The Hoboken Health Department reported the following new COVID-19 cases:

July 24: 2
July 25: 2
July 26: 0
July 27: 2

Hoboken total is now at 652 known, confirmed COVID-19 cases after an adjustment last week, with fatalities remaining at 29. As of Friday, 428 of the 652 residents have fully recovered from COVID-19.

New grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses

We received some positive news from Governor Murphyâ€s office regarding additional grants for small businesses. Hoboken is one of 64 municipalities in New Jersey where business owners can apply for grants of up to $10,000 specifically for lease costs. Starting August 10, applications will be open for the grants at http://www.njra.us.

As a reminder, small businesses of up to 25 employees can also apply for grants up to $20,000 through $1.9 million in funding we secured through the CARES Act for Hoboken. Applications are now open at hobokennj.gov/smallbusinessgrants through August 14.

Common areas in residential buildings

One question that Iâ€ve received a few times over the past several weeks is whether or not residents should wear face masks when in common areas of public buildings, such as in laundry rooms and elevators. The Hoboken Health Department advises that face masks should be worn at all times in common areas, especially when social distancing is not possible. We encourage landlords and building managers to post signs to this effect in these areas.

Scheduling tests with Riverside

As a reminder, to schedule a test with Riverside Medical, please call at least one week in advance from the date you know you need a test (for example if heading on vacation or seeing relatives), and call the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline at 201-420-5621 (Monday – Friday, 9 am until 1 pm). Please do not call Riverside directly if you are not currently a Riverside patient, as all non-Riverside patients should be processed through CERT.

However, if you are a Riverside patient, you should call Riverside to process your COVID-19 test through them.

Additional staff for social distancing and face mask education

As mentioned last week, weâ€ve repurposed City staff members to continue with face mask distribution, education, and social distancing enforcement. To send a confidential email for certain businesses or situations where face masks are not being worn, please send an email to covid19@hobokennj.gov. To send a confidential email for when businesses are not social distancing tables and chairs, please email businessrecovery@hobokennj.gov.

As always, I thank the vast majority of business owners for complying with social distancing regulations. The idea behind the submission of confidential emails is to not punish business owners who are attempting to do the right thing, but rather to ensure Hoboken residents can have a safe, enjoyable experience when patronizing our local businesses. On the other hand, there have been some businesses, including restaurants and gyms that have violated social distancing and face mask rules and received written warnings, with future violations resulting in a closure from the Office of Emergency Management.

Please, wear a face mask

I know I sound like a broken record, but wearing face masks save lives. Please wear one when youâ€re outside. Itâ€s hot and it can be uncomfortable to wear one, but itâ€s less uncomfortable than being hospitalized with complications from COVID-19. We continue to see reports of some young people and even children with lasting, severe health effects, even if they were perfectly healthy. The virus doesnâ€t discriminate based on age. Please take the necessary precautions when youâ€re outdoors and wear a face mask.

Our youngest students making a difference

Each year, 8^th grade students from All Saints travel overseas as a school and raise funds to help pay for it. While their trip was postponed this year due to COVID-19, the 8^th graders decided to donate the $10,000 they raised for it to the Hoboken Relief Fund, to help small businesses and individuals in need.

Likewise, 8^th grade student Joseph Petruzzeli is raising funds for the Jubilee Centerâ€s future programming by selling rare sneakers and donating a percentage of the proceeds. Josephâ€s business, called “Elite Kickz” is hosting a pop-up shop at 1200 Washington Street through Thursday (12 pm – 7 pm).

Itâ€s wonderful to see our students making a difference in our community, and I congratulate Joseph and All Saints students for their generosity and thinking of others during these difficult times.

The post HOBOKEN COVID-19 UPDATE JULY 27, 2020 AND GRANTS FOR SMALL HOBOKEN BUSINESSES first appeared on River View Observer.

Source Nixle

Councilwoman Jen Giattino, Councilman Phil Cohen and Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced today the formation of the newly organized Hoboken Relief Fund.  Organized to support independently-owned Hoboken businesses and Hoboken residents who have suffered adverse economic impact as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fund will invest in our local economy, helping small businesses — the backbone of our community — get back on their feet, as well as helping Hobokenâ€s vulnerable residents, families and our seniors. The Fund seeks to raise $2 million dollars to award.
 
Companies and individuals who would like to donate to the Hoboken Relief Fund can visit www.HobokenReliefFund.com.
 
Mayor Bhalla stated “I’m thrilled that this relief fund is launching in Hoboken to help provide a helping hand to those in need. This fund is an ideal way to give back to our community to help Hoboken recover from this crisis, and I encourage anyone who can afford to donate to please do so. I thank Councilmembers Jen Giattino and Phil Cohen and the entire board for helping make this critical relief effort possible for our mile square.”
 
The inaugural event for the Hoboken Relief Fund will be a concert featuring Hoboken artists performing songs to benefit the fund, next Saturday, May 16th and will be broadcast on the City of Hoboken’s Facebook page.  The event will be co-hosted by Mayor Bhalla and legendary Hoboken businessman, Buddy “the Cake Boss” Valastro.
 
Fund Co-Chair, Councilwoman Jen Giattino stated “Without our small businesses there would be a gaping hole in the heart and soul of our community.  I am very excited to have the opportunity to ensure that our small businesses will be supported and I am hopeful that they will be able to receive funding that will help secure their future.  Thank you to my fellow board members and Rabbi Scheinberg and Reverend Thomas for their work.  A special thank you to Geri Fallo for organizing our first event.”
 
Fund Co-Chair, Councilman Phil Cohen added “It is amazing to see Hoboken’s musicians and Hobokenâ€s celebrity chef, Buddy Valastro, come together and support our local businesses and families who are hurting right now.  Our benefit concert will be an exciting kickoff to our Fund’s goal of raising $2 million.  The Fund’s hard-working Board of Trustees and Inter-faith advisors reflect the best of Hoboken – community leaders and business leaders pulling together to persevere in the face of an unprecedented crisis.”
 
Hoboken Relief Fund Board of Trustees:
 
Joe Barry
David Bistany (Rotary Club of Hoboken Representative)
Phil Cohen, Co-Chair
Donna Garban (Hoboken Business Alliance Representative)
Jen Giattino, Co-Chair
Irene Perello, Secretary
Grant Sahag, Treasurer
Lavon Smith
 
Inter-faith Advisors: (in formation)
 
Rabbi Robert Scheinberg
The Rev. Elaine Ellis Thomas
 
City/Arts Community Liaison:
 
Geri Fallo, Hoboken Administrator of Cultural Affairs

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The post Newly formed Hoboken Relief Fund, inaugural event featuring Hoboken artists on Saturday, May 16 first appeared on River View Observer.