Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka has announced that the city will reimpose a curfew due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. Under the curfew, all businesses other than pharmacies, gas stations and grocery stores must close by 8 p.m.
"This is not the first time COVID-19 has threatened our city and its residents at this magnitude and once again, we will meet this challenge with determination and guided by data. We are Newark strong and can get through this together. We did it once before and we can do it again," Baraka said.
In addition to closing businesses by 8 p.m., barbershops and nail salons must limit businesses to appointment only engagements.
“Until, and even after, a vaccine is made available to every Newarker, the most potent immunization we will have available is a decision to take personal responsibility to obey and model the recommendations that keep us all safe,” Newark Health Director Mark Wade said.
“All of us will need each other to get us through as individuals, neighborhoods, communities and a city, and to save the lives of those we love the most, each other!”
Newark experienced a recent spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the weekend. On Sunday, the city reported 10,000 confirmed cases. Thus far, Newark has experienced 672 cases.
"Today Newark had more COVID-19 cases than every other city in Essex County combined! We are witnessing a serious spike and tomorrow we will begin taking serious measures. Wear your mask," Baraka tweeted on Sunday.
Nationally, confirmed COVID-19 cases have spiked within the last week. On October 23, the country recorded a single-day record of 83,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. Thus far, the U.S. has lost more than 225,000 lives to the coronavirus.
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