COVID-19
Coronavirus Messages from Mayor Brennan
April 7, 2020 - The pandemic of coronavirus is causing disruption to the lives of people throughout the world and Merchantville is no different. I want to assure the residents of Merchantville that throughout this pandemic, the Borough is committed to and has put into place certain contingencies to ensure the continued provision of essential services to the community including police, fire and other first responders, along with public works and other essential services. We are working with our partners at the County, State and Federal levels on contingency planning to obtain resources and to implement effective planning. Residents should rest assured that those services will continue, and residents can expect the same exceptional service and response from those essential services during this unprecedented time. Residents are also reminded that our community is built upon our relationships and now is a time to show courage and calm, avoid panic and care for ourselves and our neighbors by taking measured actions such as social distancing.
Coronavirus Message from Mayor Brennan - March 13, 2020
Closure of Borough Facilities to the Public - March 15, 2020
Additional Closures and Actions - March 19, 2020
Letter to the Business Community - March 21, 2020
Small Business Resources - March 21, 2020
Help Our Business Community - March 21, 2020
A Message to the Community - March 30, 2020
Mayor's Covid-19 Message - April 6, 2020
Borough Park Closures and Additional Actions - April 7, 2020
The Department of Health makes daily announcements about new novel coronavirus cases and deaths in Camden County. Between March 27th - April 24th Merchantville identified sixteen (16) Covid-19 positive cases fortunately, none resulting in death. The breakdown by age of female residents is: 1 in her 30s; 2 in their 40s; 4 in their 50s; and, 2 in their 60s. The breakdown by age of male residents is: 2 in their 40s; 4 in their…
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"Artists in the time of Coronavirus" is an ongoing virtual exhibition published by Artblog - an independent online publication that fosters dialog and community through commentary and discussion about art and culture. Their primary focus is on the Philadelphia region and they have received over 200 submissions. Their twentieth post of the series included artists, Gerri Spilka and Laura Lyn Stern, both currently on exhibit at Eilandarts in Merchantville, NJ. If you want to participate,…
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As government leaders consider how to reopen society, officials in many countries have latched onto the idea of issuing “immunity passports” to people who have recovered from COVID-19. In the United States, immunity passports could “have some merit under certain circumstances,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN this month. However, the concept of immunity passports raises other concerns as they could become a condition for traveling…
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On April 24, 2020 the number of American deaths from Covid-19 infections surpassed 50,000 and, as the month of April draws to a close, testing has yet to ramp up to the levels experts say would give an accurate picture of the spread of the coronavirus. A survey of infectious 21 disease modeling experts and researchers by Thomas McAndrew and Nicholas Reich at the University of Massachusetts Amherst makes for sobering reading. The experts predict…
Camden County's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will be delivering approximately 25,000 pieces of assorted personal protective equipment (PPE) - including protective gowns, N-95 masks, surgical masks, protective gloves, face shields, and hand sanitizer - from its inventory to local OEMs who will then distribute directly to 18 long-term care facilities in Camden County. According to Freeholder Jon Young, last week the County Health Department took over inspections of 56 long-term care facilities from the…
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While a safe, effective vaccine is still more than a year away, researchers are rushing to repurpose existing drugs and non-drug therapies as well as testing promising experimental drugs that were already in clinical trials. More than 70 vaccine are also in development around the world, with at least five in preliminary testing in people - one in Seattle and one in China. Reuters offers a look at some of the experimental drugs, vaccines and…
The community shared lots of "thank-yous" on social media for the efforts of the Merchantville Police Department and Merchantville Fire Department - Niagara Fire Company in bringing the Easter Bunny around town on Saturday, April 11th to compensate for the Covid-19 cancellation of our annual Egg Hunt. As promised, on a beautiful afternoon, the EB tour visited every street in Merchantville bringing kids and parents outside - while maintaining a safe social distance - to…
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In addition to the Food Bank of SJ we are very fortunate to have several local food pantries that serve community needs. The Dolores Clark Food Pantry, located at Grace Episcopal Church, operates from 12:00-2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and clients in need can drive up the church driveway, receive a pre-filled bag of groceries, and drive out of the parking lot all while keeping a safe distance. The Linda Knaus Food Pantry, located at Temple…
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If safety comes first, cuteness definitely comes second when it comes to a few precious photos coming out of Thailand during the coronavirus pandemic. Babies born at several of the Thailand’s hospitals are sharing photos of newborns who have been fitted with special plastic face shields - mini visors - to protect them from any risk of contamination from the coronavirus. The masks are designed to stop any droplets with the virus from coughs or…
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New Jersey health officials have been reporting statewide totals and providing a county-by-county breakdown, but some county and municipal health departments have been providing additional detail, including town-by-town case numbers. As of 4/10/20 Merchantville has 9 Covid-19 positive cases. Our adjoining towns are Cherry Hill with 181 cases and 4 deaths, Camden with 162 cases and 3 deaths and, Pennsauken with 93 cases and 1 death. Nearby are Collingswood with 17 cases, Haddon Township with…
First lady Tammy Murphy said the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, known as NJPRF, was established “to collect donations and distribute funds. One hundred percent of donations received online by NJPRF will be used to fight the medical, social, and economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable, supporting organizations that provide essential services and aiding those on the front line of the pandemic. NJPRF is proud to be hosted by the Community Foundation…
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Mike Denardo from KYW Newsradio interviewed Randy Oakford from Aunt Charlotte's Candies yesterday to talk about how the pandemic is impacting this year's Easter sales. Oakford said 40 percent of the store's annual revenue normally comes at Easter and the need to "stay-at-home" resulted in laying off two-thirds of her 35-person staff. However, although the volume of sales are down, customers have been very loyal and they have been busier than ever filling phone orders…
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For Christians, Easter is the holiest of holidays. One tradition - receiving communion - won’t be possible this year for many followers because of the coronavirus crisis. But yesterday 3 CBS Philly visited a South Jersey church that found a way for followers to continue the meaningful custom. With Easter just days away, High Place Church in Merchantville got creative in how they celebrate and worship this year due to COVID-19. “We determined you know…
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Thanks to Mr. Holliday, ever ready with great idea for students and staff, St. Peter School launched "Project COVID19 Time Capsule". Students will complete a booklet of questions about how they spent this time and when school reopens and they return their time capsules will be planted to commemorate this historic moment in the school's history. Students are part of something special here. How will SPS students view you 50 years from today?
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