On the first day of December, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Verona crossed 300. Just 17 days later, we are now past 400 positives. According to data from Essex County, Verona now has had 405 positives since it began tracking COVID-19 in March. The increase in positive cases has been particularly sharp in the past week, up more than 35% since December 10.
Township Manager Matthew Cavallo declined to say this morning how many of the positives were related to an unauthorized party at one of Verona’s two firehouses. On December 13, Cavallo announced that Fire Station No. 2 had been suspended and its members were quarantining after the gathering, which exposed those in attendance, and potentially others, to COVID-19. Fire Station No. 2 will reopen this Saturday, December 19, Cavallo said.
Essex County is continuing its COVID-19 testing, which is free to county residents by appointment at www.EssexCovid.org or 973-877-8456. Upcoming testing locations are:
- Friday, December 18, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue entrance, Newark
- Saturday, December 19, 9 a.m. to 12 Noon, Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Commuter Parking Deck next to Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange
- Monday, December 21, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, Commuter Parking Deck next to Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange
- Tuesday, December 22, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Essex County Hall of Records Complex, Employee Parking Deck, 50 West Market Street, Newark
- Wednesday, December 23, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Essex County Department of Public Works, 99 West Bradford Avenue, Cedar Grove
