By Kevin Coughlin -

A Morris County resident who works at the Shalom Yeladim Nursery School in Morristown has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, town officials announced on Friday afternoon.

The town and school are working to notify parents and school employees who may have had contact with the individual; they are asking children and employees to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.

Mayor Tim Dougherty also has issued an executive order limiting occupancy at establishments with liquor licenses to 250 people, with a curfew of 10 pm, until further notice.

“The goal of this order is to enforce the policy directive from the State of New Jersey and CDC guide- lines to minimize gatherings of large groups of people to prevent exposure to and transmission of COVID-19 to patrons, workers, and first responders,” Dougherty said in a statement.

New Jersey has 21 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 50 who have tested positive so far, state officials said on Friday. In Morris County, a 51-year-old Butler man has been hospitalized at Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains. A Bergen County man died earlier this week.

The nursery school at 177 Speedwell Ave. is part of the Morristown Jewish Center. The building is closed to permit cleaning and disinfection according to guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the mayor’s office.

“I’m saddened to hear that this serious disease has now affected members of our immediate community,” Dougherty said.

“The impact on these families and this house of worship should remind us that we cannot anticipate how this virus might directly impact anyone. We remind everyone to heed the recommendations of our health officials by taking precautions and practicing social distancing.”

Rabbi David Nesson of the Morristown Jewish Center could not immediately be reached for comment. Jeff Grayzel, who serves on the synagogue’s board, said he’s been informed that the person who tested positive was last there on March 4. Grayzel said he knows no other details about the individual.

The center will be closed through March 30, 2020, according to a message from the temple to the congregation.

“As a precaution, all programs, religious services and school activities – both Shalom Yeladim and Religious School – are suspended… We are taking these actions to ensure the protection of our children and community,” the message stated.



The center aims to establish an online presence to provide remote lessons and programs for its children, and to develop worship experiences during the closure.

“We will begin the process of discovering new ways to be a caring community in light of the hardships that this situation is now imposing on us,” continues the message, which advised members to consult with their doctor if they develop a fever, cough, sore throat or upper respiratory symptoms.

Urging members to “take care of each other to the extent possible under the circumstances,” the leadership of the Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael sounded a positive note:

“The next few weeks may be difficult as we and the larger community adapt to the challenges of the impact of the coronavirus. However, as a community, as long as we continue to care for and support each other, we can look forward to brighter days when we can return to normalcy and the comfort of our MJCBY home.”

The bar curfew, meanwhile, comes at what traditionally is the busiest weekend of the year for Morristown’s drinking establishments.

Although Saturday’s Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade has been cancelled, the calendar event still presents the possibility of drawing throngs of people to downtown taverns and restaurants, as it has in the past.

“COVID-19 does not discriminate. So far it has affected residents of our state from teens to over 80 years old. So, it is imperative that the town take a leadership role in establishing protocols to reinforce what we know to be practices that prevent the spread of this terrible illness, including social distancing,” Dougherty said.

“While our restaurants and nightlife are a popular draw for visitors, we must take every precaution to protect the public and prevent community spread.”

The Laundromat nightclub will shut down until the order is lifted, said owner Billy Walsh.

“You can’t really disagree with it. Everybody’s doing the same thing. You don’t want it to happen. We’re just watching, and seeing what happens,” said Walsh, noting that a half-dozen of his bartenders had expressed health concerns.

Jimmy Cavanaugh, owner of the Iron Bar and the Revolution beer hall, is suing the mayor and town over prior curfews. But he acknowledged Friday that the coronavirus poses unique challenges.

“It seems with such an unknown disease, it may be necessary,” Cavanaugh said of the mayor’s emergency order.

If the health crisis drags on, Cavanaugh predicted, the nation’s economy will plunge deeper than the Great Depression. He fears 50 of his 90 employees may lose their jobs.

Cavanaugh said he understands the importance of limiting occupancy, for “social distancing.” As for the 10 pm shutdown, “I’m still trying to figure out how the virus can tell time.”

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This story has been updated to include comments from bar owners and from temple trustee Jeff Grayzel.