MAYOR RAS J. BARAKA’S STATEMENT

ON RAPID TESTING FOR CITY EMPLOYEES

“Just as we encourage businesses to test their employees to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are making sure that the City’s employees get tested every month as well.

“With access to rapid testing, we set up a pop-up testing site in City Hall on Thursday, November 12, and a few asymptomatic employees tested positive. Under our procedures, any facility that results in two or more positive tests for COVID must be closed for deep cleaning.

“To both maintain the health of our municipal employees and to set the example for our local businesses, out of an abundance of caution we immediately closed City Hall on November 12 and kept it closed on Friday, November 13, so that the building could be properly sanitized. Our employees were ordered to work from home, and the building was closed to the public.

“We re-opened City Hall this morning, with limited staffing and it will remain open to the public by appointment only. We have to continue to be vigilant and I urge all Newark residents and businesses to follow our lead and keep themselves safe.”