Terrence T. McDonald | NorthJersey.com

Danielle Parhizkaran, NorthJersey

Jersey City can boast the tallest skyscrapers in New Jersey, the most diverse population in the state and one of the best high schools in the nation.

In recent days, it also crossed a grimmer milestone: more positive coronavirus cases than any other New Jersey town. On Tuesday, its mayor, Steve Fulop, said the city has 820 confirmed cases, nearly three times the number of the next closest town, Teaneck, and half of Hudson County's total cases. There have also been six Jersey City deaths, including a DPW worker who was a part-time hospital security guard.

Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., have fewer coronavirus cases than Jersey City, which has a population of 265,000. New Jersey's total number of cases is now 18,696.

Two of Jersey City's nine City Council members have tested positive, and one remained hospitalized as of Monday. The city’s first responders have been affected, with a fire battalion chief hospitalized and over 200 police officers out sick. The city says it’s now facing at least a $70 million budget deficit because of virus-related spending and revenue losses.

“This virus is like a beast,” City Council President Joyce Watterman said.

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The city's decision to open its own mass-testing sites on Friday — at a cost of $750,000 — is a key factor in the sheer number of its virus cases, Fulop said. The citywide figure was in the hundreds before the testing sites opened outside an old DPW building and at a fire station. About 300 people are coming to the sites daily, Fulop said.

Fulop said he's heartened by a decrease in the percentage of positive cases. On the first day, the sites were open, 46% of those tested were positive. That went down to 36% on the second day and 31% on day three.

“The more testing sites that are popping up are really, really helpful,” he said. “The state should have more of them. It’s a crucial part of combating this virus because you have to have real data around what’s happening.”

Fulop said starting Wednesday grocery store employees and health care workers who live in Jersey City and feel sick will get preference at the testing sites. You must make an appointment by calling 201-547-5535 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Rolando Lavarro is one of the two City Council members who tested positive for COVID-19. Lavarro, who joined the council in 2011, checked into Jersey City Medical Center on March 21, was discharged the next Monday and received his positive test result on Thursday. He remains quarantined in his home, with his wife and daughter isolated in other parts of the house.

“I am on the mend today because of the heroic work of frontline health care workers — doctors, patient care technicians, everyone at the hospital and most especially the nurses,” he said. “They are beyond heroic, and yet they are still very much vulnerable humans with families, children and loved ones who they literally can’t touch. God bless them.”