Despite Bergen County coronavirus case, there's 'zero reason' to panic, says Fort Lee mayor

People frequented Fort Lee's downtown as usual Thursday as officials were holed  up in a war room to plan their response to a borough man who became the state's first diagnosed coronavirus case. 

© Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com A woman wearing a surgical face mask walks toward the bus stop at the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, N.J. on Thursday March 5, 2020.

A task force consisting of borough leadership and Bergen County Executive James Tedesco met Thursday morning in a conference room at the borough hall, where they discussed mobilizing resources and the medical investigation into the 32-year-old man diagnosed with coronavirus.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the man lives on the first floor of a multi-family home, not in one of the borough's many high rise apartment complexes. 

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Mayor Mark Sokolich urged residents to remain calm on Thursday morning, saying that residents had "zero reason" to panic. 

"We urge people to remain calm, not spread fear and panic, and be assured that all available resources are being deployed and devoted to addressing this issue," a statement by the borough said.

Coronavirus coverage: Complete coverage on NJ's first coronavirus case and the state's response

Coronavirus symptoms: Think you have it? Call first! What to expect at the doctor's office

As reporters gathered on the second floor of borough hall, a borough employee closed the blinds on a window looking into Sokolich’s office.

Businesses along Main Street appeared to operate as normal on Thursday morning after Wednesday's announcement.

Center Pharmacy, on the intersection of Center Avenue and Main Street, was running low on rubbing alcohol and future orders of the alcohol were back-ordered, an employee said. Another employee said that they have been very busy. 

Customers were also purchasing N95 masks that were available for $9.50 a mask, although the pharmacy set a limit of five masks a customer.

An employee at Bergen Care Pharmacy on Lemoine Avenue, who did not give her name, said that customers seemed worried about the diagnosis. The pharmacy previously had masks made for more than one use but sold out before the diagnosis, she said.

Story continues below photo gallery.

Fort Lee public schools are operating as usual and there is no reason to believe schools would close or have schedules altered, Sokolich said. 

The borough's health department previously recommended that all students returning from Italy, Iran, South Korea and China stay home from school for 14 days. 

The diagnosed man arrived at the emergency department at the Hackensack hospital on Tuesday and had symptoms that caused clinicians to suspect he had COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus infection, said Dr. Daniel M. Varga, the chief physician executive for Hackensack Meridian Health, which operates Hackensack Medical Center.

The patient was "doing well and resting comfortably in an isolation room," Varga said. 

"In light of factors such as our commuter population and our proximity to the City of New York," the statement said, "the Borough of Fort Lee has been diligently preparing for and is prepared to address this presumptive case of COVID-19 and any other cases that may be confirmed in the future."

Staff writer Kristie Cattafi contributed to this article. 

Anthony Zurita is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all the major news happening in North Jersey, subscribe here. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Email: zuritaa@northjersey.com Twitter: @AnthonyRZurita

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Despite Bergen County coronavirus case, there's 'zero reason' to panic, says Fort Lee mayor