MONTVALE, N.J.— Mayor Michael Ghassali announced that a borough resident was confirmed positive for the novel Coronavirus COVID-19, saying that the individual is in quarantine and being monitored closely.
“We don’t have any other information relative to where this person lives and locations he/she visited,” Ghassali said on March 18. “This is different from the nonresident employee confirmed positive last week.”
Ghassali earlier said an employee of a Montvale-business had town tested positive for the Coronavirus.
“This employee does not live in town and does not work for the borough. The company is closed for two weeks and requested their employees to self-quarantine for two weeks. This is the only case that I am aware of at this time,” he said on March 14.
“Please don’t ask me about the detail of these cases, I don’t have any other information at this time,” Ghassali had said. “As we get more information to share, we will release it immediately within the guidelines issued to us.”
Earlier, Ghassali closed borough’s parks and recreation facilities through April 1.
“Stay home and do your part during these difficult times. Playdates, visiting friends and social gatherings are enjoyable times, but do your family and friends a favor for the next few weeks and stay home. Assume you have the virus and stay home,” he said.
If you have symptoms, don’t call 911
If you are having symptoms of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 call your healthcare provider first, the Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance said in a letter to residents.
“If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please do not call 911,” Ghassali said. “911 is for emergencies such as car accidents, heart attacks, and someone who needs immediate help.”
Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance said that healthcare provider will determine what the next steps for people experiencing symptoms, which include:
“You may also contact 2-1-1 or the Corona Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Please refrain from calling 9-1-1 or an ambulance unless it is a TRUE emergency,” Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps said. “If it is a TRUE emergency and you need to call for an ambulance, note that this protocol will be followed:
“Central dispatch will carefully screen calls and determine:
• “Is it a TRUE emergency?
• “Does the patient need to go to the hospital?
• “If they need to go to the hospital, do they have alternate transportation such as themselves or family member.
• “If an ambulance is dispatched it will be from MICCOM (Hospital paid ambulances) and may take longer to arrive.”
