Newark Coronavirus Updates: Face Masks, 'Be Still Mondays'
Newark police officers handed out 1,200 free face masks to residents. Mayor Ras Baraka launched "Be Still Mondays" to slow COVID-19.
Apr 12, 2020 6:06 pm ET
Newark police officers handed out 1,200 free face masks to residents on April 10. (Photos: Newark Department of Public Safety)
NEWARK, NJ — Newark officials are rolling out a new initiative in an attempt to get people to stay home and slow the spread of the new coronavirus: "Be Still Mondays."
Earlier this week, Mayor Ras Baraka announced the city will launch its first Be Still Monday on April 13. Events will continue each week until May 11.
According to city officials, Be Still Mondays aren't an executive order –
like the ones Baraka and Gov. Phil Murphy have issued recently. Instead, they're a "request" that discourages all businesses except for health, safety and welfare emergency services to close.
The city would like businesses deemed "essential" by prior executive orders, such as food stores and pharmacies, to also close, as well as downtown corporations and manufacturing companies, Baraka stated.
"We want to shut down the whole city," Baraka said. "We're sending out letters to all businesses asking them to close. We are saying if you're not a cop or a fireman or a nurse, or other frontline medical workers, stay home."
There are some exemptions, officials said. For example, businesses that provide food and shelter for the homeless population may operate. However, the city is asking soup kitchens to limit their operations from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As of Sunday morning, there have been 2,669 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Newark, with 132 deaths linked to the disease, according to Essex County officials.
FREE FACE MASKS
On Friday, Newark police – with Baraka's aid – spearheaded an effort to hand out about 1,200 free face masks to local residents.
Acting on the
CDC's recent recommendation, Newark officials are asking residents to
wear face masks or cloth coverings when they go out in public or visit local stores for essential shopping.
"Unfortunately, we can't provide a mask to everyone in Newark, but hopefully this will help some and encourage others to wear face covers," Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.
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