As Cinnaminson readied to move into its second month still under state stay-at-home orders, the township also prepared to continue its community-based approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“From the outset, our mission has been to balance providing essential public services with ensuring the safety and welfare of our employees, first responders and residents,” Mayor Ryan Horner said in an email to The Sun. “The township’s local Emergency Management team has led our efforts to achieve this goal and remains engaged with county, state and federal agencies to guide us through this unprecedented time.”
The team includes members of various municipal departments, first responders and school district officials, “which ensures unified actions and messaging,” Horner explained.
As of April 16, Cinnaminson had logged 29 cases of COVID-19, including one death announced by the county on April 1. Four individuals have been cleared from quarantine. The numbers keep the township on the lower end of the case count in Burlington County, which is seeing the most cases in Willingboro at 231, followed by 128 in Burlington Township and 107 in Evesham Township.
Cinnaminson officials have been utilizing the township website, Facebook page and Nixle platform to keep residents informed of important COVID-19-related updates, such as state directives, changes to public services and ways to find assistance.
“We find it extremely important to remain engaged with the community in an effort to keep everyone informed,” Horner said, “and to make sure they know we are all in this fight together.”
Since Gov. Phil Murphy enacted an executive stay-at-home order on March 21, it has been difficult to always feel “together” in this fight. But in Cinnaminson, the township committee is working hard to continually remind residents that “staying apart for now will ensure that we can all stand together as soon as possible,” Horner said.
“That sentiment truly encapsulates the spirit of our community, underscored by the ‘Cinnaminson Helping Cinnaminson 2020’ program, a grassroots effort undertaken by community members to shop for and deliver essentials to those in need,” Horner said. “In addition, several residents have collaborated on sewing hundreds of safety masks for our first responders and fellow residents.”
The township encourages residents to continue to heed warnings of health care professionals. The Burlington County Office of Emergency Management continues to encourage residents to stay home as much as possible, stay at least 6 feet from others when in public, wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to wear cloth face covers in public, among many other guidelines.
With many brick-and-mortar locations shuttered and restaurant dining areas closed, the township is also hoping residents will patronize local businesses as much as possible, whether it be through takeout meals, online shopping or other avenues.
“There are so many unknowns and we don’t know what the future holds, but there is one thing I know for sure,” Horner said.
“As I witness the impressive actions of so many, I have never been more proud to be a Cinnaminson Township resident, and it has been my honor to help our community overcome this health crisis.
“Cinnaminson is a great community and we are great because we stand by one another, even through the most difficult of times.”
Visit Cinnaminson Township online at www.cinnaminsonnj.org.
