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

January 6, 2021

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES

EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION

Mayor Janice S. Mironov, Along with Other Mercer County Mayors and Our Health Officers Association Commenced Cooperative Local Clinics to Administer COVID-19 Vaccinations. The first in a series of planned clinics was held last week and the clinics continue to be jointly hosted twice a week on a rotating basis in surrounding towns, for Emergency Medical Services Personnel and Community Healthcare Workers eligible in the Phase 1A of the State Phasing Plan, and effective tomorrow January 7, Police Officers and Firefighters have been added to this Priority Phase 1A group, and are now eligible for vaccinations.

A list of State listed vaccination locations and scheduling information available for Phase 1A individuals, which include the following Mercer County sites, can be found at (CLICK HERE). Verification of Phase 1 status and other appropriate documentation is required.

• Henry J Austin Health Center, 112 Ewing St, Trenton NJ 08609, (609) 278-5900 www.henryjaustin.org
• ShopRite Of Hamilton #521, 130 Marketplace Blvd, Hamilton, NJ 08691, (609) 581-5827
• ShopRite Pharmacy #533, 2555 Pennington Rd, Pennington, NJ 08638, (609) 737-0606

The next group eligible for vaccination is Phase 1B which will include seniors ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers, followed by Phase 1C which will include adults 65 to 74 years and adults with underlying medical conditions. After these phases are complete, then Phase 2 will be implemented for eligibility for the general public. The timing of each phase will be determined by the New Jersey Department of Health dependent upon progress and as vaccines become more readily available, and that plan will continually be updated in response to any changing circumstances. For detailed information and updated timelines of vaccine distribution phases (CLICK HERE).

State of New Jersey to Open 6 COVID-19 Vaccine "Mega-Sites" as Vaccination Hubs, (CLICK HERE), slated to open early January, to vaccinate Phase 1A healthcare workers and then continue with the New Jersey Department of Health phased groups as vaccines become available, as part of a statewide network to implement the State COVID -19 vaccination plan.

• The New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ
• The Meadowlands Complex, 50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ
• Rockaway Townsquare, 301 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rockaway, NJ
• Moorestown Mall, 400 W Route 38, Moorestown, NJ
• Rowan College of South Jersey, 1400 Tanyard Road, Sewell, NJ
• Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ

State of New Jersey Launches Statewide Vaccine Scheduling System, (CLICK HERE), allowing individuals in the initial State phases and eventually the general public to find a vaccination location, pre-register and schedule an appointment. When vaccines are more readily available, some vaccination sites may offer walk-up/on-site registration.

For current State information about COVID-19 vaccines, eligibility, vaccination, and timing of the phased approaches and priority groups (CLICK HERE).

East Windsor Township will continue efforts to offer accurate and timely information, as it becomes available, to inform all residents of the vaccination process, including who is eligible to receive the vaccine and where and how they may receive it.

EAST WINDSOR MUNICIPAL BUILDING: The Municipal Building remains closed to the public but staffed (Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.) to maintain services and respond to phone and email inquiries. Drop-off and pick-up boxes are located at the main building entrance. Residents are strongly encouraged to conduct business with the Township by telephone, email, and regular mail. The Township main phone number is (609) 443-4000, the Police non-emergency phone number is (609) 448-5678. ext. 0, and the Township website is www.east-windsor.nj.us.

EAST WINDSOR SENIOR CENTER: The Senior Center remains closed to the public but staffed (Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.) to respond to phone and email inquiries. The Senior Center Newsletter (CLICK HERE) is issued weekly and highlights local information resources, virtual program presentations and a variety of classes available via Zoom. New virtual exercise classes via Zoom began daily on January 4, to include general exercise, meditation, yoga, zumba and stretching exercises sessions. All classes start at 9:30 A.M. No registration is needed. Only Zoom Login is required. The Mercer County Nutrition Program continues with modified service providing boxed lunches for drive-thru curbside pickup at the front entrance to the Senior Center. For questions regarding the Nutrition Program, call Mercer County at (609) 989-6650.

EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT announced continuation of remote learning through January 18, 2021. For additional information and updates (CLICK HERE).

FREE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOCAL STUDENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM is providing Free Food Distribution on Sundays from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the Ethel McKnight Elementary School located at 58 Twin Rivers Drive, East Windsor. All New Jersey residents under 18 years of age are eligible to receive a box prepared with a seven day supply of breakfast and lunch items; registration is not required. All persons attending the Free Food Distribution site are required to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose at all times and must maintain social distancing of six feet minimum, per CDC guidelines. The Free Food Distribution, provided through the extended U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, will continue on Sundays until further notice.

Mayor Janice S. Mironov joins coordinator Sam Katz and volunteers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Free Local Food Distribution Program held on Sunday afternoons from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the Ethel McKnight Elementary School in East Windsor.

COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION

MERCER COUNTY OFFERS FREE COVID-19 TESTING AT HOME.

Mercer County residents 14 years or older and anyone employed as a first responder or health care worker in Mercer County can sign up to receive a free COVID-19 saliva test to be administered at home through a partnership between the County and Vault Health Services of New Jersey. The test for COVID-19 has the same effectiveness as the swab test and is designed to determine if an individual is currently infected with COVID-19 and has the potential to infect others.

Individuals seeking a test should visit www.mercercares.org to register. Following registration and eligibility verification you will receive a digital link to Vault’s webpage to request a county-funded test kit. The kit will be shipped overnight with instructions on how to schedule a Zoom telehealth meeting with a certified healthcare worker who will virtually instruct you about how to properly collect a saliva sample for shipment to the Rutgers Clinical Genomics Laboratory for testing. Results are anticipated to be returned within 72 hours. Any questions can be directed to HomeTesting@mercercounty.org.

AREA COVID-19 TESTING SITES

Immediate Care East Windsor, 319 US-130 North, East Windsor, NJ 08520 (609) 426-4300. Immediate Care Medical Walk-In of East Windsor Opens Local Mobile Covid-19 Testing Unit Next to their Facility in Town Center Plaza. Immediate Care is offering PCR Covid-19 testing on Saturday and Sunday, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. and Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Appointments must be made in advance by going to the Immediate Care website (CLICK HERE) or calling (855) 925-5467, ext. 0. For further information, (CLICK HERE).

Other Area Testing Sites

• CVS, 350 US-130, East Windsor, NJ 08520 (609) 443-5100
• CVS, 629 Abbington Drive, East Windsor, NJ 08520 (609) 426-2903
• Rite Aid Robbinsville, 2370 Route 33, Robbinsville 08691 (609) 259-1251
• CVS Robbinsville, 2281 Route 33, Robbinsville 08691 (866) 389-2727
• CVS Hamilton Square, 1099 Route 33, Hamilton Square 08690 (866) 389-2727
• InFocus Urgent Care, 64 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction (609) 799-7009
• Patient First – Hamilton, 641 Route 130, Hamilton 08691 (609) 568-9383

NEW JERSEY COVID-19 UPDATES AND ADVISORIES

INDOOR SPORTS PRACTICES AND COMPETITIONS RESUMED JANUARY 2

• Governor Murphy recently announced that Indoor Sports Practices and Competitions, including group, competitive and/or organized sporting activities for youth and adults, may resume effective Saturday, January 2, 2021 with safety protocols in place. Interstate sports will remain prohibited.
• Governor Murphy Released Administrative Order 2020-05 (CLICK HERE) Clarifying Capacity Limits for Indoor Sports Practices and Competitions and Restrictions on Interstate Youth Sports Competitions, effective Saturday, January 2, 2021, clarifying that indoor sports practices and competitions are subject to current indoor gathering limits, most recently set at 10 persons. However, a practice or competition can proceed with more than 10 persons if individuals who are not necessary for the activity, such as spectators, are not present. The total number of individuals may not exceed 25 percent of the capacity of the room in which the practice or competitions takes place, and such limit may not exceed 150 persons. The order also clarifies that the restrictions on interstate youth sports competitions in Executive Order 194 (2020) which stated that all interstate games and tournaments involving indoor sports, up to and including the high school level will be prohibited also applies to youth sports competitions conducted outdoors. Collegiate and professional sports remain unaffected.

NEW JERSEY EXTENDS COVID-19 CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Newly signed New Jersey legislation extended the December deadline for several COVID-19-related Child Care Assistance Programs for families and providers through the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund through January 31, 2021 (CLICK HERE).

• School-Age Tuition Assistance Program:The New Jersey School - Age Tuition Assistance Program was launched to help families pay for their school-age child in need of child care as a result of COVID-19 remote learning schools schedules.
• Child Care Subsidy Program- Expanded Care: The state will pay licensed or registered child care provider for child care during the school day.
• Supplemental Payment for Child Care Centers: To support the reopening and sustainability of child care providers that are serving children receiving the state child care subsidy, the state will provide supplemental monthly payments of $300 per subsidy-eligible child.

Mercer County has reported, as of January 6, 2021, there have been 173 new cases for a total of 19,707 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases to date, and sadly, a total of 703 deaths in Mercer County. The State of New Jersey today reported 5,028 additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases for a current total of 504,647 cases, and a total of 17,464 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).

For general questions and concerns about COVID-19:
• Call: 2-1-1
• Call (24/7): 1-800-962-1253
• Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
• Visit covid19.nj.gov for additional information

Residents are advised to check the Township website at www.east-windsor.nj.us, read E-News Alerts, tune into Community Access TV Comcast Channel 27 and Verizon Channel 38, or call the municipal information hotline at (609) 443-4000, ext. 400, for schedule updates.