There’s a lot of news and unfortunately most of it is not good. Here’s what you need to know for Friday, April 17:
1: We’re not out of the woods yet. Confirmed coronavirus cases in Jersey City continue to rise and now stand at 3,194 (up from 2,972). The city experienced a spike of 222 new cases on April 16 (the biggest jump since April 7). April 16 also saw the highest one-day spike in deaths (75 cases), which brings the city’s total COVID-19-related deaths to 231 (up from 156). —COVID-19 JC Stats
2: Major restaurant chains have started to receive government-backed loans that Congress created to protect small businesses, reports Politico. Ruth’s Hospitality Group has received $20 million and Potbelly Corp. was granted a $10 million loan. Eater also reports that Shake Shack has received $10 million. (Although Danny Meyer recently wrote that they’re returning the loan because they’re “fortunate to now have access to capital that others do not.”) Many small businesses have yet to receive anything from the $350 billion “Paycheck Protection Program,” which was supposed to aid businesses with fewer than 500 employees. (A loophole allows larger chains to qualify because it’s 500 employees per location). —Politico, WSJ (subscription required for WSJ story)
3: New Jersey currently has 75,317 positive COVID-19 cases (up from 71,030) with 3,518 deaths (up from 3,156). —NJ Dept. of Health
- (Note: Some counties are performing more tests than others, which could be contributing to the sharp increase in positive cases).
4: City officials are closing the downtown Jersey City coronavirus testing center at 465 Marin and moving it to the Bethune Center at 140 MLK Drive. Testing at the Bethune will start this Saturday (April 18) and residents must call (201-547-5535) in advance to schedule an appointment. Testing will be free for any JC resident. —NJ.com
Where can you get coronavirus testing in Jersey City?
- Jersey City has two coronavirus testing facilities open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm.
- You must call (201) 547-5535 to make an appointment.
- A walk-up center is located at the JC Fire Headquarters at 465 Marin Boulevard (this site closes end of day Friday and will move to the Bethune Center).
- A drive-thru testing facility is located at 575 Route 440.
How you can help
- Ward E Councilperson James Solomon & team have created a Google doc with ways you can donate/volunteer/help organizations in Jersey City
- We’ve created a listed of grocery delivery services in Jersey City
- Here’s a running list of restaurants offering pickup and delivery
- Here’s a running list of fundraisers for hospitality workers
- We’re also posting restaurant news/menus daily on our IG Stories
Please add Pasta dal Cuore’s retail shop is open (both restaurant and grocery store listings please). Elena is open from Wed to Sat after noon – until 6pm (I think but I’m not sure) – only lets in one person at a time. Fresh pasta, ravioli, sauces (marinara and bolognese) and sweet fresh butter in a tub.
PLEASE PLEASE close the entire Fisk Park !
Way too many people are gathered and where are the masks….
If Newark is closed and Hoboken is closed, why isn’t Jersey City doing the same? There are too many opportunities for movement in and out of Jersey City. Look at how China exercised some control over this virus. We should learn from this.
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