As the coronavirus response continues full force, I want to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt gratitude to our many citizens who are on the front line of this daily battle.

Our heroic first responders and health care professionals have been working around the clock to keep people safe. Others on the front line, who can’t work from home and are putting themselves at risk to keep our communities functioning, include drug store clerks, supermarket cashiers, people preparing and delivering food, and many more.

State, county and local governments have closed their doors to the public but continue to provide vital services, especially to our most vulnerable populations.

I commend all of you for rising to the occasion day in and day out during this public health emergency, and I applaud your commitment to continuing this effort.

We don’t know how long this crisis will last. We do know that to slow the spread of infection, especially among high-risk groups, and to take the pressure off our health care system, we need to follow the Governor’s directive to stay home if at all possible, and to practice social distancing when we must go out. Those at higher risk – older adults and people with existing health problems – depend on everyone else to stay safe.

We also need to continue taking everyday preventive measures such as frequent hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

I thank each of you for the sacrifices you’re making to help slow the spread of COVID-19. If we all work together, we WILL get through this crisis.

Brian M. Hughes
Mercer County Executive

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and protect the capacity of New Jersey’s health care system for the state’s most vulnerable, all residents are under a stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy. Executive Order No. 107 provides for certain exceptions, such as obtaining essential goods or services, seeking medical attention, visiting family or close friends, reporting to work, or engaging in outdoor activities. It also directs the closure of all non-essential retail businesses to the public. Find more information at COVID19.nj.gov.

To ensure the lowest chance of obtaining the virus, and spreading the virus to others:
• Practice social distancing
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating, after exiting a densely populated area, and after coughing and sneezing
• Disinfect personal items regularly

Symptoms – fever, cough, shortness of breath – can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. It’s also important to consider whether you’ve been in contact with an infected person, as well as any symptoms you may be experiencing.

If you believe you’ve been infected and you are not in immediate danger, you should contact your doctor by phone. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and notify the dispatch personnel that you may have COVID-19.

The New Jersey Department of Health on March 27 announced 1,982 new positive cases, bringing the total of positive cases in the state to 8,825, with 108 deaths. The most positive cases are in Bergen County, which has 1,505; Mercer County has 131. Visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s COVID-19 Dashboard  for more information.

The CDC on March 27 announced a total of 85,356 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and a total of 1,246 deaths, with 54 locations (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands) reporting cases. This includes both confirmed and presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 reported to CDC or tested at CDC since Jan. 21, 2020. State and local public health departments are now testing and publicly reporting their cases.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. For more information about COVID-19 visit covid19.nj.gov or cdc.gov.