UPDATE: Bergen County Executive James Tedesco has rescinded his executive order suspending most commerce in the county at the request of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, read the updated story here.
This is merely the beginning, County Executive warns
HACKENSACK—No more than four people may assemble in public in Bergen County starting Tuesday, March 17 at 11 p.m., a measure that will remain in effect until further notice—an extreme restriction designed to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus COVID-19—County Executive James Tedesco ordered.
“These are difficult times and I cannot promise that the coming days will be easier. We are going to have to make many sacrifices,” Tedesco said. “We must act now, rather than later.”
There are 61 presumptive positive cases identified in Bergen County, with one fatality, with cases in more than one-third of all county municipalities, Tedesco said.
A first-of-its-kind in New Jersey drive-thru testing facility at Bergen Community College in Paramus may be up and running by the end of the week, Tedesco said.
Tedesco called a near total shut down of non-essential commerce.
“This isn’t just about businesses losing money—this is about their workers getting infected, and maybe losing their lives, that’s what this is about,” Tedesco said.
Tedesco asked all county residents to help him slow down COVID-19 spread, saying medical professionals have warned there’s nothing to that can be done to stop the spread—only to slow it down.
“Yesterday, 15 new cases came up. This is a quick evolving situation,” Tedesco said.
Earlier today, Gov. Phil Murphy imposed sweeping limitations on civil society.
“I commend the governor for taking theses actions to slow the spread of this killer virus,” Tedesco said.
Tedesco, his voice full of emotion at times, said he believes earlier measures he imposed in Bergen County—such as closing senior centers and public schools and moving all instruction online—have saved lives.
“My job is to protect the residents of Bergen County, and also all those who visit and work in this county,” Tedesco said.
Tedesco called on retired medical professionals, and students in nursing college, to aid in the COVID-19 response.
“We are going to need your help in order to make this work. Email BCVolunteer@co.bergen.nj.us if interested in volunteering, or call (201) 336-6006. “Please contact us and tell us if you’re willing to help us. We’re going to need all kinds of help, indoors, outdoors. This is a time where communities…rally together,” Tedesco said.
Extreme measures ordered
“We need to encourage everyone to prepare, but not panic,” said Tedesco. “We may not be able to quantify the numbers of lives we save, but even if I save one, it was the right thing to do.”
The following measures are necessary to protect the health, safety, welfare and lives of Bergen County residents, Tedesco said.
• “No worldly employment or business shall be formed or practiced by any person or entity within the County of Bergen until further notice, except as previously permitted herein: preparation of sale of drugs, meals, prepared food; take out sale of alcoholic beverages, newspapers, pet food and sanitary pet products; gasoline and food products, subject to the conditions and limitations contained herein; auto repair shops will be permitted to remain open only if attached to or part of a gasoline station (they must adhere to C.D.C. guideline in order to operate)…”
Tedesco said he may not have the legal authority to impose such restrictions, but he has “the moral authority.”
The New Jersey Attorney General has not approved Tedesco’s executive orders for enforcement, he said.
“If you want to put money over someone’s life, then shame on you,” Tedesco said. “If you want to take me court, then take me to court.”
Tedesco said further restrictions include:
• Health care facilities shall remain open, with the exception of dental care facilities, which shall close except as may be deemed necessary by a licensed dentist to treat emergency conditions.
• Law firms, other entities, or individuals, specifically licensed to provide professional legal services, are hereby exempted from this executive order to the degree necessary to participate in Superior Court trials, or other ancillary court proceedings, or emergent matters of transaction are permitted.
• Permitted are banks, banking institutions, or funeral parlors.
• Restaurants can only be open for take out or delivery.
• Stores selling alcoholic beverages for outside consumption may remain open subject to C.D.C. guidelines.
• All health clubs, dance or yoga facilities will be closed until further notice.
• Food establishments are restricted to the sale of food and health care products and may be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
All exempted activities are required to comply with all provisions of his executive order, Tedesco said.
As of 8 a.m., March 17, all county offices and buildings will be closed to the public, in “a step to help protect the residents, [and county] employees to limit COVID-19 exposure.”
“These decisions are not made easily, but I don’t want to be reading names off a paper that are no longer with us,”Tedesco said. “If we don’t stop the spread of this virus, more people will be in the hospital.
“Today, we were notified that a 3-year-old tested positive. That young child is going to have that for the rest of their lives,” Tedesco said.
The Bergen County Improvement Authority will consider measures to help those struggling due to the shut down of commerce, Tedesco said.
“We’ll help them in anyway we can,” Tedesco said of business owners, “but right now, I’ve got to tell you, my focus isn’t on that side, it’s on the side of savings peoples lives. I can deal with the financial piece at the end; I don’t want them to have to deal with one of one of their workers dying, or having one of their workers not being able to breathe for the rest of their lives.”
Tedesco says he acted in our best interest despite painful restrictions on civil society
Tedesco claimed to have an intuition and a knack for working well in crisis and being able to predict changes and developments.
“I don’t know why God chose to give me that intuition, to give me those things, but I’m going to use them because I know that they are going to help save lives,” Tedesco said. “The health and safety of our families is my number one priority. Over the past two weeks, I have had to make tough decisions. Ones which not only impact our daily routines, but individuals’ livelihoods. I understand that closing businesses will impact people’s livelihoods.”
Tedesco said he’s been working this crisis for two weeks, and the majority of what he has done has been later followed by others in leadership positions.
A reporter asked the county executive: What about people living pay check to pay check, who will lose their incomes?
“We’re going to have to work on it. I don’t have all the answers. But If I don’t do something today, more people are going to die,” Tedesco said, banging his palm on the podium along with the cadence of his speech. “That’s the answer now. The health professionals tell me that ‘if you don’t take action now, more people will die.’ I believe I have to take action.”
