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First Coronavirus Case Reported in Newark

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
City of Newark

City officials, including Mayor Ras Baraka and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo are hoping residents will take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  Mayor Baraka announced on Sunday that Newark has its first reported case.

WBGO's Scott Pringle was there.

Dr. Mark Wade says Newark's got its first coronavirus case, a man in his 50's who is being self-quarantined.

Mayor Baraka wants residents to avoid bars and other large crowds to help prevent the spread. 

"If you're having events, you should cancel them.  If there are events you planned on going to, you should not go."

Schools are closed til at least March 30 with students getting on-line learning instructions. 

"The community, the parents, the businesses work together to make sure our kids are inside doing their work."

Essex County Executive Director Joe DiVincenzo is calling on the state to bring a drive-by testing facility to Newark.

"We're never going to get a handle on this til we actually know how many are positive." 

Mayor Baraka and Dr. Wade want people to contact their healthcare provider first if they are not feeling well instead of racing off to the doctor's office because that could result in spreading the disease.