Coronavirus infections are on the rise in Jersey City. To help control the spread, city officials are launching a MaskUpJC campaign encouraging residents to mask up and remain vigilant.
As part of the new campaign, Jersey City will send out five city-branded, 3-ply masks to all 120,000 households throughout Jersey City. (The masks will be sent via mail). In addition, the city will distribute 2,000 “MASK UP to Enter” stickers that businesses can put on their windows to encourage customer compliance.
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“Absent a vaccine, wearing a mask is one of the few proven effective ways we can dramatically decrease transmission,” said Mayor Steven Fulop via press release. “My top priority is to protect our residents’ health and safety, and the goal is to avoid another surge which would also inflict further damage on people’s mental health, our struggling businesses, and the local economy.”
Beyond the free masks, Jersey City’s Health and Human Services Department is also expanding access to COVID-19 testing and flu vaccines. Mobile testing units are being deployed throughout the city to the most vulnerable populations including senior residents and public housing sites. Rapid testing will also soon be available at popup sites citywide, with a 15 minute turnaround time for results.
City health officials are targeting communities with higher positivity rates in order to identify, quarantine, and treat those with the virus. Late last month, a new mobile testing site was deployed to the corner of Newark Avenue and Jersey Avenue in downtown Jersey City.
