First 2 Positive Coronavirus Cases Reported In Gloucester County

GLASSBORO, NJ — A man and a woman with a history of travel are the first two positive cases of new coronavirus reported in Gloucester County, officials announced on Tuesday. They are both Glassboro residents.

A 59-year-old man is hospitalized at Inspira Medical Center-Mullica Hill and improving as of Tuesday afternoon, officials said. He was high-risk when he was first admitted, according to hospital officials.

He works Radiation Oncology Department at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, hospital officials said. The department is temporarily closed, and patient appointments will be rescheduled.

In accordance with guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control, patients and staff who had direct contact with him have been offered testing and mental health counseling, according to the hospital.

A 57-year-old woman is at home in isolation and continues to be asymptomatic, according to officials. She works in the Surgical Services Departments at Inspira Medical Centers Elmer, Mullica Hill and Vineland.

Inspira is reaching out to patients and staff who had direct contact with her. All patients and staff are being asked to self-quarantine. All patients and staff are being offered an opportunity for testing as well as mental health counseling and guidance on when to contact a health care provider.

Inspira, and health systems across the state, are also taking other measures to keep their patients and employees safe. Inspira has adopted a “no visitation” policy with very limited exceptions. Elective procedures are also being canceled. Visit www.InspiraHealthNetwork.org for more details.

The Gloucester County Department of Health and Human Services is working with the New Jersey Department of Health to conduct a full assessment that includes identifying the contacts these individuals had.

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On Tuesday, county officials also announced that the following additional county buildings will be restricted from public access as of Wednesday:

• 115 Budd Boulevard (Senior Services, Human & Disability Services, Economic Development and Superintendent of Schools Office)
• 1200 N. Delsea Drive - Clayton Public Works Complex (Engineering, Tax Assessing, Planning)
• 2 S. Broad - Woodbury Administration BuildingAll departments are prepared to deliver services to residents through phone, online, and/or email as well as making drop boxes available for required paperwork delivery.

The Gloucester County Department of Health and Human Services has been working with the New Jersey Department of Health and the Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management to prepare for and respond to the virus.

This includes online presentations and workshops for county first responders, healthcare providers, schools, municipal administrators, and other key front line staff. At this time, the overall threat of Covid-19 to Gloucester County residents remains low.

“Everyone can help prevent the spread of Covid-19 by practicing good hand, surface, spacing, and respiratory hygiene, and staying home when feeling ill,” Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said. “Taking these precautions cares for the whole community, especially those most vulnerable. Employers can especially play an important role by encouraging workers to stay home if ill, without penalty.”

In order to ensure Gloucester County residents receive their benefits, officials announced a number of temporary changes that would take effect Wednesday.

“In order to encourage our County residents to engage in social distancing, the Division of Social Services is serving our individuals online and by phone only,” Damminger said.

County residents who want to apply for SNAP food assistance, or cash assistance under the Work First New Jersey program can do so online at NJHelps.org. Interviews will be done by phone.

Work First New Jersey cash assistance clients who are due for their case to be reviewed in March or April automatically will get a 60-day extension. They don't need to come into the office.

Work activity requirements are being suspended temporarily for Work First New Jersey cash assistance clients and SNAP food assistance clients. If your activity is still open and you still want to attend, you may continue to do so.

If you were not assigned an activity or your activity is no longer available or accessible due to the public health situation, you will not lose cash assistance or food assistance for not going to your work activity. This includes the GA 28-day protocol. If you are in the middle of your protocol, you do not need to continue to attend your work activity.

“We are doing everything we can to keep our residents safe during this global health crisis,” Freeholder Liaison Jim Jefferson said.

The office is still open for anyone who needs to come into the office for an appointment or to drop off documents, but officials recommend that people apply online and do not come to the office, if possible. There is a drop box available in the front of the Division of Social Services at 400 Hollydell Drive in Sewell for anyone who needs to drop off paperwork.

For additional information, please contact the Division Social Services at 856-582-9200 or visit www.gloucestercountynj.gov.

The Gloucester County Animal Shelter will halt in-person walk-ins starting Wednesday, and will remain closed to the public until further notice. When it reopens, the shelter will offer discounted adoption fees for animals.

“During this time, it’s important we look out for public health and encourage our residents to self-distance,” Freeholder Deputy Director Frank J. DiMarco said. “Once we feel confident that our residents are safe and healthy, we will open our doors with discounted adoption fees and get some of our furry friends to their forever home.”

The Gloucester County Animal Shelter can be reached at 856-881-2828 or by visiting www.gloucestercountynj.gov.

“Our staff at the Animal Shelter is committed to our animals, and we’re committed to their safety,” Damminger said. “All of our animals will continue to be cared for during this time and receive the same, great care during this time.”

It is not recommended that healthy people wear masks. A mask should only be worn if a healthcare professional recommends it. The Gloucester County Department of Health and Human Services will keep the public informed if this recommendation changes.

"While we know that any case of COVID-19 presents a cause for concern for our residents, we want to emphasize the need to follow personal hygiene guidelines vigilantly, this should not be a cause for panic and the risk to the general public remains low," Gloucester County Health Officer Annmarie Ruiz said. "Our Health Department and the Emergency Response Office has been planning and preparing for the past several weeks for the possibility of a case of COVID-19 in Gloucester County. Residents can rest assured that we are acting swiftly to protect the health of our community.”

“In the interest of public health and following CDC and other state agency guidelines, we are restricting public access to our offices,” Damminger said. “We want to make it very clear that our departments remain open and reachable by telephone or electronic media.”

The drop-boxes will be available in the front of all buildings or in the secured vestibules.The respective departments can be reached by the following phone numbers:

• Department of Economic Development 856-384-6963
• Division of Senior Services 856-384-6900
• Division of Human & Disability Services 856-384-6842
• Superintendent of Schools 856-686-8370
• Department of Administration 856-853-3275
• Treasury & Finance Operations 856-853-3353
• Public Works Department 856-307-6400
• Tax Assessing 856-307-6445

The New Jersey Department of Health has partnered with the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System to open and operate a call center (1-800-222-1222) for public use regarding questions, concerns, and other information related to coronavirus spread in New Jersey. More information is also available on the state's coronavirus webpage.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know