Temperatures across New Jersey reached the upper-90s on Wednesday, putting most of the state under an air quality alert.

Some senior citizens in Hoboken tried to beat the heat at the Hoboken Senior Center for bingo in an air-conditioned environment.

“They want to stay healthy and live life. They don’t want to take chances,” says Leo Pellegrini, director of Health and Human Services.

Pellegrini says that the senior center is open all day for older Hoboken residents. The city provides a bus to get them there.

It is not just the heat that people need to be aware of. The state Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality action day for many northern New Jersey communities. This means that the ground level of ozone may approach or even exceed unhealthy amounts.

“For most people without any history of respiratory illness, they’ll notice it takes more effort to get daily life done,” says Dr. John Rimmer, chief medical officer at Hoboken University Medica Center. “But someone with respiratory illness…air quality is ever more important to observe.”

Rimmer says the hospital has seen a rise in patients over the last few days with heat-related illnesses and COVID-19. He warns that with COVID levels on the rise, poor air quality can hit those with respiratory symptoms extra hard.

Rimmer urges everyone to drink double the amount of water they would regularly drink and to do any outdoor activities early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat.

Other officials urge senior citizens to take advantage of any delivery services so that they do not have to go outside to get groceries or packages.