LAST CALL: Hoboken Bars Closing, Restaurants Take-Out Only; Curfew Enacted Amid Growing Coronavirus Threat

(ABOVE: Cork City – Chris Capaci/Capacity Images photo, 2016)

Bars in Hoboken will be closing and a curfew will be in place from 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. for the foreseeable future, per order of the City of Hoboken.

Restaurants will be closed to dine-in patrons. Take-out and delivery will still be permitted.

“…all bars and restaurant establishments, with and without a liquor license, are no longer permitted to serve food within the restaurant or bar.  If a bar does not currently offer food, they will no longer be permitted to operate and are no longer permitted to serve alcohol, effective March 15^th at 11 am.  According to OEM, any bar or restaurant establishment that currently offers food service will be permitted to conduct food takeout and food delivery service only.”

Citing the need to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the drastic moves are being taken to curtail person-to-person contact in these establishments.

“Additionally, OEM is implementing a city-wide daily curfew will in effect from 10 pm through 5 am, effective Monday, March 16^th until further notice. During this curfew, all residents will be required to remain in their homes except for emergencies, or if you are required to work by your employer.”

The full statement (below) alludes to an altercation at a Hoboken bar this evening that required the deployment of police and medical resources.

“This is unfortunately a contributing factor why we cannot continue bar operations which can trigger calls for service that are delayed in part because of this public health crisis.”

The birthplace of American brewing, Hoboken’s legendary nightlife scene is a vital industry here in town—yet the immediacy of the virus threat is taking precedent. School closings, park closings, gyms, movie theaters, daycare centers have all been impacted. Bars and restaurants will now join that list, as the need for social distancing becomes more and more apparent.

While some establishments have already taken their own steps mitigate the spread, the City will now require all establishments to adhere to stricter guidelines.

“As I’ve mentioned before, these are extremely challenging times, and we are seeing a substantial uptick of positive COVID-19 cases throughout New Jersey and throughout the world. The time is now to enact proactive policies that will help save lives in the long run,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.  We’ve asked families with children to be a part of social distancing by closing our schools. We must all now do our part.”

As of press time, New Jersey has 69 reported cases—5 in Hudson County, including 2 in neighboring Jersey City and 1 in Hoboken.

Jersey City enacted a 10 p.m. curfew for its hospitality venues on Thursday. Meanwhile the Mayor of nearby Teaneck, NJ has asked the entire city of 41,000 to self-quarantine, as it has been rapidly hit with 18 cases.

New York City saw its first fatality earlier today, as an 82 year-old patient succumbed to the virus. Furthermore, another patient in Rockland County (65 years old) has reportedly passed away. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has just announced the passing of a second New Jersey resident, a patient in Monmouth County.

Sad to announce our second death of an individual with #COVID19 – a female in her 50s who was being treated at @CentraState Medical Center in Monmouth County.

Please wash your hands frequently and practice social distancing. We will get through this together.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 15, 2020

There are currently upwards of 600 cases being handled in the New York Metro/Tri-State Area—a number that is likely to spike in the days to come.

Complete Statement from Mayor Bhalla:

The City of Hoboken is doing everything possible to advance social distancing, including preventing large gatherings anywhere in the City. The health and safety of residents is my number one priority.
 
In furtherance of this policy, and to continue enacting measures to protect the health and safety of residents by limiting clusters of people, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has directed certain restrictions upon all restaurants and bars in Hoboken. Specifically, all bars and restaurant establishments, with and without a liquor license, are no longer permitted to serve food within the restaurant or bar.  If a bar does not currently offer food, they will no longer be permitted to operate and are no longer permitted to serve alcohol, effective March 15^th at 11 am.  According to OEM, any bar or restaurant establishment that currently offers food service will be permitted to conduct food takeout and food delivery service only.
 
Additionally, OEM is implementing a city-wide daily curfew will in effect from 10 pm through 5 am, effective Monday, March 16^th until further notice. During this curfew, all residents will be required to remain in their homes except for emergencies, or if you are required to work by your employer.
 
As I am writing this message on a Saturday evening, I received a call from our Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante notifying me of a bar fight in downtown Hoboken, with at least one person falling in and out of consciousness, and our police having to wait for over 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, because our EMS is inundated with service calls.  This is unfortunately a contributing factor why we cannot continue bar operations which can trigger calls for service that are delayed in part because of this public health crisis.
 
As I’ve mentioned before, these are extremely challenging times, and we are seeing a substantial uptick of positive COVID-19 cases throughout New Jersey and throughout the world. The time is now to enact proactive policies that will help save lives in the long run.  We’ve asked families with children to be a part of social distancing by closing our schools. We must all now do our part. 
 
I completely recognize that these measures will result in substantial changes and inconveniences to our daily lives. However, these measures are being taken to save lives and protect our residents.  I strongly urge residents to continue to take every measure possible in order to practice social distancing, washing your hands, and sanitizing all surfaces.

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