Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds all residents to maintain precautions against spreading or contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus in Union County parks.

“COVID-19 does not disappear outdoors,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Members of the public who visit County parks must continue to protect themselves and others from contracting this deadly disease. Let’s all remain vigilant and look out for one another as we work through this challenging time together.”

People can carry the virus without symptoms and infect others, whether indoors or outside. Park visitors must maintain a safe “social distance” of six feet apart from others in order to reduce the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.

In accordance with statewide stay-at-home regulations ordered by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on March 21, individual activities like walking, jogging, and bicycling are permitted in Union County parks. Activities with immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners are also permitted.

Other gatherings and group activities are prohibited. Visitors are advised to avoid congested areas. When using pathways and trails give way to others, in order to maintain a six-foot distance.

All restrooms in Union County parks are closed in order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Visitors should plan ahead and use facilities at home.

Playgrounds, dog parks, and other recreation areas in County parks are closed in order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, including golf courses and the Trailside Museum & Science Center among other facilities.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

Park visitors please note: Stay on marked trails in order to preserve fragile native habitat in County parks. The taking of plants and other wildlife is prohibited. Share paved paths by keeping to the right unless passing others. Bicycles are permitted only on paved paths. Dogs must be kept on leash. All trash must be carried out where receptacles are full or unavailable. 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Union County, NJ – The Union County Division of Social Services has adjusted the hours of operation for its Elizabeth and Plainfield offices effective immediately, for Union County residents seeking assistance with food, shelter, and Medicaid health care.

Assistance is available in Spanish and English.

Until further notice, the new hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The offices are closed on Fridays.

In order to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, residents are encouraged to conduct business with the two offices by phone:

Elizabeth Office: 908-965-2700.

Plainfield Office: 908-791-7000.

As needed, in-person service is also available at both offices:

Elizabeth Office: 242 Westminster Avenue.

Plainfield Office: 200 West Second Street.

Visitors must observe recommended guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Any documents on paper may be submitted by drop box, located in the lobbies of both offices.

Members of the public with other questions can call the Union Department of Human Services Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288, and leave a voice message in Spanish or English.

The phones monitored and voice messages are returned during Action Line hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Questions can also be emailed to the Action Line at DHSaction@ucnj.org.

For additional information and updates on all Department of Human Services programs during the COVID-19 outbreak, including mental health and family crisis resources visit online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services.

Updates on all Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak are available online at ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Members of the public may watch remotely

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will convene as scheduled on Thursday, March 26. To maintain strict precautions for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the meeting will be conducted remotely.

The remote meeting will be conducted through Facebook Live beginning with the Agenda Setting Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on March 26. The Regular Meeting will also be held on Facebook Live, directly following the Agenda Meeting.

Members of the public may view the meeting by livestream at ucnj.org/freeholders.

Any member of the public wishing to participate in the meeting, can do so by emailing comments relative to resolutions being offered for adoption and/or on any governmental issue that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the county to the Clerk of the Board at jpellettiere@ucnj.org. Agendas are posted for the public’s viewing on the County’s official website at: www.ucnj.org/freeholders.  All relevant emails will be read into the record during the March 26, 2020 Regular Meeting and will be addressed accordingly by the Board. All emails must be submitted and received by the Clerk of the Board no later than noon on Thursday, March 26, 2020, and as is always the case for the record, must include full name and town of residence.

Union County, NJ – Parents in search of at-home educational activities for their children are invited to view the Union County Falcon Cam, an online livestream of the peregrine falcon nest located on the roof of the County Courthouse in midtown Elizabeth. The livestream is available free of charge on the County website, at ucnj.org/falcon.

“As a parent, I know it is difficult to keep children occupied, engaged, and cheerful during this challenging time,” said Union County Freeholder Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “The Falcon Cam provides an opportunity to step into the world of a truly fascinating bird, and follow along as a new generation is born.”

“The female – named Frida – laid her first egg this morning, and we expect she will lay more over the next few days,” Ms. Palmieri-Mouded explained.

The Union County Courthouse has hosted a nesting pair of falcons since 2006, partnering on preservation and educational programs with the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, and with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.

For updates and information on Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents that scam artists, fraudsters and price gougers are working overtime during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has handed scammers a golden opportunity to line their own pockets,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We can all protect ourselves, and each other, by staying informed and following a few simple guidelines for preventing fraud and scams.”

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued a series of consumer alerts relating to COVID-19, including fraudulent offers of health insurance. For more details visit the FTC online at fcc.gov/covid-scams.

Basic fraud prevention guidelines are:

• Never give out personal information over the phone. Government offices never ask for social security numbers by phone.
• Never open an unsolicited email or click on an unknown link in an email or text message.
• Check billing statements and other financial records regularly for suspicious charges.
• Ignore unsolicited mail, flyers, postcards or other printed material left at the door.
• Never answer the door for an unsolicited visitor. Government health agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, are not sending “inspectors” door-to-door.

In particular, residents are advised that health agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, are not sending “inspectors” door-to-door.

Fraud prevention experts warn that many schemes involve characteristic “red flags,” including:

• Offering a prize, a guaranteed investment, or other “free money.”
• Asking for money up front.
• Instructions to act quickly and not to tell anyone.
• No name, location, or website to verify.

In one common phone scam, a caller poses as a relative in trouble and asks for emergency money.

“These scammers often implore you to keep their situation a secret from other family members,” said Mirabella. “Don’t fall for it. Check with another family member if you are concerned.”

Union County residents can report suspected fraud to the Union County Office of Consumer Affairs. Online reporting is available at ucnj.org/public-safety, or call 908-654-9840. All voice mail is checked regularly.

Price gouging is illegal and can be reported to Union County or to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs by filing a report online at njconsumeraffairs.gov or by calling 973-504-6240.

In addition, residents should be aware that articles, messages and advertisements for quack “cures” and unproven treatments have flooded social media, podcasts, and other online sources.

Commentary by persons posing as informed experts in both new and traditional media – print, television, and radio – can be another source of misinformation.

“Whether well intentioned or not, spreading misinformation about COVID-19 can have serious health consequences,” said Mirabella. “If you have any questions or concerns, the best source of advice is your own doctor.”

Mirabella also reminded residents who are experiencing symptoms to consult with their doctor regarding the Union County COVID-19 test center. The test center opened on March 23 and is available only through a doctor’s appointment and prescription.

All members of the public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying at their own home, and suspending all non-essential visits or errands. Non-essential businesses are also under a statewide shutdown order.

For more information on COVID-19 prevention and protection, visit the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

For information about COVID-19 in New Jersey, including details on the statewide stay-at-home instructions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at covid19.nj.gov.

Residents with questions or concerns about COVID-19 can contact the New Jersey Department of Health by calling 211.

For updates and information on Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Remote help will continue to be available

Union County, NJ — Starting Monday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m., the Union County Board of Elections will be available for remote assistance only. Voters and other Union County residents can reach the Board of Elections by email at ucboe@ucnj.org or by leaving a phone message at 908-527-4121. All email and phone messages will be returned.
 
“Amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Union County Board of Elections will be working remotely to ensure the health and safety of the public, and our staff and their families,” said Board of Elections Administrator Nicole DiRado.
 
“I thank the public for their understanding and patience, and encourage everyone to heed the warnings of medical professionals,” she added.

For more information about the Union County Board of Elections, visit online at ucnj.org/ucboe.

For updates and information about all Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit online at ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

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Connect with Union County on social media.

Effective Monday, March 23, the Union County Surrogates office located in the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth will close to the public due to COVID 19.

For questions and/or concerns email sbadri@ucnj.org or send a fax to 908-351-9212.

For general information about COVID-19 call the New Jersey Department of Health at 800-222-1222 or 800-962-1253.

A toll free emotional support line is also available at 877-294-HELP (4357).

This press release and its information are outdated. View updated press release.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, in conjunction with governmental, educational and healthcare partners,  have opened the state’s first County-run, drive-through facility for testing of the COVID-19 virus at Kean University.

The testing center is only for residents of Union County.

If you have a VALID PRESCRIPTION for Covid-19 testing please email COVID19TEST@UCNJ.ORG with the following information:

Your full name, home address, phone number, email address, gender, race, date of birth, photo of your script, the physician’s name, address and phone number and then you may directly go to our Union County Drive-Through Testing Center for COVID-19 at Kean University.

The testing Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 am – 5 pm. Please note that people with existing appointments will be seen first.

For the safety, health and security of the volunteers at the site, the testing location will not allow patients without vehicles to enter campus, even with a valid prescription and appointment. If you do not have your own transportation, please discuss with your healthcare provider before scheduling an appointment.

Also, if you believe you may have symptoms of COVID-19, there is a self-assessment tool that you should use that has been developed by the State of New Jersey. This tool will assist you to determine what actions you can take to protect you and your loved ones’ health and help determine whether you should be tested for COVID-19, and can be accessed at https://self.covid19.nj.gov/

The Union County COVID 19 drive-through facility is being run by the County through a partnership with the Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) in Summit, the Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJ Barnabas Health) in Rahway. The Freeholder Board, County Manager and his staff worked with State Senators Joseph P. Cryan, Nicholas P. Scutari, Governor Phil Murphy’s office, Kean University, and the New Jersey State Department of Health in bringing the facility online.

In support of local businesses that have closed their doors or significantly curtailed operations during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents on ways to patronize local businesses within the precautionary guidelines recommended by health professionals.

“There are steps we can all take to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, while continuing to ‘shop local’ in support of our local businesses and their employees,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Until a meaningful relief program comes from the federal government, let’s all pitch in and help.”

Social distancing is the primary strategy for halting the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing requires that people stay at least 6 feet away from others when outside of the home. With that in mind, suggestions for social distance shopping include:

• Purchase gift cards online or by phone to use later
• Buy takeout food from restaurants (call ahead for pickup)
• Order goods online or call for delivery
• Sign up for local online classes and programs
• Where available, pay now for manicures and other services to be used later

Other key strategies to avoid spreading or contracting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases include: wash hands frequently, avoid touching the face, stay away from sick people, and isolate oneself when sick.

For updates and information on Union County services impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.