TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Mayor Peter Calamari checked in with residents on March 17 to wish them a blessed St. Patrick’s Day—and to say how much he’s appreciated their support as he recovers from the coronavirus.
On March 7, he posted that he had been diagnosed on Feb. 20.
On St. Paddy’s Day he shared, “As I continue to recover from Covid-19 I would like to take a moment to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and kind gestures towards myself and my family.”
“The past few weeks have been a challenge, my bout with Covid unfortunately resulted in some time spent in the hospital where I was able to receive great care and attention,” he said.
He added, “I am on supplemental oxygen for what looks like another week to help aide in what I am happy to say my doctor feels will be a complete recovery.”
He said apart from his first two days in the hospital he has been in contact with the administration and staff as needed, and said he expected to participate that night’s Planning Board meeting and Friday’s budget meeting.
We reached out to the town administrator on March 10 to ask about Calamari’s condition and whether the mayor was in touch with town staff, but did not hear back. On March 15 the administrator and town attorney said at that night’s council meeting they were speaking with him daily.
Calamari attended a Pascack Valley Mayors Association gathering in Montvale on Feb. 10.
He is believed to be the first area mayor to have contracted Covid-19. He did not share how he believes he was exposed.