The following is a message from Director of Operations and Management Mr. Vincent Rouse regarding Legionnaires case at Newark Seth Boyden Senior Building:
"The Newark Housing Authority is always concerned about the quality of life and the health and safety of our residents.
The resident referred to in the recent RLS Media article is no longer in the hospital and has been out of the medical center for weeks. The resident is well and moving forward healthy. Rouse did tell RLS Media that the man had not returned to the building.
When we were notified of this health and safety issue, we immediately notified the city of Newark and state health offices, who have been partnering with us to correctly inform the residents on what Legionella is and what to do until the findings have been abated.
When Residents were informed, they had questions that were answered by the health office and how to conduct themselves while using the water until further notice.
NHA has and will continue to provide cases of water for residents. A consultant group that the state has suggested will come and flush the water system using the chemical they run through to get rid of any bacteria.
When this process takes place, the water system will have to be shut down for at least 12-24 hours,
We will also provide new shower heads with filters for all residents in building 120.
The residents were encouraged to get tested at the Newark Health Office. If there are residents who do not have transportation to the health office, we will provide them with transportation to the city health office to get tested.
There have been no other cases of Legionella reported at the site.
We care for our residents, so NHA, along with our consultants, City Health Department and State Health Department, will be monitoring it very closely and will be available to provide information as we proceed to have this abated".
Elevator issue: "A new light was placed in the elevator Friday. We are encouraging the residents not to tamper with the light in the elevator so that we do not have to continue to replace it. The other elevator is waiting on a part to come so it can be repaired and put back in commission".
NOTE: Several earlier attempts to reach officials at Newark Housing Authority and The City of Newark Communications Department regarding the issue were unsuccessful and unreturned.