Hillsborough Business Association as they support the community. For the latest information regarding the Hillsborough Business Community, please Like & Follow the Hillsborough Business Association (HBA) Facebook page.
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State, County and Township Updates
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New Jersey Department of Human Services has Coronavirus (COVID-19) material for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Clic
k
here
to access this material.
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Community Resources and Updates
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C
hurch Services Offered On-line During Coronavirus Public Health Emergency.
If any other House of Worship would like to send information for us to share with the community we would be happy to include it in future communications.
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- Mary, Mother of God Church, is conducting live stream Catholic Masses during the public health emergency. Visit their website for the schedule and instructions to access the services at www.marymotherofgod.org
- Neshanic Reformed Church, is livestreaming their Sunday Morning Worship Service and video/audio chatting their Wednesday Night Bible Study during this public health emergency. Visit their website for the schedule and access instructions at NeshanicReformedChurch.org
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UPDATE:
ShopRite of Hillsborough
will offer designated grocery shopping time for senior citizens, age 60 or over, or anyone in the high-risk category. As of Friday, March 20th, ShopRite of Hillsborough will be open from 7 am to 8 am for those in the high-risk category only. Senior citizens needing assistance may bring someone with them who is under the age of 60. All store departments will be open, except the Pharmacy Department, which will be open at their normal time of 8 am. Seniors who have no other means of transportation should call the Social Services Department at 908-369-3880 to arrange a ride.
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UPDATE:
Comcast has announced an expansion of the availability of their Internet Essentials program. Internet Essentials is normally available to all qualified low-income households in Comcast’s service area for $9.95/month. Beginning Monday, new families who connect to Internet Essentials will receive 60 days of broadband service for free. More information about Internet Essentials can be found on the Comcas
t
website.
Additionally, over the next few days, Internet Essentials speeds will be increased from 15/2 MBPS to 25/3 for all new and existing customers, and will become the speed of the service going forward. More information about the expansion can be found on the company's
website
.
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Hillsborough Health Department
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Hillsborough Health Department recommends to continue preventative measure, such as hand washing, covering coughs, stay home when you're sick and further social distancing as explained by the CDC.
Another recommendation for private sports programs. We advise you to cancel, just as the schools and the recreation department have done.
The Hillsborough Health Department continues to monitor information about the Coronavirus and will update the public as needed on the Township website.
The NJ Department of Health has provided this phone number for the general public with questions about this virus: 1-800-222-1222 (N.J. Poison Control number), and the following websites for up to date information regarding the virus:
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This Newsletter is brought to you by the Hillsborough Township Committee:
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Deputy Mayor
Shawn Lipani
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Committeeman
Frank DelCore
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Committeewoman
Olivia Holmes
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Committeewoman
Gloria MCauley
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