The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services advises residents to continue to take precautions due to the rise in cases in New Jersey on a daily basis. Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Salem County. One of our top priorities is to provide our residents with the most factual and up to date guidance to minimize discrepancies among circulating information; therefore, we will continue to update our Facebook page daily.

The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services urges residents to avoid large community gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks, as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, residents should also consider limiting unnecessary travel and outings between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. to remain aligned with Governor Murphy’s curfew remarks made on March 16, 2020. Furthermore, residents should be aware that movie theaters, gyms, and casinos will be temporarily closed effective 8 p.m. March 16, 2020 and restaurants and bars will be take-out and delivery only. “It is our primary mission here in Salem County to safeguard the health and well-being of our residents. I am confident that the Salem County Department of Health is working diligently to ensure the most up to date guidance and education is available across the county” said Freeholder Mickey Ostrum. We recognize the situation regarding COVID-19 is rapidly evolving and are continuing to follow guidance from the CDC and New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH).

Additional precautions that can be taken are: effective hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or, if unavailable, with an alcohol based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol; staying home if you are sick; limiting contact with others as much as possible; avoiding touching your face; and practicing routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. Symptoms of COVID-19 are consistent with those of a respiratory illness such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can appear anywhere from two to fourteen days after exposure.

The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services urges residents to follow these steps if they are currently experiencing symptoms:

• If symptoms are mild, call ahead before visiting your primary care physician.
• If symptoms are severe, call ahead before visiting the emergency department at your local hospital.

For more information and the most up to date case count in New Jersey, visit the Salem County Department of Health and Human Services website https://health.salemcountynj.gov/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/, the Salem County Department of Health Facebook page, or the NJDOH website https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml.

For public inquiries and questions regarding COVID-19, call the 24/7 NJDOH hotline at 1-800-222-1222.