Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced that he strongly and vehemently urges any business owners or employees who have contact with the public be tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible, especially now as reopening plans begin to take shape.
In making the recommendation, the Mayor cited the recent story out of Springfield, Mo., where a COVID-19 positive hair stylist infected 91 people in one week after the state allowed her shop to open.
“That is scary,” Mayor Baraka said. “And when you think how many people those 91 people infected, and how many people they infected, you can see how quickly this can get out of control.
That would be deadly for our city. I'm asking everyone that comes in contact with the public to please get tested to assure their safety as well as your own.”
The City has tested all of its frontline workers and is beginning to test all employees. Newark Public Schools and Newark Housing Authority employees are also being tested. Mayor Baraka said businesses should take the same responsibility to keep the public safe.
The Mayor also asks business customers to exercise their “absolute right” to ask business employees if they have been tested.
“We want to make that part of the culture,” Mayor Baraka said. “The public has the absolute right to ask if people serving them – the barbers, the hair salons, the nail salons, cashiers at the grocery store – if they have been tested.
I think it’s extremely important that our people have information to make decisions about where they want to buy their food or get their hair cut, so we can safely and cautiously reopen the City.”
Mayor Baraka introduced a color-coded system at a press conference Thursday that would rate the risk factor of businesses and public places, with red being the highest risk, yellow being moderate, and green the least risk, to “educate and inform” the public. He also said businesses must submit stringent and thorough safety plans before being allowed to open.
The business application will be available on the City’s website and at www.newarkcovid19.com beginning Tuesday, May 26.
Testing for all Newark residents is available at the following locations on Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
Ann Street School
30 Ann Street
Call 973-988-5511
Walk-up only
Sharpe James/Kenneth A. Gibson Recreation and Aquatic Center
226 Rome Street
Call 862-257-0718
Walk-up only
Boylan Street Recreation Center
916 South Orange Avenue
Call 862-257-0718
Walk-up only
Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Rink
Park Avenue entrance
Call 973-988-5511
Walk-up and drive through
Cityplex 12
360-394 Springfield Avenue
Call 862-257-0718 or email covidtesting@sunrisegoc.com
Walk-up and drive through
155 Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Call 862-257-0718 or email covidtesting@sunrisegoc.com
Walk-up only
Walk-up testing will also be available at the Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center located at 394 University Ave on Tuesday, May 26, and Thursday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Health Center parking lot located on the corner of Washington and William Streets. The week of June 1, testing will be available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Health Center parking lot.
Testing at this location will be performed using the anterior nasal swab, which is quick and painless.
If anyone has questions about this site or process, they can call 800-734-7083. Registration is not needed.
Testing at all of the sites is reserved for NEWARK RESIDENTS only and residents do not have to have symptoms.
Appointments at all locations (except Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center) are not required but recommended. Testing is free at all sites; residents with insurance should bring their insurance cards with them.