It has been 262 days since the first reported positive case of COVID-19 in New Jersey - we have all had a long eight months. Although Mendham Township has one of the lowest reported case numbers in Morris County, we are still seeing new cases of COVID-19 reported every week. Since March, there have been 87 cases of COVID-19 in the Township. Over 20 of those cases have been reported in November. We are in the midst of the “second wave” of this virus and we need to do everything possible to slow the transmission. This past Monday, the Governor signed an Executive Order reducing the indoor gathering limits to no more than 10 people. As you finalize your Thanksgiving plans, I urge you to honor these limits. This is not the year for a big family gathering. For more information on how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely, please view the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on holiday celebrations<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping…ml>. The New Jersey Department of Health also strongly recommends against families taking residents out of long-term care facilities for holiday celebrations or gatherings. I know many college students will be traveling home over the next couple of days. While it is exciting for us to have them back home in our community, we need everyone to work together to mitigate community spread. If a student hasn’t completed a 14-day quarantine before traveling home, the student can continue that quarantine period at home, but should remain separate from their family, especially high-risk family members. Additionally, college students are encouraged to get tested. For a list of Morris County testing sites, please go here: https://health.morriscountynj.gov/morris-county-covid-19-testing-sites/. As many things this year, this holiday season will not look like years past. Please do your part to protect your loved ones, neighbors, and the most vulnerable in our community by maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and keeping your Thanksgiving celebrations small and if possible, outdoors. Have a great weekend, and stay safe. Sarah Neibart Mayor, Mendham Township