• IN THE NEWS:

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o PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT STRONG MEASURES TO PREVENT SPREAD OF SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19:

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 Effective Tuesday, October 27, we will take the following measures (for the next 2 weeks and will then re-assess after Tuesday, November 10th).

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 All stores except supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations will close at 8 p.m. every day. They will be allowed to deliver and take out with no indoor ordering or lines.

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 All restaurants, bars, etc. must close their indoor service at 8 p.m. and outdoor service at 11 p.m. They must also take temperatures of all patrons coming inside and ask them have they been in touch with anyone with COVID-19.

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 All barbershops, beauty parlors, nail salons, and related establishments must have appointments only and no waiting inside.

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 All gyms must clean and sanitize for the first 30 minutes of each hour. During that time, people can stay inside or return after the cleaning. Everyone must wear masks.

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 Faith based activity need to adhere to the number of persons allowed inside and must have on masks the entire time

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 All indoor establishments must have sanitizer available.

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 City Hall will be open by appointment only.

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 The City will close all recreation centers to everything but school-related programs for essential employees.

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 All sports activities and open park practices and games in the East Ward are canceled.

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 The City is encouraging all of our employees to be tested immediately and periodically thereafter.

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 Newark is discouraging all parties, indoor and outdoor festivals, and large family gatherings until further notice.

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 Also, Halloween trick or treating is strongly discouraged. Opt for decorating and spending time with the people in your household. Rely on virtual events. Now is the time to practice every safe measure possible—and traditional Halloween, Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday events can’t happen how we are used to experiencing them.

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• HERE ARE OUR NUMBERS TODAY

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o NEWARK:

 542 more positive cases than Friday, and a total of 2,743 since June 30th.

 No new deaths; a total of 42 since June 30th.

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o NJ:

 A total of 228,468 positive cases, which is 5,245 more than Friday, October 23.

 A total of 14,496 deaths, which is 12 more since Friday, October 23.

• IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TEST POSITIVITY RATES (AS OF OCT 18) USING A 3-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE:

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 Newark 11.25% as of Oct 18 (vs Oct 11 was 7.4%)

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 NJ 5.28% as of Oct 18 (vs Oct 11 was 4.35%)

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• LARGE GATHERINGS HOTLINE

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 Continue to call the hotline to report large gatherings, large groups not practicing social distancing, and crowds not wearing masks.

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 973-969-1122

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• POP-UP TESTING SITES (3:30PM-8PM)

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 Monday, October 26:

6th Ave & North 9th Street

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 Wednesday, October 28:

Peshine Avenue School (433 Peshine Avenue)

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 Friday, October 30:

Abington Avenue School (209 Abington Ave)

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 Monday, November 2:

South Street School (44 Herman Street)

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 Wednesday, November 4:

220 Mount Vernon Place

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 Friday, November 6:

West Side High (403 South Orange Ave.)

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• 8 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY!

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 8 MORE DAYS! Be sure to get out and vote!

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 You can mail-in your ballot,

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 Place it in a secure ballot drop box,

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 Deliver it to the Essex County Board of Elections office,

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 Bring to your polling location on Election Day,

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 Or vote by provision ballot at your polling location on Election Day, November 3rd (polls open until 8PM)

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 Visit VOTE.NJ.GOV for more information

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 Or call 1-877-NJ-VOTER (1-877-658-6837)

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• FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM

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 Our weekly food relief distribution ends this Wednesday. If you need food or know someone who does, please let us know!

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• BE STILL MONDAYS

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 Be Still Mondays is in effect today and then tomorrow the new measures begin.

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 Everything must close at 7PM on Monday, except grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations.

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• CLOSING AND BLESSINGS – We will get through this together – be encouraged.