Newark will impose a moratorium on some rent evictions following two positive cases of coronavirus diagnosed in the city, Mayor Ras Baraka announced Sunday.

“There have been many Newark residents who believed the mythology that it would not come to Newark; but it’s here,” Baraka said at a city hall press conference, as cases across the state continue to multiply.

The moratorium will apply to evictions for anyone directly or indirectly affected by a quarantine order. The city also instituted a 60-day extension on tax payments and a waiver of associated fees and the suspension of water shut-offs, Baraka said. He signed an executive order putting those changes into effect during the press conference.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Office previously said they will not be carrying out eviction orders indefinitely.

Of the two individuals who had positive tests for COVID-19 in Newark, only one is confirmed to live within the city, said Dr. Mark Wade, the director of Newark’s health department. That person is a man in his 50s who is currently asymptomatic and self-quarantining at home.

The other positive case remains under investigation; it’s not clear if that person lives in Newark, or was only tested within the city. The investigation remains in the early stages, Wade said.

So far, at least 21 residents have been tested, although that number is likely higher now that private providers can test, Wade said.

In addition to the Newark cases, University Hospital worker who lives in Bergen County tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, said Dr. Shereef M. Elnahal, the president and CEO of the hospital. That employee has been self-quarantined since March 6, and all staff members who have been in contact with that person have also been ordered into quarantine, he said.

Patients and their providers are being notified, Elnahal said.

There are at least 11 confirmed cases in Essex County as of March 15, according to Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, with cases reported in Montclair, Nutley, Maplewood, Bloomfield, Millburn, and Newark.

“The number is double from yesterday to today and will get higher in two weeks,” DiVincenzo said.

Essex County has asked the state to establish two drive-thru testing centers in Essex County — one in Newark and another in the western part of the county, DiVincenzo said, adding that the only way to handle the virus is to properly diagnose cases.

“The thing that scared me the most yesterday is you can be tested and come out negative, and then two days later come out positive,” DiVincenzo said.

A drive-thru testing center is being established in Hudson County.

Meanwhile, city officials urged residents to stay away from crowded clubs, bars, and restaurants, but did not go as far as Hoboken and Jersey City as to order curfews.

“If we say close at ten, it doesn’t mean you can’t contract it at seven or six or five,” Baraka said, urging residents to avoid crowds and to eat meals at home.

Students should remain in-doors during school hours completing their assignments, Baraka said.

“We expect our students to be home doing their work that they got from their schools,” he said, calling on the community to support students. Community centers and libraries will remain open for students who do not have internet access at home, and schools will remain open to provide lunch and breakfast for students

All public Newark schools will be closed through March 30. A number of city buildings were closed this weekend for sanitization, and are expected to reopen on Monday or Tuesday, officials said.

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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