Teaneck became the first municipality in New Jersey to call for citizens to self-quarantine Saturday as it attempts to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin said residents should only go out if they have to — and asked residents to go out to get food or medicine. The request is voluntary.
The news was first reported by WNBC’s Brian Thompson.
The Bergen County municipality of 41,000 has been the hardest hit in the state, with 18 of the state’s confirmed 69 cases. The county itself has 31 confirmed cases.
Read ROI-NJ’s story about Holy Name Medical Center at the eye of the storm in Teaneck.
“They should stay home,” Hameeduddin told WNBC. “When I say stay home, that doesn’t mean go out to lunch with your friends across the street. That means no play dates, that means your nuclear family stays with your nuclear family.
Mohammed Hameeduddin, mayor of Teaneck.
“I’m not visiting my sister. I’m not visiting my parents. That is the best way to stop the spread of this.”
Hameeduddin said it’s time for such drastic action in a story for The (Bergen) Record on NorthJersey.com.
“There are people that don’t understand that this is something we haven’t seen since World War II,” he said. “We don’t have enough test kits — every day more and more people will be getting sick.”
ROI-NJ detailed the difficult situation at the municipality’s hospital, Holy Name Medical Center, on Saturday. Holy Name is caring for 11 coronavirus patients, including six in the ICU.
Hameeduddin was expected to have a news conference with Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco on Sunday.
