Volume LXXIV, Number 16
Studio Hillier Architects Make Face Shields . . . 5 Council Re-Introduces Budget With No Tax Increase . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Renewable Energy Project Launched by Municipality . . . . . . . 10 Humans of New York Provides a "Most Effective" Remedy . . . 16 Music in a Time of Pandemic . . . . . . . . . 17 Monday Made Progress for PU Wrestling Before Season Cut Short . . . . 20 George Excited to Take the Helm of PDS Baseball . . . . . . . 22
Ruth B . Mandel, Former Head of Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, Dies . . . . . . . . 7 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .14, 15 Classified Ads . . . . . . 25 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 24 Performing Arts . . . . . 18 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 25 School Matters . . . . . . . 8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Nassau Inn, Other Hotels Provide Free Rooms For First Responders With doctors, nurses, and other first responders working around the clock to fight the coronavirus, many hotel chains and independent hostelries are offering free accommodations to health care workers needing a place to stay that is close to medical facilities, and allows them to isolate from their families. Among them is the Nassau Inn. First responders began checking in to the hotel on Palmer Square over a week ago, and rooms are currently booked through the next month. “We won’t have a good idea of how many medical personnel take advantage of the offer this early on,” said the hotel’s General Manager Lori Rabon in an email. “However we do hope to accommodate as many people from the (Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center) hospital as need it.” This isn’t the first time the Nassau Inn has provided free rooms for responders. “Historically the hotel team has found ways to give back to the community during crises, such as during Hurricane Sandy and other storms,” said Rabon. “We wanted to be able to help in any way possible during such an unprecedented time.” A handful of other guests are currently staying at the hotel. The staff has been sanitizing the building on a regular basis since learning of the potential threat of COVID-19. “We’ve instituted additional cleaning and disinfecting protocols for our guest rooms and public spaces,” Rabon said. “Even on the days that the hotel has no guests in house, we adhere to our stringent disinfecting protocols.” Shields to create a barrier between the front desk and guests checking in and out have been built, and staff now wear facial coverings. “All have been thoroughly trained on proper hygiene and social distancing,” Rabon said. “The health and well-being of the hotel guests and staff is our top priority.” The Marriott hotel chain has committed to provide $10 million worth of stays for health care professionals working to fight the virus. The initiative, called Rooms for Responders, provides free rooms in some of the areas most impacted including New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Newark. Calls to the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal to determine whether
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Asymptomatic COVID-19 Spread Causes Concern The Princeton Health Department (PHD) reported Tuesday, April 14, a total of 64 cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Princeton, with 36 active positive cases, 25 cases recovered, and three deaths. The third death in Princeton from COVID-19, a male in his 90s, which was the second death of a Princeton Care Center (PCC) resident, was reported on Monday, April 13. Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser pointed out the vulnerability of communities of older adults susceptible to
developing severe complications from COVID-19, and he emphasized rising concerns about asymptomatic spread of the virus. “What is more alarming is how many of these locations incorporated strict infectious disease control and prevention strategies into their daily activities as early as February, prior to confirmed community spread,” he wrote in an email Tuesday. “Many of these strategies incorporated the quarantine or isolation of patients, residents, and or staff when symptomatic.”
He continued, “We are now aware that asymptomatic spread is often more of a concern to the greater community. Fortunately the greater community (and these older adult living facilities) have absorbed universal masking when in public or around others.” Grosser went on to note “promising signs” that there does seem to be a flattening of the curve throughout the state, but stated, “One of the key priorities should be heightened support to long-term care Continued on Page 10
Princeton-Based Initiative Provides Digital Access to Isolated COVID-19 Patients
COVERING UP: “The Newspaper Reader” does his part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus by wearing a face mask . The bronze sculpture by the late J . Seward Johnson Jr . is set near the Princeton Battle Monument .
Continued on Page 8
(Photo by Miranda Short)
Brothers Manraj Singh and Sunny Singh Sandhu never overlapped during their years at Princeton University. But the two Woodrow Wilson School students — Singh a 2016 graduate, Sandhu from the current senior class — have recently joined forces in a project that tackles social isolation for COVID-19 patients and provides remote access for health care workers on the front line. Connect for COVID-19, the first venture of their Digital Health Connectivity Project, is a fast-growing initiative that collects used smartphones, tablets, and laptops for hospitalized patients who lack them, so that they can be connected to their families while in isolation. The focus is on vulnerable populations, including senior citizens and the economically disadvantaged. “We’ve heard these tragic stories about patients who are in their final days, but can’t connect with their families because they don’t have a smart device,” said Singh. “It’s heartbreaking.” Describing their idea to friends, fellow students, alumni, and colleagues, the brothers immediately developed a national network of support. “Within a week and a half we have gone from a grassroots, Princeton-focused effort to a national campaign in about 10 different states,” said Sandhu. Singh added, “It’s become a team of medical students, human rights advocates, and design technologists, all of whom came together through the broader Princeton network. People in medical school are really driving this campaign. It’s not just us. We recognize the hard work everyone is doing.” Singh said Princeton University’s motto — “In the Nation’s Service and the Continued on Page 8
Please help SAVE raise $2,500 to support dogs and cats arriving in need of your help! Go a little ‘Old School’ Let Friends, Family, and Co-workers know you are thinking of them during this time of social distancing. To purchase a card or simply make a donation, please visit savehomelessanimals.org/donate SAVE will send a real paper greeting card from YOU! $20 each! Thank you! Be safe & stay well. *Campaign ends April 30, 2020