Cranford Theater, Fitness Center To Open Soon: Mayor

By Emilee Geist 3 years ago

CRANFORD, NJ — Now that the state of New Jersey has allowed gyms, movie theaters,

CRANFORD, NJ — Now that the state of New Jersey has allowed gyms, movie theaters, and (starting Friday) restaurants to open indoors on a limited basis, Cranford will open some of its facilities too, the township said in an email on Monday.

In a newsletter, the town committee said that the opening of the Cranford Fitness Center at the Centennial Pool Complex will be announced “soon.”

The town also said the Cranford Movie Theater is permitted to open starting Friday with 25 percent occupancy, with a maximum of 150 people. Patrons will be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. For details about the Cranford Theater, please go to www.cranfordtheater.com.

As for indoor dining, Gov. Murphy said Monday that indoor dining would be allowed Friday with 25 percent occupancy. Here are more of the rules:

  • Parties must capped at eight people, and tables must be 6 feet apart.

  • Staff must wear masks all times.

  • Diners must wear masks when not in their seats.

  • Food and beverages can only be consumed while seated.

For a complete list of rules, click here.

Cranford and coronavirus

The town said that as of Monday, there were 528 confirmed cases, with six new since the Aug. 19 newsletter (one in long-term care).

The number of fatalities, 96, remained unchanged.

On Saturday, New Jersey’s total death toll climbed to 14,153 after four confirmed deaths were announced since the day before. The state also announced 388 new confirmed positive cases, bringing the total cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 191,611.

However, this daily death rate has declined since back on April 30, when it reached a peak of 460 residents in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes.

Many other states’ death rates reached records in July (see the daily totals in each state here), and had to pull back on some of their reopenings. New Jersey has asked people to quarantine if returning from 31 states.

Here are some other recent Cranford coronavirus and reopening updates:

SCHOOLS

  • Cranford schools will reopen, with various distance and in-person learning options, on Sept. 8.

  • Cranford Superintendent of Schools Scott Rubin released a final reopening plan in late July. Elementary students will go to school every weekday, with single-session days and no lunch. Middle school students will attend every other day, and high school students will go two to three days per week, alternating. Students may also go remotely, full-time.

  • Here is the district website.

HOW TO GET TESTED

  • Union County has added mobile walk up test sites in addition to the testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.

  • Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

  • Gov. Murphy recently signed an executive order allowing gyms, health clubs, and indoor amusement facilities to reopen at 25 percent capacity effective Sept. 1. Equipment must be adjusted to allow a minimum of six feet of distance, and must be sanitized between uses. Everyone must wear masks. More details can be found here.

  • For details about the Cranford Theater, please go to www.cranfordtheater.com.

NATIONAL TRENDS

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

  • During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor’s office if you are experiencing difficulties.

  • The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.

  • New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.

  • Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can’t work due to your child’s school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.

LONG-TERM CARE

  • New Jersey residents have become alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard to help make changes.

  • The state released death toll statistics for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.

  • You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.

  • Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

  • Other states have been dealing with nursing home deaths more recently, including a recent outbreak in a Texas nursing home.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

  • NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/

  • General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1

  • NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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This article originally appeared on the Cranford Patch

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