· STORM UPDATE

• Snow is beginning to come down and we expect the most tonight, anywhere from 10-14 inches.
• Gov Murphy has issued a State of Emergency for the State of New Jersey – and we have issued a State of Emergency in Newark due to the impending winter storm and it will be effective for 24 hours (unless it needs to be extended).

Details of our State of Emergency:

• The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will activate all emergency plans in place to address the impending winter storm
• We will ensure that all roads are safe to the public to the extent that travel is required in the winter storm and will remove all abandoned or parked cars if necessary for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
• Travel shall be limited during winter storm to avoid creating life-threatening circumstances and to allow for the safe cleanup of the streets.
• All residents and City workers delivering services must adhere to all State and Municipal Executive Orders that are in place to combat the COVID-19 Emergency.

· ALSO TO NOTE ABOUT THE STORM

• City of Newark government buildings will be closed tomorrow and there will be no garbage collection tonight.
• Please observe the “No Parking on Snow Covered Roadways” signs – the ordinance will be enforced.
• Park your car in your driveway or in a nearby Newark Board of Education property:
• North Ward: Barringer HS, Rafael Hernandez, Technology HS
• Central Ward: Camden/Camden Middle
• East Ward: Ann St., Wilson Ave.
• South Ward: George Washington Carver, LA Spencer
• West Ward: West Side HS, Speedway
• Keep shoveled snow off fire hydrants and out of street.
• If you experience a power outage, use flashlights instead of candles.
• For area shelters, call the Division of Social/Homeless Services at (973) 877-9484, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or (973) 877-9481 after regular business hours.
• For all non-emergency weather-related matters, please contact the Department of Public Safety at: (973) 733-6000. For emergencies, dial 911.

· NJ TRANSIT

• Bus service ends at 6:00PM
• Last train out of New York Penn Station to Newark is 7:30PM
• Light rail ends at 8:00PM
• For the most current NJ TRANSIT updates, go to: www.njtransit.com/mytransit to have travel advisories sent to your smartphone
• Service information is also available by calling: (973) 275-5555

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· TESTING SITES (CANCELED AND CLOSED FOR STORM)

• Due to the storm, the Peshine Avenue School pop-up testing site is canceled for today.
• And all of our testing sites will be closed on Thursday, except the following two St. James Health locations:
• 332 South 8th Street (phone 973-245-0060)
• 228 Lafayette Street (phone 973-789-8111)

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· HERE ARE OUR NUMBERS TODAY

NEWARK:

• 315 more positive cases since Monday, December 14 and a total of 11,933 since June 30th.(Monday to Tuesday, there were 114 more; Tuesday to today, there are 201 more)
• 3 more deaths since Monday; a total of 108 since June 30th.(Monday to Tuesday, there was 1 more; Tuesday to today, there are 2 more)

NJ:

• A total of 415,075 positive cases, which is 9,627 more since Monday.(Monday to Tuesday, there were 3,966 more; Tuesday to today, there are 5,661 more)
• A total of 16,095 deaths, which is 188 more since Monday.(Monday to Tuesday, there were 97 more; Tuesday to today, there are 91 more)

· VACCINE

• We put out a statement today about the vaccine coming to Newark.
• NJ’s first COVID-19 vaccines were administered to University Hospital medical staff in Newark yesterday morning.
• Essex County will open five vaccination facilities, including Essex County College gymnasium and the Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology in Newark, to front-line workers and people with medical vulnerabilities.
• In addition to the County’s five sites, we are working to set up two to three additional sites, for when the vaccine becomes available to the City in the coming days. More information to come.
• And it’s important to listen to credible information—Contrary to some false social media claims,
• You will not be forced to take the vaccine
• Nor have to pay for it
• Nor be paid to take it
• The vaccine will be free and the decision to take it rests with each individual.
• Also, research COVID-19 therapies.

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SHOUT OUT TO DJ BANKY HYPE, DJ WALLAH AND OTHERS

• Message from DJ Banky Hype:

“…I just wanted to let you guys know that I have not thrown any parties during this pandemic shut down. Being a resident of the city I totally do understand the risk and areas of concern. This is the main reason why my partners and I have decided to stick with doing the drive in movies to help avoid the spread.”- Jahmari “Banky Hype” Warren

• DJ Wallah
• Adega Bar and Grill

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·REMINDER: EMERGENCY AID PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND TENANTS

• Applications for the emergency aid programs for small businesses and tenants seriously hurt by COVID-19 are available tomorrow.
• Go to NEWARKCOVID19.com and the deadline to apply for both programs is Thursday, December 31 at 5PM.

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·CLOSING AND BLESSINGS

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