By Donald Gilpin

The Princeton Health Department (PHD) announced this weekend that two Princeton police officers have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Both officers began displaying symptoms about a week ago and immediately took steps to self-isolate. One is showing mild symptoms of COVID-19. The other is showing moderate symptoms. The officers have written no citations, have made no arrests, and have had limited contact with the public during the period of communicability.

Anyone who had direct contact with either officer is being notified by the PHD. The Princeton Police Department (PPD) has been employing a plan over the last several weeks which has isolated this exposure to a small group of officers, who are all being quarantined.

As soon as the PPD received information that the officers were not feeling well, all areas of the police department and patrol vehicles were disinfected.

One additional member of the police department is currently awaiting test results.

The New Jersey Department of Health reported today that there are now 202 positive cases of COVID-19 in Mercer County, 71 additional cases since Friday.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes announced today that the County, in collaboration with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, Capital Health System, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, and the Trenton Health Team, will open an appointment-only drive-up testing site for COVID-19 on Tuesday, March 31 at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrenceville.

 The testing site, open initially 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, is by appointment only for symptomatic Mercer County residents age 18 or older who have a prescription from their primary health care provider.

As more cases are observed throughout New Jersey, the PHD is continuing to urge all people to practice social distancing by doing the following: stay at home; avoid all non-essential travel, public events, community gatherings, and indoor venues; keep at least six feet between yourself and another person in all public places; avoid close contact, including handshakes and hugging; and avoid in-person meetings and gatherings.

For more information, go to princetoncovid.org or covid19.nj.gov.