June 4 Press Release from the Princeton Health Dept.

June 4 Press Release from the Princeton Health Dept.

For Immediate Release:  June4, 2020

The following health advisory was issued today by the Princeton Health Department:

Mayor Liz Lempert joined Gov. Phil Murphy and mayors across New Jersey in urging those who’ve participated in closely packed demonstrations to follow up with appropriate safety protocols to protect themselves and the health of their loved ones. Gov Murphy expressed concern about the potential for rapid transmission from a super-spreader within tightly congregated groups of people.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted by sustained close personal contact, or in a mass gathering, such as the recent protest gatherings across New Jersey. During a protest gathering, mass gathering, such as the recent protest gatherings across New Jersey. During a protest gathering, people congregate while chanting or shouting, often while standing or moving about near one another. These activities provide an environment where the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19, can be easily transmitted. The use of face coverings, social distancing, and careful personal hygiene practices (handwashing, avoidance of touching your face, nose, eyes) and being outdoors are helpful in reducing the risk of transmission. Nonetheless, there is still a risk of transmission during this type of gathering of people.

If you have attended a recent mass gathering, like the protests, you should be aware that you have been in a situation with a heightened risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To protect yourself and others, you should use a face covering in public at all times, maintain social distancing and monitor yourself for symptoms for the fourteen days after the date of the mass gathering. If you become infected, you could develop COVID-19 anywhere from two to 14 days after you were exposed to a person with the virus. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatiue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Since you are at higher risk of exposure, if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms — even if they are very mild,  you should self-isolate, contact your primary care physician and get tested — you could be contagious. You should notify your doctor or the testing site that you may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus during a mass gathering.

Unfortunately, it is very important to remember that if you do become sick, you are able to pass on the infection EVEN BEFORE YOU KNOW YOU ARE SICK. It is also possible to catch COVID-19 and be infectious EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS.

THEREFORE, IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED TO LIMIT CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHERS ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO COVID 19 FOR THE 14 DAY PERIOD AFTER ATTENDING A MASS GATHERING. Those who are most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 include people in nursing homes or other congregate living environments, older adults, and those with a predisposing condition such as high blood pressure, lung disease, chronic kidney or liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, immune-compromise, or obesity.

To obtain testing, you can contact your primary care doctor, or get tested at a local testing site. Locally, CVS on State Rd. Rt. 206 has testing-please call or go online to arrange an appointment. You can also visit the testing site on princetoncovid.org to find a testing site near you.

For more information on coronavirus (SARS-2) and COVID-19:

 For questions about coronavirus, the New Jersey Department of Health has a COVID-19 Hotline, 24/7, at 1-800-222-1222. The Princeton Health Department can be reached at (609)497-7608 for additional information.

All press contact should be directed to Fred Williams, by e-mail, fwilliams@princetonnj.gov