Mayor Kenneth Palmer and Chief Lisa Parker wish to report that on Friday, March 13, 2020, the Manchester Township Police Department was notified by the Ocean County Health Department of a ‘presumptive positive’ case of COVID-19 involving one of our residents. According to Health Department officials, a 72-year-old, Manchester resident had tested positive for the COVID –19 novel coronavirus on Friday. The resident was transported to a local hospital earlier in the week by EMTs from the township’s Emergency Medical Services after they, along with a Manchester police officer, responded to a residence for a first aid call.

In accordance with Health Department protocols, notification of the ‘presumptive positive’ was reported so that those first responders involved in the care and transportation of the patient could be notified and appropriate action taken. Both the police officer and the EMTs who dealt with the patient are currently in self-quarantine in accordance with guidance provided by our Medical Director and Township Administrators. Although none of our employees are showing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, these employees were placed on leave out of an abundance of caution.

Prior to today, routine daily decontamination procedures for apparatus, equipment, common areas and works spaces were in place and these procedures will continue in earnest going forward. Despite this, again out of an abundance of caution, all work areas within the EMS and Police Building were professionally cleaned and decontaminated on Friday evening by a company specializing in such work.

Additionally, beginning Monday, March 16th, several officers will be available Monday thru Friday between 7:00 am and 5 pm to take reports over the phone for calls that do not require evidence to be collected, an on-scene investigation to be conducted, or otherwise require an officer to respond to the scene. Residents having incident’s meeting the above criteria are encourage to utilize this service. The goal of this temporary procedure is to help cut down on unnecessary contact with individuals as a means of reducing in-person contact and mitigating the risks associated with person-to-person transmission of novel coronavirus. We feel that because our officers interact with many people throughout the day, having them unnecessarily interact with residents, many of which are considered ‘vulnerable’, is a prudent and judicious approach to limiting a possible exposure.
Both the police department and township administration are committed to doing everything possible to keep our residents and our personnel safe while meeting the public safety needs of the community.

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