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from COVID-19 have been those age 60 and above. More than three-quarters of the deaths in Italy, which has the highest number of fatalities, have been people age 70 and older. He went on to point out that South Korea and Singapore have been successful at controlling the spread of the disease through “active approaches to ensure that the elderly don’t become infected.” Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are being closely monitored, Grosser said, and “these facilities are receiving priority access to testing when necessary. Seniors in communities outside of care facilities also need to be closely watched,” he added. “Older citizens may need assistance and support to help with food and obtaining
necessities,” he said. “They also need to access information about protective measures. Priority resources and attention to the population most likely to produce the greatest number of severe illnesses has the best chance of prevent ing t he overwhelming hospital surge we are seeing in parts of Italy and we are anticipating to happen in parts of the U.S.” Municipal officials are taking measures to address such a surge by preparing for additional patient beds a nd temp orar y hospit a l structures. “Municipal officials are actively working with county, regional, state, and federal authorities to prepare for this potential need,” said Grosser. “We need to push the message: If it’s not essential, stay home. But if your neighbor needs something, help them out,” he said.
Blood Donations Needed next few weeks to ensure providing hand sanitizer for YWCA Names New Breast During Severe Shortage ample opportunities for do- use before the drive, as well Cancer Resource Center Director
The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed now to donate to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Indiv iduals can schedule an appointment to give blood with the Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling (800) RED-CROSS, or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. According to the American Red Cross, as the coronavirus pandemic has grown here in the U.S., blood drive cancellations have grown at an alarming rate. To date, nearly 2,700 Red Cross blood dr ives have been —Donald Gilpin canceled across the country due to concerns about congregating at workplaces, college campuses, and schools amidst the coronavirus outbreak. These cancellations have resulted in some 86,000 fewer blood donations. More than 80 percent of the blood the Red Cross collects comes from drives held at locations of this type. Here in the region that includes Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, 156 blood drives have been canceled, resulting in 5,533 fewer blood donations. The Red Cross is adding appointment slots at donation centers and expanding capacity at many communit y blood dr ives across the country over the
nors to give. The Red Cross expects the number of cancellations to continue to increase, which is causing heightened concern for blood collection organizations and hospitals across the countr y. This blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, victims of car accidents, and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer. “In our experience, the American public comes together to support those in need during times of shortage and that suppor t is needed now more than ever during this unprecedented public health crisis,” said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Unfortunately, when people stop donating blood, it forces doctors to make hard choices about patient care, which is why we need those who are healthy and well to roll up a sleeve and give the gift of life.” “We know that people want to help, but they may be hesitant to visit a blood drive during this time,” continued Hrouda. “We want to assure the public that blood donation is a safe process, and we have put additional precautions in place at our blood drives and donation centers to protect all who come out.” The Red Cross has implemented new measures to ensure blood drives and donation centers are even safer for donors and staff, including checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a drive to make sure they are healthy;
as throughout the donation process; spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors; and increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment. At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees already follow thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type of infection, including wearing gloves and changing gloves with each donor; rout inely w iping down donor-touched areas; using sterile collection sets for every donation; and preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub. There is no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion transmission for any respiratory virus including this coronavirus worldwide. “Volunteer donors are the unsung heroes for patients in need of lifesaving blood transf usions. If you are healthy, feeling well and eligible to give, please schedule an appointment to give now,” said Hrouda. Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass. Wit h Rapid Pass, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass or use the donor app at redcrossblood.org.
YWCA Princeton has announced that Melissa White is the new director of its Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). The Breast Cancer Resource Center provides free support services for Mercer Count y women throughout any and every stage of their breast cancer journey. This includes a transportation and companionship program that brings women to and from treatment, fitness and wellness classes, a wig boutique and prosthesis fitting, and more. As the former support services coordinator for the BCRC, White is already well acquainted with the mission of YWCA Princeton, and the women and families they serve. Y WCA Pr inceton CEO Judy Hutton said, “Melissa has always been a team player, and now she is a team leader. She’s been critical in the administration of daily services provided by the BCRC as well as in the planning and execution of large events and fundraisers.” White, an eight-year cancer survivor herself, said, “I am excited to be the new director of the Breast Cancer Resource Center. The legacy of the women before me is an incredible groundwork for what we are doing today and for what we have planned for the future of the BCRC.”
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ONLINE www.towntopics.com
TAKEOUT, CURBSIDE PICKUP, and DELIVERY
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Olives is dedicated to feeding our community all your favorite
Princeton area COVID-19 updates and resources Check website for prepared daily dinner specials...salads Changes weekly foods, sandwiches, and baked goods.and is taking extra steps togourmet keep our customers and employees safe in response to dinner are available at princetoncovid.org tocovid-19. go! Check website for daily dinner specials... Changes weekly
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For your safe in-store shopping and takeout, we have implemented additional precautions which include, but are not limited to, additional hand sanitizer stations and sanitizing of all counters, Check website daily dinner specials... Changes weeklydoors, 22for Witherspoon Street, 22 Witherspoon Street, etc., throughout the day. Princeton Princeton 22 Witherspoon Street, Check website for daily dinner specials... Changes weekly Princeton 609.921.1569 In order to serve our customers during this time, we are also offering 609.921.1569 609.921.1569 www.olivesprinceton.com curbside pick-up. www.olivesprinceton.com Call in your order and when you arrive call us and www.olivesprinceton.com an emergency: Princeton we will bring it to your vehicle. Payments credit cardStreet, will be taken eport Report an emergency: DialDial 911911 22 via Witherspoon Monday-Friday: 7am to 8pm 22 Monday-Friday: Witherspoon Street, Traffic & Police text alerts: www.nixle.com or text ZIP CODE to 888777 7am to 8pm Monday-Friday: 7am to 8pm Princeton Monday Friday 7am-8:30 pm at the time of the order. Police for non-emergency issues: Princeton Police Department 609-921-2100 Saturday: 8am to 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pm 7am to 8pm 609.921.1569 Monday -toFriday 7am-8:30 pm 22 Witherspoon Saturday: 8am Princeton 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pmStreet, olice for non-emergency issues: Princeton Police Department 609-921-2100 Monday-Friday: 609.921.1569 Saturday 8am-8:30pm Saturday 8am-8:30pm Saturday: 8am to 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pm Power outages,and downed wires, gas leaks www.bit.ly/NOTIFICATION and PSE&G alerts: Emergency municipal notifications: We have also implemented delivery servicePrinceton via DoorDash and Saturday: 8am to 8pm •www.olivesprinceton.com Sunday: 9am towww.olivesprinceton.com 6pm Sunday 8am-6pm 609.921.1569 Sunday 8am-6pm 609.921.1569 SnackPass. Use these services and our delicious food will be delivered mergency and municipal notifications: www.bit.ly/NOTIFICATION 800-436-7734 or https://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks Traffic & Police text alerts: www.nixle.com or text ZIP CODE to 888777 Monday-Friday: www.olivesprinceton.com 7am to 8pm www.olivesprinceton.com to your7am-8:30 door. Monday-Friday: 7am toright 8pm Monday - Friday pm Saturday: 8am to 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pm raffic &Power Police text alerts: or ZIPalerts: CODE to 888777 Water service emergency: NJ American - 800-272-1325 outages, downedwww.nixle.com wires, gas leaksWater andtext PSE&G Saturday 8am-8:30pm Monday-Friday: 7am to 8pm Saturday: 8amAs tothe8pm • Sunday: 9am to7am-8:30 6pmcheckpm situation continues toFriday evolve, please our website and Monday-Friday: 7am toSunday 8pm 800-436-7734 or https://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks Monday -to 8am-6pm Saturday: 8am 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pm Facebook page for our latest updates. ower outages, downed wires, gas leaks and PSE&G alerts:
Princetonare COVID-19updatesandresources
@accesspr STAYanINFORMED Report emergency: Dial 911inceton
@Pr i n cet o nPol i c e Police for issues: Princeton Police Department 609-921-2100 @Princetnon-emergency onNJGovernment @Pr i n cet o nNJ _ OEM @accessprinceton STAY INFORMED Emergency notifications: www.bit.ly/NOTIFICATION Saturday: 8am to 8pm • Sunday: 9am to 6pm @prorinhttps://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks cetoand npolPolice ice municipal es: Princeton Department 609-921-2100 00-436-7734 @PrincetonPolice @ptWateronheal- t800-272-1325 hdept @PrincetonNJGovernment STAY INFORMED @PrincetonNJ_OEM Water service emergency: NJ American @Pr i n cet o nNJ O EM Tfications: raffic@princetonpolice & Police text alerts:@ptonhealthdept www.nixle.com or text ZIP CODE to 888777 www.bit.ly/NOTIFICATION @PrincetonNJOEM @Pt o nHumanSr v s @accessprinceton @PtonHumanSrvs TAY INFORMED Water service emergency: NJ American Water - 800-272-1325
@PrincetonNJGovernment @princetonpolice @PrincetonNJOEM
@accessprinceton @PrincetonPolice @PrincetonNJ_OEM @ptonhealthdept @PtonHumanSrvs @PrincetonPolice
7 • TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
COVID-19 Update
Saturday 8am-8:30pm
We thank you for your patience and continued patronage. Sunday 8am-6pm
NEW HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 7 :30 p.m. Sundays 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
22 Witherspoon Street, Princeton @PrincetonNJGovernment Power outages, downed wires, gas leaks and PSE&G alerts: .nixle.com or text ZIP CODE to 888777 @PrincetonNJ_OEM 609.921.1569 @princetonpolice @ptonhealthdept www.olivesprinceton.com 800-436-7734 @PrincetonNJOEM or https://nj.pseg.com/outageandgasleaks @PtonHumanSrvs gas leaks and PSE&G alerts: Water service emergency: NJ American Water - 800-272-1325 com/outageandgasleaks