COVID-19 Update from Mayor Manzo – 4/08/2020

Mayor Lou Manzo provides regular updates on the COVID-19 crisis. This is the 4/8 update.

Dear Residents & Business Owners:

I’ll begin today’s update with the numbers once again. Statewide, there been 47,437 positive tests for the Coronavirus, 102,020 negatives and 1,504 deaths. As of 1PM today, Gloucester County has had 343 positive tests and 1,528 negatives. I am saddened to announce the passing of 3 more county residents, bringing the county total to 6. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and loved ones of all the victims of the COVID-19 virus. Here in Harrison, we now have had 13 positive tests in total, with 1 additional case coming in the last 48 hours. 

As previously stated, the Gloucester County Drive-Thru Testing Center went operational today at Rowan College at South Jersey (RCSJ). I will report that activity once it’s conveyed. This was a one-day event with the next designated testing day to be announced shortly.

HONORING OUR LOCAL FRONTLINE WORKERS

As we seek to honor our frontline healthcare workers, you’ll note that we have placed our digital signs in town displaying messages of support. We also recently announced the new Heroes in the Hill initiative. We are excited to see the work of our community’s children as they say “thank you” to the healthcare heroes in their own special way. If you missed it, all the details and instruction is available on the Harrison Township website.

SHOWING SUPPORT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

Speaking of new initiatives, from the beginning of this crisis, we have been overwhelmed by the local business community’s eagerness to help. Equally, we have been working on ways to support them. I am proud to announce our Digital Main Street initiative, aimed at supporting businesses in our community. Digital Main Street will provide opportunities and incentives for you, our residents, to support businesses that are going above and beyond to remain operational during the crisis.

The program will have two separate initiatives in April; one focusing on our restaurants and the other on retail businesses. We know that our residents always seek a way to patronize locally and Digital Main Street provides the ability to do that even while we navigate the Coronavirus. The official press release provides more details for you. 

COMMITTEEWOMAN JULIE DELAURENTIS VIDEO UPDATE

Lastly, we recently added a video component to our communication platform with the first interview taking place with Dr. Missy Peretti, Harrison Township Schools Superintendent. Today, we offer you access to our second installment of that video series. Please take a few minutes to watch the video with Committeewoman Julie DeLaurentis, as we discuss the Emergency Management Outreach Program.

We appreciate everyone’s effort to help all of us slow the spread of this virus by practicing the social distancing protocols. Stay the course, one day at a time, we will get through this together. Harrison Strong!

Together for Harrison Township,
Lou Manzo
Your Mayor