MAYOR BHALLA, RIVERSIDE MEDICAL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GIATTINO ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TESTING EXPANSION FOR HOBOKEN BUSINESSES

Caption: Dr. Gaurang Brahmbhatt and staff from Riverside Medical Group

(higher definition photo attached)

Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla, Riverside Medical and Council President Jen Giattino today announced that all employees of any local Hoboken business are now eligible for rapid, COVID-19 testing through the Riverside testing location in Hoboken. The testing expansion reflects Hoboken’s commitment to assisting small businesses with additional safety precautions in preparation for a gradual re-opening. Employees of Hoboken businesses do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms in order to receive a test.

To register for a COVID-19 test, the Hoboken business owner or employee should call the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hotline in City Hall at 201-420-5621, Monday through Friday from 9 am until 5 pm to register for an appointment. Business owners can also call the hotline and provide a list of employees over the phone. Similar to testing for Hoboken residents, employees can either walk or drive to the testing site at the designated time. Proof of employment at a Hoboken business, such as a copy of a paycheck, tax form, or signed letter from the owner of a business, is required at the time of testing. If an employee does not have health insurance, the City will pay for the cost of the test. Walk ins are not permitted.

“Hoboken is committed to providing businesses with the tools they need to safely re-open,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Access to COVID-19 testing for employees is a critical component of restoring confidence to customers and lending a helping hand to our small businesses during this pandemic. I’m thrilled our partnership with Riverside continues to provide a major benefit for our City and thank Dr. Brahmbhatt and his staff for the continued support, and to members of the Hoboken Economic Recovery Task Force for providing this excellent suggestion.”

“We at Riverside Medical Group understand that COVID-19 testing plays an integral part in reopening our cities and towns as safely as we can along with following other safety precautions and continued social distancing,” said Dr. Gaurang Brahmbhatt from Riverside Medical Group. “With the ongoing support of the Mayor and the City of Hoboken, Riverside will continue offering testing to residents and business owners as we work together to reopen as well as fight this pandemic.”

“Our small businesses are what make Hoboken a special place, and I am happy to support this initiative to expand testing to all of our hardworking employees,” said Council President Giattino. “When Hoboken re-opens, we are making sure our businesses can do so with as many safety precautions as possible. We appreciate the services provided by Riverside Medical and are glad for the help for our mom and pop stores.”

“We plan to do everything we can to keep our staff and our customers safe once we reopen,” said Meghan Lukin, owner of Washington General, and member of the Hoboken Economic Recovery Task Force. “The option for testing adds another layer of comfort as we get back to business in this new norm. We’re thankful for the support of the City, as we know the retail community is about to embark on a whole new set of challenges in the reopening phase.”

Riverside Medical has provided COVID-19 testing to over 2,000 Hoboken residents since early April. COVID-19 testing is available to all Hoboken residents with or without symptoms, with results provided within 15 minutes on site after receiving the test.

Last week, Mayor Bhalla and the Hoboken City Council introduced a comprehensive Business Recovery Plan to reshape the utilization of streets and sidewalks in order to expand outdoor capacity for small businesses. The plan permits businesses to expand outdoor space on the sidewalk, create shared spaces, and creates a framework for businesses to operate further into the street during scheduled road closures.

While Hoboken is preparing for an eventual re-opening, the exact timeline and guidelines will be provided by Governor Murphy and the State of New Jersey.