Mayor ‘cautiously optimistic’ as number of virus cases less than previous days

West Milford now has 103 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (coronavirus), an increase of two new cases according to Mayor Michele Dale, as of Tuesday, April 7.

This, though, is better news than what has been previously reported, according to the mayor. The number of cases reported– eight Monday and two Tuesday - has gone down from the previous day, the first time that has happened since she started reporting the numbers.

Those new cases Tuesday include a 34-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy.

The eight new cases reported on Monday include two men, 89 and 50 years old, and six women ages 39, 62, 64, 77, 84 and 90.

Dale said she was “cautiously optimistic” with the slowing down of new cases.

“While I want us to celebrate this milestone, I do not want us to think that we can relax our social distancing,” said Dale. “We must still stay the course.”

Drive-through testing available in Wayne

Passaic County continues to offer drive-through COVID-19 testing for county residents only at William Paterson University in Wayne. Prescriptions are required for the testing. The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon daily, while test kits are available. Testing is being done at 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, lot 6. Entrance is on Hamburg Turnpike and University Boulevard.

Residents may now utilize the St. Joseph’s Hospital telehealth service for a prescription. To do so, visit www.stjosephshealth.org/telehealth. The fee for this service is $59. Referral is up to the discretion of the doctor.

A plea from the mayor

“The next two and a half weeks are critical in keeping with self-distancing protocols,” Mayor Michele Dale said in a message broadcast over the town’s emergency system. “Please, once again, I am pleading with our residents to stay home and stay safe. We will get through this together.”