East Windsor Township E-News Updates - <h3>June 20, 2020 (ALERT)</h3>

Mayor Mironov and Council Members, to support local eateries, have implemented a streamlined process to approve new or expanded in-person service in outdoor dining areas for Food and Beverage Establishments. The Township has waived the filing fee and is expediting the review of all applications seeking to establish outdoor seating.

In addition to food and beverage establishments that may re-open existing outdoor areas, the following East Windsor businesses have been approved for temporary outdoor dining:

Additional information for local establishments wishing to provide temporary new or expanded outdoor dining is available online (CLICK HERE) or by calling the Township Manager's office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 245.

Remember "EAST WINDSOR TO GO". The full "East Windsor To Go" program list shows all of the food establishments that are open for food delivery or contactless pickup at their locations. (CLICK HERE).

Residents are encouraged to continue supporting all our local businesses, including our restaurants and food establishments, during these challenging times.

Your Favorite East Windsor Restaurants for Outdoor Dining, Pickup and Delivery

By supporting the East Windsor To Go program of ordering great food from our community restaurants, residents can win valuable gift cards from Barnes and Noble by sending us photos of what you ordered for pickup or delivery. For the next contest, residents are being asked to tell us what their favorite food is and from what local East Windsor restaurant. Your personal food favorite can be in any category - pasta, burgers, french fries, soup! The best selection that includes the hashtag #EWMyFave is eligible to win.

To participate, fill out the form at the link below and upload a picture of where you've shared your East Windsor To Go food order on social media with the hashtags #EWMyFave. Selections will be made for the best social media posts for East Windsor To Go and the winners will be notified. All East Windsor residents can participate! Submissions are accepted through Sunday, June 21.

To participate, Click here to upload your East Windsor To Go! picture submission.

Governor Murphy issued Administrative Order (CLICK HERE) on June 19, which permits opening of Indoor Areas of Retail Shopping Malls, effective Monday, June 29 at 6 A.M., as follows:

Indoor shopping mall operators should evaluate floor plans and establish policies to minimize congestion points and maintain social distancing, such as a customer flow plan with floor markings or separate entrance and exit points. Shopping mall operators must follow health and safety requirements. Employees and customers must wear face coverings while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age. If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the mall at the point of entry, then the mall must decline entry to the individual.

The following services or areas shall be closed at all indoor shopping malls: Valet parking; Vending machines; Stroller rentals; and Any type of communal play area. Businesses inside retail shopping malls that remain closed to the public by any Executive Order, such as entertainment and recreational businesses including gyms, fitness centers, movie theaters, amusement parks, water parks, and arcades, remain closed.

New Jersey Department of Health on June 19 issued a directive to Long-term Care Facilities, allowing facility residents to have outdoor visits with loved ones in designated outdoor space beginning Sunday, June 21. The directive applies to: dementia care homes; long-term care facilities; pediatric transitional care homes; assisted living residences and programs, and comprehensive personal care homes.

Prior to transporting a long-term care resident to a designated outdoor space, visitors must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms – including a temperature check – and facilities must follow safety and infection prevention and control measures in order to allow visitation. Only two visitors will be permitted at a time and must stay six feet apart from the resident. Visitors and residents are required to wear face coverings, and a staff member—wearing a surgical mask—must remain with the resident during the visit. A resident who is suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 or quarantined for an exposure cannot have visitors. A resident who has tested positive can have visitors after they have met the criteria to discontinue isolation.

Facilities must submit an attestation at least 24 hours before they begin outdoor visitation confirming that they have implemented the directive’s requirements, and have a location designated for visitation, sufficient staff and personal protective equipment, and a method to schedule appointments. Facilities can start scheduling appointments today, but visitation cannot begin until June 21. Facilities are required to communicate the visitor policy to residents, families, staff and others, and must receive informed consent in writing from the resident and visitor that they will comply with the facility’s policies during the visit. As part of the consent form, visitor must agree to notify the facility if they test positive for COVID or have symptoms within 14 days of visiting.

Mercer County has reported, as of June 20, 2020, there have been 26 new cases for a total of 7,489 confirmed COVID-19 Cases to date, and a total, sadly, of 524 deaths in Mercer County. All active cases are either at home self-isolating or admitted to the hospital. The State of New Jersey today reported 338 additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases for a current total of 168,834 cases, and 22 additional deaths for a total of 12,857 COVID-19 related deaths statewide. For all further information and data related to COVID-19 cases, go to the New Jersey official COVID-19 dashboard (CLICK HERE).

It is important that everyone continue practicing social distancing, following the advice and directives of health care professionals and government officials, and using good sense, so we can all get through this difficult period together. We need to remember that the most effective and most caring responsible thing we can continue to do for ourselves, our loved ones and our entire community is to continue to do what we are doing.

If you are concerned about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one during the current crisis, NJMentalHealthCares is available 7 days a week from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. at (866) 202-HELP (4357).

For prior updates and resources visit the EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP COVID-19 information webpage:
www.east-windsor.nj.us/COVID

Mayor Janice Mironov and Members of Council -- Denise Daniels, Anthony Katawick, Marc Lippman, David Russell, Johnnie Whittington and John Zoller -- Present