As New Jersey gradually reopens from its shutdown, local emergency services won’t be taking their guards down anytime soon – especially with growing predictions of a COVID-19 resurgence this fall or winter.
Since the first cases were reported in early March, Hughes said the department has built up “a good strong base of how to handle it” and “is keeping an eye on any spikes.”
“It’s important to open things up. We want to start to enjoy life again, but until we find a vaccine or cure, we need to just play it safe for a while, take every precaution and follow the rules,” Hughes said. “We have to reopen,” McDermott said.
If New Jersey remains under its shelter-in-place order, McDermott said he’s concerned there will be a rise in suicides, residents losing their homes and further job losses. “There’s a ying and a yang,” he said.