Editor’s note: We’ve moved this post up to the top because it appears people are STILL spreading this false rumor around the area — and the Kearny PD is aware of the false posts. Please remember — these reports are 100%, fully, completely, untrue.
Originally posted 21 March 202 at 12:42 p.m. — Reports of fake CDC agents, appearing at the homes of Kearny residents in protective gear and face masks, who reportedly ask to take a homeowner’s temperature whilst others break into homes to steal items are false, at the very least in Kearny, the town’s Chief of Police George King confirmed to The Observer.
Inaccurate reports are circulating on social media claiming these fake agents are serving as diversionary actors.
They claim a CDC agent arrives at a front door, in white protective gear and face masks, and tell the person who comes to the door they’re with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and must take your temperature.
The hoax posts also say that whilst all of this happens, other suspects use other doors to gain entry and remove items from a home.
Chief King did, however, say that if something like this does occur in Kearny that you should call the police immediately at (201) 998-1313 — or if happens in another town, call your town’s police department.
Chief King also says Internet-based reports of a national shutdown are also very much false.
The state OEM has requested and said the following to local police departments:
“There is a purposeful internet misrepresentation campaign in effect claiming an imminent national shutdown evoking the Stafford Act. Please use assets within your control to counter this message.”
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.