Dear Neighbors,

I was advised on Wednesday that we have three more confirmed positive cases of Coronavirus in our town - a 32 year old male, a 38 year old female, and an 84 year old female. We pray for a complete and speedy recovery for each of them.

In these troubling times, there are also glimmers of strength and creativity.

I'm so pleased to see the many ways our houses of worship have taken this situation seriously and made radical changes to their provision of religious services, with creative uses of videoconferencing to offer sermons, religious classes, and even youth programs. They've found ways to inspire us spiritually and practically.

Our retailers, big and small, have shown great flexibility with curbside pick-ups and home delivery, or spacing out the number of customers allowed inside stores. Stop & Shop has instituted plexiglass barriers at check-out counters. There is plastic sheeting at the counter at the post office, and free delivery of medications at our drug stores. I thank them all for rising to the occasion so well.

Stay healthy. Stay home. Stay 6' apart. We will get through this.

Dear neighbors,

I learned today of two more confirmed cases of Coronavirus in our community - a 57 year old female and a 61 year old male. We pray that they experience a prompt and complete recovery.This takes the total count of confirmed Highland Park cases to 18.

I am encouraged when I see so many of you working together to keep our neighbors safe and healthy by staying home and sticking with social distancing of 6' or more when you must venture out of your homes. Stick with the plan and we'll get through this faster.

The Middlesex County Office of Health Services is the lead agency for investigating cases of COVID-19 in our area. We rely on them for guidance and confirmation of cases. We advise all residents to monitor their health and consult their primary care physician if they are exhibiting symptoms.

If you know of any resident staying at home and needing assistance from our COPE volunteers, please email or call ( 732) 819-0052.

If anyone has questions about COVID-19, they can call the County's 24 hour hotline, 1-800-222-1222. They can also visit the Middlesex County Office of Health Service's COVID-19 website.


Gayle Brill Mittler
Mayor, Borough of Highland Park

To make an appointment to be tested for COVID-19 at the County’s drive-thru testing site, please visit the Middlesex County website to fill out a form. All Middlesex County buildings will remain closed to the general public until further notice.

Site open to Middlesex Cty residents by appointment

Middlesex County officials, in partnership with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, will open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on Wednesday, April 1 at New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Kilmer Vehicle Inspection Center, 33 Kilmer Road, Edison.

The site will be open 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Those wishing to be tested will be required to make an appointment and meet a set of criteria. Those wishing to make an appointment can begin doing so at 10 am on Tuesday, March 31.

To receive testing, you must be a Middlesex County resident (valid driver’s license or state issued identification is required), make an appointment online or via phone, as well as either have a valid doctor’s prescription or be exhibiting symptoms which include: fever 100.4 degrees or higher (99.6 degrees for people 65 years and older); respiratory symptoms; and/or shortness of breath.

Middlesex County residents that have symptoms and would like to be tested, should visitMiddlesexcountynj.gov/COVID19testing to register and receive a time to report to the testing site. Registrants must bring the completed registration form and a valid driver’s license or state issued ID to the testing site.

If the resident does not have access to the internet or having connectivity problems, they are instructed to call 732-745-3100 to make an appointment (from 10 am to 4 pm). Appointments will only be made the day prior to a testing day.

If the person is not a Middlesex County resident, does not have a scheduled appointment, or does not have symptoms, they will not receive testing.

The County has been working with the State of New Jersey, as well as a number of private labs to secure the number of test kits needed to sustain a testing center. The collected specimens will be sent to one of the approved laboratories, and positive results will be reported within 2-5 business days.

Residents can visit the Middlesex County website at www.middlesexcountynj.gov/COVID-19 or contact 2-1-1 for information about the testing site, as well as call the Middlesex County Office of Health Services at 732-745-3100.

If residents have questions about COVID-19 they can call 2-1-1 or the 24-hour public hotline at 1-800-962-1252 or 1-800-222-1222, or text NJCOVID to 898-211. They can also text a zip code to 898-211 for live text assistance.

If individuals are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about COVID-19, they can call the New Jersey Department of Human Services toll free “warm line” at 877-294-HELP (4357); TTY 877-294-4356.

Dear residents,

I learned today that Highland Park has one new confirmed case of Coronavirus, an 82 year old male who tested positive. Our prayers go to him and his family. This brings the current, confirmed total of cases in our Borough to sixteen.

I also learned that last week an officer in our police department tested position for the Coronavirus (the results came in over the weekend). The officer has been self-quarantined since last week and is now feeling much better. The HP PD has taken all responsible precautions, including a thorough decontamination of their building and squad cars.

The Middlesex County Office of Health Services is the lead agency for investigating cases of COVID-19 in our area. We rely on them for guidance and confirmation of cases. We advise all residents to monitor their health and consult their primary care physician if they are exhibiting symptoms.

If you know of any resident staying at home and needing assistance from our COPE volunteers, please email HPCOPES@hpboro.com or call (732) 819-0052.

If anyone has questions about COVID-19, they can call the County's 24 hour hotline, 1-800-222-1222. They can also visit the Middlesex County Office of Health Service's COVID-19 website, at:
www.middlesexcountynj.gov/COVID-19

Dear Neighbors-

I have a brief update for you.

I learned from the Middlesex County Office of Health Services that over the weekend three more residents of Highland Park tested positive for the COVID-19 Coronavirus. They range in age from 25-89 years old. Our prayers are with them and their families. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Highland Park up to 15.

The Middlesex County Office of Health Services is the lead agency for investigating cases of COVID-19 in our area. We rely on them for guidance and confirmation of cases. We advise all residents to monitor their health and consult their primary care physician if they are exhibiting symptoms.

If you know of any resident staying at home and needing assistance from our COPE volunteers, please email HPCOPES@hpboro.com or call (732) 819-0052.

If anyone has questions about COVID-19, they can call the County's 24 hour hotline, 1-800-222-1222. They can also visit the Middlesex County Office of Health Service's COVID-19 website, at:
www.middlesexcountynj.gov/COVID-19

To the Highland Park Community:

Due to ongoing public health concerns, all Borough buildings will remain closed to the public until further notice. This includes Borough Hall, the Dept of Public Works office and yard, the Community Center, Zone 6/Teen Center, and the Library.

Borough staff will be at work and will be ready to help residents by telephone or email during regular hours. If you don’t have the phone number for the department you need, you can call the main number at (732) 572-3400 and use the voice directory or utilize the staff directory.

If there is a time-sensitive matter that needs immediate attention, appointment-only visits to the building may be scheduled on a limited basis.

To make a tax or water/sewer payment, please use the online portal. You can leave payments (no cash please!) in the drop box outside the front door of Borough Hall at 221 So. 5th Avenue.

The Municipal Courts will be closed until further notice. Court staff will still be present daily and will respond to all phone calls and emails during regular business hours.

Lastly, we urge all residents to continue to follow the CDC guidance on social distancing and personal care to help our community get through this emergency.

Thank you and stay well.

Borough Administration.
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BUSINESS HOURS:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8 AM to 4 PM

Tuesday: 8 AM to 6 PM

Friday: 8 AM to 1 PM

Until further notice, the Borough will not be enforcing its “Bring Your Own Bag” ordinance. An increased demand for food and other necessity items coupled with the global shortage of paper bags has left some retailers in short supply of compliant checkout bags. Therefore, until production levels are back to normal, retailers will be allowed to provide customers with plastic bags at point of sale at no cost.

Businesses and shoppers with questions about this can contact Emma Missey.

Earlier this evening I learned from the Middlesex County Office of Health Services that six more residents of Highland Park tested positive for the COVID-19 Coronavirus. They range in age from 31 to 65 years old. Our prayers are with them and their families.

Recognizing the economic hardship a lot of individuals and families are facing during this public health crisis, Governor Murphy's Office launched a new online portal to connect New Jersey residents who are now out of work with jobs in critical industries responding to COVID-19.

The website is a one-stop-shop for finding a company based on your location, skillset, and job experience. To access this site, go to:
https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/

 

Want to know if a Highland Park business is open, offering take-out or delivery, accepts online orders, if their hours have changed, or other details during this very unusual time?

You can find out here.

Thank you to Main Street Highland Park for preparing this constantly updating & very helpful list for us all.

The Highland Park Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the Highland Park Mayor’s Office, is pleased to announce the launch of the Civilian Outreach Program Exercise (COPE) to address the needs of residents who are most vulnerable during this state of emergency. 

The COPE volunteers will draw on the experience & expertise of the existing Highland Park CERT Team to lead and coordinate its staff and additional community volunteers. It will also benefit from the CERT team's direct links to Middlesex County officials and County issued best practices dealing with COVID-19.

COPE will offer the following support services to residents who need assistance and do not have any other means of support. It will also assist anyone who may be or feel isolated during the current travel restrictions: 

* Daily or regular “well” calls via phone or Internet

* Delivery of food, prescriptions, other essential items

* Telephone, texting, or email conversation to promote social interaction

* Arranging transport to medical appointments if necessary

* Providing support to anyone who may be quarantined.

If you need assistance from COPE, please email the coordinator at HPCOPES@hpboro.com or call 732-819-0052. 

If you would like to volunteer to provide assistance to COPE participants please email the OEM Deputy Coordinators at GPalumbo@hpboro.com and JCulver@hpboro.com and provide your name and phone number.