Toms River Senior Services Available By Phone Amid Coronavirus

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River officials have closed the Toms River Senior Center to the public but are continuing to offer assistance by telephone during the shutdown due to the new coronavirus.

Senior center staffers will be working during normal business hours and can be reached at 732-341-1000, ext. 8461 or ext. 8460, for any assistance.

Outreach services will be handled by phone, including issues regarding senior benefits.

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All activities and trips are cancelled. Refunds will be issued. Bus transportation will be limited to doctor appointments and food shopping.

Senior Center drivers can pick up medications and groceries. All homebound seniors needing help with placing online grocery orders, please contact the Senior Center for assistance.

Existing scheduled tax appointments will still be honored, but clients will only be admitted into the Senior Center at the time of their appointment.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the best thing residents can do is to stay home if you are sick. The Toms River Office of Emergency Management also advises residents to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol based sanitizer.
• Avoid touching high-touch/traffic surfaces in public places.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth, eyes and face.
• Clean and disinfect your car and household items.
• Avoid all non-essential travel.
• Sanitize your cell phone and all personal items.

The situation will be reevaluated in two weeks by township officials and the Toms River Office of Emergency Management. The senior center will be fully cleaned and sanitized before reopening.

"We are taking this proactive measure to reduce the risk that COVID-19 spreads among our senior citizens, who we know are at greater risk if exposed to the new coronavirus," Mayor Maurice B. Hill said. "Acting out of an abundance of caution I think it's the right thing for us to take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and try to limit exposure in places where there is going to be large groups of people."

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