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

January 12, 2021

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES

EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP

COVID-19 VACCINATION INFORMATION

Nationally, the President-Elect has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be fully distributed without holding back the second dose to be administered four weeks later, confident that pharmaceutical production will keep pace with these needs. In New Jersey, the Governor has accelerated the State timeline targets to achieve 70 percent vaccination by May 31. Mercer County has indicated that it will establish regional vaccination sites at the Mercer County Community College and The College of New Jersey, and possibly a third site, to be ready for use on or before the triggering of the Phase 1B priority group by the State. Township officials have requested and are awaiting details, timelines and sign-up protocols for these County-wide sponsored vaccination sites, and will keep everyone posted upon receipt of this important information.

Meanwhile, a series of Cooperative Local Clinics, pro-actively initiated and hosted by municipal mayors and local health departments to assist with Phase 1A vaccinations, is administering COVID-19 vaccinations to Phase 1A eligible persons -- Emergency Medical Services Personnel, Community Healthcare Workers and effective January 7 also Police Officers and Firefighters. These municipal clinics began on December 28, 2020 and will continue to be jointly hosted twice a week at this point on a rotating basis in surrounding towns, to service this Phase 1A group.

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.

State of New Jersey Launches Statewide Vaccine Scheduling System, (CLICK HERE), allowing individuals in the initial State phases and 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).

List of State Vaccination Locations and scheduling information available for Phase 1A individuals, which include the following state-designated Mercer County sites, can be found at (CLICK HERE). Verification of Phase 1A status and other appropriate documentation is required.

• Henry J Austin Health Center, 112 Ewing St, Trenton NJ 08609, (609) 278-5900 www.henryjaustin.org
• Henry J. Austin Health Center, 321 N. Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08618, (609) 278-5900 www.henryjaustin.org
• InFocus Urgent Care, 100 Campus Town Circle, Suite 100, Ewing, NJ 08628, (609) 497-7608 www.infocusurgentcare.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 Opening Six COVID-19 Vaccine "Mega-Sites" as Vaccination Hubs, (CLICK HERE), slated to open in 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

EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Hybrid In-Person Instruction/Cohort Schedule begins on Tuesday, January 19, 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 boxed meals 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 Student Food Distribution, provided through the extended U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, will continue on Sundays until further notice.

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.

COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION

MERCER COUNTY OFFERS FREE COVID-19 TESTING JANUARY 19 AND 26 AT CURE INSURANCE ARENA IN TRENTON
Mercer County, in partnership with Vault Health Services, will offer free COVID-19 testing on Tuesdays, January 19 and January 26, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at the CURE Insurance Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue in Trenton. The saliva test is available to County residents 14 years or older and anyone employed as a first responder or health care worker in Mercer County. Testing will be conducted in the arena concourse and parking is in Parking Lot 2 off South Broad Street to access Gate A. Bring identification showing Mercer county residency and a smartphone or tablet if you have one. No prescription is necessary. Avoid eating, drinking, chewing gum or smoking 30 minutes prior to taking the test.

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 Opened 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

Mercer County has reported, as of January 12, 2021, there have been 174 new cases for a total of 20,785 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases to date, and sadly, a total of 726 deaths in Mercer County. The State of New Jersey today reported 4,219 additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases for a current total of 537,115 cases, and a total of 2,059 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.