ARCHIVE: Tracking the coronavirus in New Jersey – NJ Spotlight

• New Cases: 611
• Total Cases: 165,346
• New Deaths: 74
• Total Deaths: 12,377 
• As of 10 p.m. June 9:
  • 1701 total hospitalizations
  • 9 in field medical stations
  • 471 in critical or intensive care
  • 342 ventilators in use
  • 156 new COVID-19 hospitalizations
  • 171 patients discharged
• Governor Murphy announced that as many as 1,600 additional contact tracers will be on-boarded in June.
  • They will be trained the Rutgers School of Public Health and local health departments.
  • They will be joining the 900 contact tracers already working throughout New Jersey.

• New Cases: 375
• Total Cases: 164,796
• New Deaths: 91
• Total Deaths: 12,303
• As of 10 p.m. June 8:
  • 1,736 total hospitalizations
  • 12 in field medical stations
  • 510 in critical or intensive care
  • 373 ventilators in use
  • 84 new COVID-19 hospitalizations
  • 88 patients discharged
• Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order lifting the state’s stay-at-home order, urging citizens to continue complying with public health guidelines, including wearing a mask or face covering in public and maintaining a social distance from others.
  • This allows for greater indoor religious services and explicitly allows outdoor gatherings of more than 100 persons for First Amendment-protected outdoor activities – such as political protests or outdoor religious services.
  • Gov. Murphy anticipates being able to raise the limit on non-protest and non-religious activities to:
    • 250 people on June 22
    • 500 people on July 3
  • The Executive Order also authorizes the opening of pools on June 22 and all outdoor recreational and entertainment businesses that were previously closed – with the exception of amusement parks, water parks, and arcades.
• Gov. Murphy also signed an Executive Order raising the limit on indoor and outdoor activities.
  • Indoor gatherings will be permitted at whichever number is lower – 25% of a building’s capacity or 50 people total.
  • The limit on outdoor gatherings will be raised to 100 people.
• New Jersey Economic Development Authority is now taking applications for a new $45 million in small business grants. For more info: cv.business.nj.gov
  • The New Jersey Economic Development Authority also voted to expand its Micro Business Loan Program. The program will provide loans of up to $50,000 to businesses with 10 or fewer employees, totaling $10 million.
  • For more information, go to www.njeda.com/microbusinessloanexpansion.

• New Cases: 910
• Total Cases: 159,608
• New Deaths: 113
• Total Deaths: 11,634
• As of 10:00 p.m. Friday:
  • 2,626 total hospitalizations
  • 672 in intensive or critical care
  • 499 on Ventilators
  • 231 discharged
• Following Governor Murphy’s signing of Executive Order No. 149, which will reopen childcare centers in the State of New Jersey beginning June 15, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families released specific operating guidance for centers in order to preserve the health and safety of children, staff and the families being served.
  • The childcare safety guidelines, which were posted on the NJ DCF website and will be communicated to all licensed childcare centers in the State of New Jersey, would require centers to abide by certain safety guidelines as a condition of reopening.
• Governor Phil Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan announced an Administrative Order authorizing horse racetracks to reopen on June 1st with no spectators, and with health and safety protocols in place. The Order will take effect immediately.

• New Cases: 1,117
• Total Cases: 158,844
• New Deaths: 131
• Total Deaths: 11,531
• As of 10:00 p.m. Thursday:
  • 2,707 total hospitalizations
  • 720 in intensive or critical care
  • 544 on Ventilators
  • 183 new hospitalizations
  • 231 discharged
• Governor Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Oliver today announced the COVID-19 Short-Term Rental Assistance Program. The program will provide rental assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have had a substantial reduction in income as a result of the pandemic, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • The program will open for applications in July and begin paying rental assistance in September.
  • Qualifying households will be expected to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent, and the program would pay the remainder of their rent up to DCA’s fair market rent payment standard.
  • At the three-month mark, the household budget will be reviewed to determine if assistance is still needed.
• Gov. Murphy signed an executive order today allowing for the resumption of the following:
  • Childcare services to resume June 15th.
  • Organized sports practices to resume June 22nd.
  • Youth day camps (including municipal summer rec. programs) to resume July 6th.
• Gov. Murphy announced today the resumption of horse-racing.
• Congressman Josh Gottheimer announced he cosponsoring of new legislation — the COVID-19 Youth Sports and Working Families Relief Act — to provide critical relief for North Jersey youth sports and activities groups that are faced with economic uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, to equip working families with the financial tools to bounce back from this economic crisis, and to help save these organization that serve as cultural bedrocks of our communities.

• New Cases: 1,261
• Total Cases: 157,815
• New Deaths: 66
• Total Deaths: 11,401
• As of 10:00 p.m. Wednesday:
  • 2,797 total hospitalizations
  • 740 in intensive or critical care
  • 564 on Ventilators
  • 365 new hospitalizations
  • 287 discharged

• New Jersey saw the lowest weekly total of people seeking unemployment benefits since the coronavirus outbreak struck, according to the state Labor Department.

  • New applications fell to 34,410 last week, down from about 42,000 the week before, and far below a record high of 215,000 in early April.

  • Despite the drop-off, the state has processed what is says are a record 1.1 million claims through last week, totaling $4.3 billion in payments.

• President Trump announced that he would be extending Title 32 funding for the National Guard, allowing them to continue to assist with matters related to COVID-19 in the state until at least mid-August.

• Gov. Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) will issue updated guidance allowing school districts and colleges/universities to hold modified in-person graduation ceremonies beginning on July 6.
  • The guidance will include requirements that ceremonies be held outdoors, adhere to social distancing protocols, and observe capacity restrictions in order to protect the health of students and families celebrating these milestones amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Gov. Murphy announced today that professional sports teams in NJ may return training and even competition if their leagues choose to move in this direction.
• Gov. Murphy announced today The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $91.5 million dollars to the rehab of the Portal Bridge.
• Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli announced today hospitals and ambulatory centers are beginning to perform urgent and elective surgeries.

• The state shed 757,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate rose to 15.3%, according to new data the New Jersey Department of Labor. That’s the highest unemployment rate in the state since the federal government began tracking these numbers in 1976.
  • Over the past week, DOL received another 42,000 applications for unemployment.
  • The department has paid out $3.4 billion unemployment benefits over the past nine weeks.
  • More than 1.1 million new unemployment claims have been received since March 15.

• The state Republican party has filed a lawsuit against the Murphy administration, claiming the governor created “arbitrary and capricious classes of employers and employees” through his executive order designating essential and non-essential businesses. The plaintiffs, which include four small business owners, argue the executive order has disproportionately impacted the state’s small businesses while allowing big box stores to continue operations.

• The state Department of Environmental Protection has launched a “Mask Up!” campaign to encourage people to wear masks in public spaces including state parks, beaches and forests.
  • Masks and face coverings are not mandatory in these spaces.

• The Murphy administration has outlined guidelines for seasonal farm workers and employers around working conditions, housing and transportation:
  • Employees should provide workers with face covering or masks that must be worn at all times
  • Workers should remain at least six feet from one another while working in fields or food farming production, processing or cultivation.
  • Staggered shifts are also encouraged
  • Beds in congregant living spaces should be placed at least six feet apart, or at least three feet apart with a partition.
  • Mealtimes should be staggered
  • Ventilation must be provided in sleeping and living areas
  • Transportation vehicles should be limited to 50% capacity
  • Employers should ensure high-touch areas are disinfected and post guidance on hand-washing
  • Employers should screen workers for symptoms, including through temperature and symptom checks, prior to work shifts.
  • If workers show any symptoms, they should immediately be separated from others and be connected to a physician, who will determine if a test is needed.
  • Employees are protected from being fired or punished for taking time off if a medical professional determines the worker has or likely has COVID-19

May 20

• Total Cases: 142,704
• New Cases: 1,216
• Total Deaths: 9,946
• New Deaths: 244
• As of 10 p.m. Wednesday:
  • 3,958 total hospitalizations
  • 1,157 in critical/intensive care
  • 898 on ventilators
  • 171 new hospitalizations
  • 366 discharges
• Governor Murphy announced that the state’s beaches and lakefronts will be open in time for Memorial Day weekend.
  • There will be restrictions on the number of people allowed on beaches and lakefronts
  • Social distancing measures will also be enforced.
  • Each New Jersey beach will be required to:
    • Establish capacity limitations
    • Enforce social distancing measures
    • Prohibit contact sports and organized events
    • Implement proper sanitation
  • Shower pavilions, changing areas and restrooms at the beaches will be open.
    • Public restrooms at the state’s parks will also be opening after they can be properly sanitized and staffed.
  • Boardwalk restaurants may remain open for takeout and delivery only.
  • Amusement parks, playgrounds and visitor centers will remain closed.
  • All of this will take effect Friday, May 22
• The US Department of Veterans Affairs is providing five, 10-member Health Care Strike Teams expected to join staffs across the state by June 30.
• Nearly 70,000 new unemployment claims were filed in New Jersey last week, as the Labor Department processed another 262,000 weeks worth of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and saw total pandemic-related payments rise to $2.7 billion.

• Total Cases: 141,560
• New Cases: 1,028
• Total Deaths: 9,702
• New Deaths: 197
• As of 10 p.m. Tuesday:
  • 4,226 total hospitalizations
  • 1,226 in critical/intensive care
  • 928 on ventilators
  • 364 new hospitalizations
  • 382 discharges
• Health Commission Judith Persichilli announced today 18 children between 3 and 18 years of age have shown signs of the inflammatory response knowns as Kawasaki disease.
  • Children are identifies from Bergen, Essex, Gloucester Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, Union and Warren counties.
  • Out of those reported, 4 tested positive for COVID-19
• Gov. Murphy today announced departmental actions from the Department of Banking and Insurance, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Treasury to increase insurance coverage to cover expanded testing access and related services for COVID-19.
• Gov. Murphy today signed an executive order permitting the resumption of non-essential construction, curbside pickup at non-essential retail businesses, and car gatherings for the purpose of drive-through and drive-in events. The construction and non-essential retail provisions will take effect at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, while the car gatherings provision will take effect immediately.
• Non-Essential Construction: The Order permits non-essential construction projects to resume effective at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18. All construction projects must abide by the social distancing, safety, and sanitization requirements that are described in detail in the Governor’s Executive Order.
• Curbside Pickup at Non-Essential Retail Businesses: The Order also permits non-essential retail businesses to allow curbside pickup of goods, beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, but businesses must continue to have their in-store operations closed to customers.  Businesses who choose to offer curbside pickup must abide by the requirements in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:
  • In-store operations should be limited to those employees who are responsible for the operations required for curbside pickup;
  • Customer transactions should be handled in advance by phone, email, facsimile or other means that avoid person-to-person contact;
  • Customers shall notify the retailer by text message, email, or phone once they arrive, or make best efforts to schedule their arrival time in advance.  The customer should be asked to remain in their vehicle, if arriving by car, until store staff delivers the purchase;
  • Designated employees should bring goods outside of the retail establishment and place goods directly in a customer’s vehicle when possible, avoiding person-to-person contact; and
  • Such businesses must follow social distancing and mitigation practices outlined in previous orders, including requiring workers to wear cloth face coverings when in contact with other workers or customers and gloves when in contact with goods or customers. 
• Car Gatherings:  The Order states that car gatherings do not violate the Governor’s ban on gatherings under Executive Order No. 107.  Examples of such car gatherings include but are not limited to drive-in movies, religious services, or drive-through farms or safaris.  Car gatherings will be subject to the restrictions in the Order, which include but are not limited to the following:
  • Attendees must remain in their same car throughout the gathering, unless 1) an occupant needs to get out of the vehicle for their health or safety or 2) an occupant needs to use the restroom;
  • The vehicle must remain closed at all times unless 1) there is six feet of distance between other vehicles or individuals or 2) an officer, public official or guard requires the vehicle to open. There is a further exception allowing the opening of the vehicle if necessary for health or safety;
  • Individuals organizing the gathering who are not in vehicles must follow social distancing and wear cloth face coverings; and
  • To the degree that a gathering requires pre-payment, or seeks donations of any kind, contactless options for pre-payment or donation, such as online or by telephone, must be offered wherever feasible.
• Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla today signed an executive order establishing a Hoboken economic recovery task force to provide assistance to the City and the Hoboken business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force, consisting of leaders in various local industries in Hoboken, will provide recommendations on advancing a gradual reopening that is safe for business employees, customers, and the City of Hoboken.

• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka today announced a dramatic series of interventions to aid tenants in desperate need of help during the COVID-19 crisis and to keep Newark development on track during reopening and beyond.

  1. Emergency grants to provide rental assistance for affected families. 

  2. An executive order declaring a moratorium on rent increases for rent-controlled tenants. 

  3. Acceleration of land sales and redevelopment agreements to spur development and economic recovery.

• Total Cases 140,743
• New Cases 898
• Total Deaths 9,508
• New Deaths 198
• As of 10 p.m. Monday:
  • 4,328 Hospitalizations
  • 1,306 In Critical/Intensive Care
  • 982 On Ventilators
  • 360 New Hospitalizations
  • 164 Discharged
• New data today shows total hospitalizations are down 48% since the peak of the virus, and that new hospitalizations are down 71%.
  • The numbers of patients in ICU is down 36%, and the number of patients on ventilators is down by 41%
• For May 8, the overall positivity rate was 23%.
• In comparison to other states, New Jersey has the highest number per 100,000 of new cases, patients in hospitals, and new deaths.

• Total Cases: 139,945
• New Cases: 1,453
• Total Deaths: 9,310
• New Deaths: 59
• As of 10 p.m. Friday:
  • 4,195 total hospitalizations
  • 1,255 in critical/intensive care
  • 970 on ventilators
  • 179 new hospitalizations
  • 227 discharges
• The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs announced that the State of New Jersey received $31,511,487 from the second round of Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding allocated by the federal government.
  • Today’s CDBG funding allocation is in addition to the $4 million the State of New Jersey received on April 2, 2020
• Governor Murphy announced that the federal government will continue to cover 100% of the cost of National Guard orders through June 24
• NJ Transit has increased employee access to COVID-19 testing by adding a second site, located at Rowan University in Gloucester County.
  • The site is available to all NJ Transit employees on Tuesdays and Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Total Cases: 138, 532
• New Cases: 1,394
• Total Deaths: 9,255
• New Deaths: 139
• As of 10pm Saturday:
  • 4,308 total hospitalizations
  • 1,338 in critical/intensive care
  • 994 on ventilators
  • 439 discharges
• Beginning June 1, Amtrak will be restoring Acela service on the Northeast Corridor line. New safety initiatives will continue to be in effect.

• Total Cases: 135,454
• New Cases: 1,985
• Total Deaths: 8,952
• New Deaths: 162
• As of 10 p.m. Thursday:
  • 4,605 total hospitalizations
  • 1,439 in critical/intensive care
  • 1,189 on ventilators
  • 334 new hospitalizations
  • 464 discharges
• 267,373 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 104,868 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 39.1%.
• Gov. Murphy today announced the formation of a statewide council of leaders to advise on New Jersey’s restart and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • The Governor’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council will work in conjunction with the commission named last week and will bring together leaders from various industry, community, and faith-based groups and institutions across New Jersey to advise state leadership on economic issues impacted by the pandemic. 

    • The council will be broken down into 9 sub-committees
      1. Facilities and Construction
      2. Government
      3. Health Care
      4. Main Street
      5. Manufacturing and Supply Chain
      6. Professional Services
      7. Social Services and Faith
      8. Tourism and Entertainment
      9. Transportation and Infrastructure
• Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli announced today the Department of Human Services has distributed and additional 106 million dollars in benefits to SNAP recipients since the start of the pandemic. In addition, those with SNAP benefits up for renewal in March or April and due in May or June have been extended for 6 months.
• The community testing sites at Bergen Community College and PNC Ban Arts Center will be prioritized for asymptomatic health care workers and first responders, personnel in congregate living conditions, and New Jersey residents who have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• The Meadowlands Expo. Center will be closed this weekend and operations transferring to East Orange General Hospital.

• Senator Bob Menendez today announced legislation to forgive debt owed to the federal government by municipalities and homeowners recovering from Superstorm Sandy to help provide relief to cash-strapped towns and residents coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Congressmen Andy Kim and Frank Pallone, Jr. are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

• Monmouth County legislators Senator Vin Gopal and Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey announced today the formation of a new 11th Legislative District COVID-19 Economic Recovery Advisory Council, which will bring together representatives from a diverse array of industries and communities to advance efforts to re-open New Jersey’s economy, improve public health outcomes, and expand access to resources for municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and local small businesses.
• Gov. Murphy today ordered that the U.S. and New Jersey flags be flown at half-staff at all state buildings and facilities on Friday, May 8^th, in recognition of the 75^th Anniversary of V-E Day. The flags will also fly at half-staff to honor the victims of COVID-19, pursuant to Executive Order No. 114, which remains in effect indefinitely.

• Total Cases: 133,635
• New Cases: 1,827
• Total Deaths: 8,801
• New Deaths: 254
• As of 10 p.m. Wednesday:
  • 4,996 total hospitalizations
  • 1,470 in critical/intensive care, down about 25% from a week ago.
  • 1,107 on ventilators
  • 325 new hospitalizations
  • 460 discharges
• 261,869 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 102,846 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 39.27%.
• Gov. Murphy announced today that the Department of labour has now received one million unemployment claims and has issues 1.9 billion in unemployment assistance.
• Gov. Murphy announce today he will be deploying 120 soldiers from the NJ National Guard to long term care facilities beginning this weekend.
• Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli announce today the creation of “New Jersey Student Nurse Strong,” an initiative that match nursing students, who meet the proper requirements, to be placed in long term care facilities across NJ to aid in the frontline defense agains COVID-19.
• Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asoro-Angelo announced today the launch of a new chat bot to help those seeking unemployment benefits answer any of the common questions asked throughout the process of filing for unemployment
  • www.myunemployment.nj.gov
• Senator Troy Singleton is introducing legislation today that seeks to alleviate the financial pressures on counties and municipalities during the current public health emergency. The bill would permit local governments to issue “coronavirus relief bonds” to cover revenue shortfalls during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton today announced that all agency, road testing, and inspections facilities will remain closed until at least Tuesday, May 26. The closures are part of the Murphy Administration’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
• The Office of the Attorney General will host a Virtual Town Hall Meeting focused on the continuing availability of recovery and addiction services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Today’s Virtual Town Hall Meeting is the second in a series of virtual sessions organized under the Attorney General’s “21 County, 21^st Century Community Policing Project.”

• Total Cases: 131,890
• New Cases: 1,513
• Total Deaths: 8,549
• New Deaths: 308
• As of 10 p.m. Tuesday:
  • 5,221 total hospitalizations
  • 1,549 in critical/intensive care, down about 25% from a week ago.
  • 1,146 on ventilators
  • 439 new hospitalizations
  • 435 discharges
• The Governor announced that the state will be bringing in a nationally experienced team of experts on long-term care to help with the issues the state’s facilities have been facing due to COVID-19
  • The team will be led by Cindy Mann, a 30-year expert in federal and state health policy who ran Medicaid in the Obama Administration as former Deputy Administrator at the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Carol Raphael, former Chief Executive Officer and President of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, as well as the former board chair of AARP.
    • It will provide support at the Department of Health
    • It will conduct a two-to-three-week review to protect residents and staff
    • It will make recommendations on long-term, systemic reform
• Governor Murphy announced that he is signing an executive order to extend the public health emergency by 30 days.
  • “Extending this declaration ensures that we can continue using every resource at our disposal to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,”said Governor Murphy.“But I want to ensure that this extension is not interpreted to mean that we are reconsidering our path forward or changing course on the principles I laid out last week in the Road Back plan. We will continue to stand by these principles and protect public health as we responsibly take steps to get the economy moving again.”
• Murphy says more than 35 million pieces of personal protective equipment have been distributed statewide.
• The Delaware River Port Authority has announced that it will reopen cash toll lanes on its four bridges which connect Pennsylvania with South Jersey starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 11.
  • Toll collectors will return in toll lanes to accept cash toll payments on the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry Bridges.
• The City of Newark will be offering COVID-19 testing to residents by appointment starting today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Testing will be conducted at the Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Rink, located at 7^th and Clifton Avenues. Residents should enter through the Park Avenue entrance.

• Total Cases 130,593
• New Cases 2,494
• Total Deaths 8,244
• New Deaths 334
• As of 10 p.m. Sunday:
  • 5,328 total hospitalizations, a decrease of about 1,000 patients since last week
  • 1,534 in critical/intensive care
  • 1,169 on ventilators, or 76% of all patients in critical/intensive care.
  • 385 new hospitalizations
  • 232 discharges
• 257,587 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 100,557 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 39.5%.
• Gov. Murphy announced today the Department of Consumer Affairs will begin a program to grant temporary emergency licenses to recent graduates of nursing, physician assistant, pharmacy and respiratory care therapy programs.
• Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the creation of a new portal to report misconduct at long term care facilities.
  • If you have evidence of misconduct involving a New Jersey nursing home or other long term care facilities (LTC) during the COVDI-91 outbreak, log on to covid19.nj.gov/LTC
• Senator Vin Gopal introduced new legislation this week (S2436) that would allow licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests authorized and approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut, Municipal Court Chief Judge Carlo Abad, and Municipal Court Director Wendy Razzoli announce provisions in place to allow for virtual court proceedings beginning Monday, May 11, 2020.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and social distancing measures remain in effect, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal recently announced a series of Virtual Town Hall Meetings that, despite the public health crisis, will provide an opportunity for continued community engagement with law enforcement.
  • The second of the Virtual Town Hall Meetings is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, at 12 p.m.
• The second of two new testing centers for COVID-19 opened today in Camden to increase testing capability and bring it closer to home for many Camden residents. The new site located at Dudley Grange Park features designated areas for both vehicular and walk-up traffic and is staffed by personnel from Cooper University Health Care.
• Somerset County 4-H has introduced two new blogs on their website, with plans to introduce a third shortly. The blogs, aimed at both youth members and non-members, serve as a lasting home for inspiring and educational content moving forward.
  • These blogs are available on the Somerset County 4-H website at 4Histops.org and then by going to the Blogs button at the top menu.

• The state is reporting an additional 2,651 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results to 121,190
• There were 311 additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 7,538
• The governor signed an executive order relaxing the in-person requirements for both the solemnization of marriage licenses for couples and attaining working papers for minors.
  • Wedding ceremonies will be allowed to be held using video-conferencing technology, with certain safeguards.
  • Municipalities are still permitted to allow in-person ceremonies, subject to social distancing, but will not be required to do so
  • For working papers, the requirement that a school district-designated individual give in-person sign off is waived for this emergency.
• U.S. regulators will allow emergency use of the experimental drug remdesivir that appears to help some coronavirus patients recover faster. It is the first drug shown to help fight COVID-19.
  • The drug also might be reducing deaths, although that’s not certain from the partial results revealed so far.
  • Drugmaker Gilead Sciences has said it would donate its currently available stock of the drug and is ramping up production to make more.
• The New Jersey Department of Corrections, in partnership with Rutgers University Correctional Healthcare and Accurate Diagnostics Lab, has announced plans to provide COVID-19 tests to staff, inmates, and residents on-site at each of NJDOC’s facilities and halfway houses.
  • The plan leverages the FDA-approved Rutgers saliva test administered to NJDOC’s staff of approximately 8,000 employees and 18,000 inmates by UCHC.  
  • Universal testing is expected to begin by the end of next week and will help the Department inform its operational needs related to the management of the infirm while maintaining the safe operation of facilities. 
  • Additionally, in support of staff safety, the NJDOC is obtaining full-service non-congregate housing for its first responders and Rutgers UCHC staff members with exposure to the virus through a program offered by the NJ Office of Emergency Management and FEMA
• NJ Department of Human Services commissioner Carole Johnson today announced $6.3 million in funding to the 21 counties to support home delivered meals and other food for older New Jerseyans during the pandemic.

• The state has received an additional 2,633 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results in the state to 118,652.
• As of 10 p.m. Wednesday:
  • 6,137 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19.
  • 1,765 are in critical or intensive care.
  • 1,271 ventilators are in use.
  • 45 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
  • 514 COVID patients have been discharged.
• 460 more deaths have brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 7,228.
  • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
    • 52.50% White
    • 19.70% African American/Black
    • 17.30% Hispanic/LatinX
    • 5.30% Asian
    • 5.20% other
• 222,241 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 92,975 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 41.83%.
• Gov. Murphy announced today that universal testing for the Department of Corrections’ staff and inmates will begin at the end of next week.
  • The Department of corrections will also be providing non-congregate staff shelter if exposed for COVID-19
• Gov. Murphy announced today that all NJ Transit staff will have access to COVID-19 testing at the American Dream site in East Rutherford.
• Following today’s White House meeting, NJ will receive 500,000new COVID-19 test kits and 750,000 swabs from the Trump Administration.
  • In addition, 358 nursing homes will be receiving a direct shipment of PPE

• The Murphy Administration today announced that the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and The Defense Logistics Agency, has secured the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System (CCDS) to assist healthcare providers, first responders, and other agencies in decontaminating and preserving critically needed N95 respirators at no charge to the sending agencies.

• More than 930,000 new unemployment claims have been filed since COVID-19 hit New Jersey in mid-March, and the Labor Department announced that it would begin processing claims from self-employed workers, independent contractors and others not eligible for regular unemployment.
• The COVID-19 testing site located at Cooper’s Poynt Park in Camden will cease operations at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 1. Two additional sites located in the city will offer the same services to individuals in need of testing and other services.

• The state is reporting an additional 2,481 positive cases, bringing the total number of cases to 116,264
• There were 6,289 additional COVID-19 related hospitalizations, 1,811 of those individuals are currently in critical care.
• There were an additional 329 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 6,770
• The Governor announced that he is signing an executive order to reopen state parks and allow county parks as well as golf courses to open, effective at sunrise on Saturday, May 2.
  • Social distancing will continue to be mandated
• A second executive order signed by the governor will allow for any petition to place municipal or county initiatives on the ballot to be signed electronically, the same as candidate petitions.
• The Murphy Administration announced $24 million in state and federal resources for temporary wage increases for the direct support professionals who care for adult individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in group homes and supervised apartments
  • $10.6 million in state funding and $13.4 million in federal matching resources.
• The Department of Labor will begin notifying recipients of the first round of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments.
• Governor Murphy announced a partnership between the state and NJMEP to manufacture facemasks and gowns in-state.
• Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson and Children and Families Commissioner Christine Beyer today announced the state will continue to help pay for child care for essential employees as defined in Executive Order 110 through at least the end of May.
• The NJ Department of Human Services announced that additional federal funds will be provided to many residents who receive food assistance through the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
  • An additional $36 million will be provided to about 214,000 New Jersey households in May.

• Total Cases 113,856
• New Cases 2,887
• Total Deaths 6,442
• New Deaths 402
• As of 10 p.m. Monday:
  • 6,476 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19
  • 1,809 are in critical or intensive care
  • 1,262 ventilators are in use, a continuation of a downward trend
    • 70% of critical care individuals are on ventilators – the lowest rate since the beginning of April
  • There have been 488 new hospitalizations and 418 patients discharged
• According to lab data from this morning, out of 210,043 people tested, 89,540 are COVID-19 positive, for a positivity rate of 42.76%, the lowest rate since reporting began.
• Gov. Murphy has signed an executive order allowing municipalities to extend the grace period for property taxes from May 1 to June 1
• Murphy also announced the appointment of members to a Restart and Recovery Commission, tasked with advising the administration on the timing and preparation for New Jersey’s recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown.
  • The 21-member commission will be chaired by Princeton Professor and former University President Shirley Tilghman and Merck CEO Ken Frazier.
  • Other members of the commission are: Ben Bernanke, Dr. Richard Besser, Evelyn McGee Colbert, Tony Coscia, Jessica Gonzalez, Jonathan Holloway, Lisa P. Jackson, Jeh Johnson,  Charles Lowrey, Denise Morrison, William Rodgers, Neera Tanden, Reverend Dr. Regena Thomas, Richard Trumka, Sheila Oliver, George Helmy, Judith Persichilli, Matt Platkin and Kathleen Frangione.
• All youth in the state’s juvenile detention centers will be tested for COVID-19, according to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. New Jersey is the first state to commit to testing all its youth in detention, according to the advocacy organization New Jersey Institute of Social Justice.
  • The organization says 20 youth and 32 staff are reported to have tested positive.
• The state will continue to help pay for child care for essential employees through at least the end of May. Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson and Children and Families Commissioner Christine Beyer say the per child subsidy rates for essential workers previously announced through the end of April will now continue through the end of May. Subsidies range from $336 for school-aged children up to $450.35 for infants.
• The Jersey4Jersey benefit concert raised $5.9 million in one hour for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.
  • The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund has now raised a total of $26.6 million

April 27

• • The state has received an additional 2,146 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results in the state to 111,188.
  • As of 10 p.m. Saturday:
    • 6,407 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19.
    • 1,801 are in critical or intensive care.
    • 1,303 ventilators are in use.
    • 75 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
    • 480 COVID patients have been discharged.
  • Hospital Discharge Destination (773 cases examined)
    • 50.32 discharged home
    • 24.7% discharged to skilled nursing
    • 10.8% died after discharge
    • 3% discharged to rehab
    • 2.8 discharged to another facility type
    • 1.8 discharged to hospice care
    • .9 discharged against medical advice
  • 106 more deaths have brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 6,044.
    • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
      • 53.2% White
      • 20.3% African American/Black
      • 16.3% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.1% Asian
      • 5.0% other
  • 476 long-term care or assisted living facilities have now reported at least one COVID-19 case for a total of 16,277.
  • 201,651 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 88,064 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 43%.
• Governor Murphy outlined six key principles and benchmarks to guide the process for restoring New Jersey’s economic health by ensuring public health.
• Principle 1: Demonstrate sustained reductions in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
  • 14 day trend lines showing appreciable and sustained drop in cases, hospitalizations and other metrics.
  • Hospitals stepping down from functioning under crisis standards of care
• Principle 2: Expand testing capacity.
  • At least double the current diagnostic testing capacity.
  • Prioritize testing for healthcare workers, essential personnel and vulnerable populations.
  • Create a flexible testing plan accessible to all residents.
  • Expand partnerships with institutions of higher education, private-sector-labs and federal government.
  • Ensure that those who test positive are linked to a healthcare provider.
• Principle 3: Implement robust contact tracing.
  • Recruit and deploy an army of personnel who will identify and follow up with contacts.
  • Leverage technological data and innovative solutions to increase efficiency.
  • Coordinate the approach of local and state health officials, which will have a coordinated county/regional component.
• Principle 4: Secure safe places and resources for isolation and quarantine.
  • To the greatest extent possible, provide individuals who do test positive in the future with a safe and free place to isolate and protect others from COVID-19.
  • Ensure that quarantined contacts are provided supportive services, if needed.
• Principle 5: Execute a responsible economic restart.
  • Create Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission to advise on the process and recommend responsible and equitable decisions.
  • Plan for a methodical and strategic return to work based on level of disease transmission risk and essential classification.
  • Continuation of social distancing measures when feasible and appropriate.
  • Leverage any available federal funds and programs to support health care, individual and small business recovery.
• Principle 6: Ensure New Jersey’s resiliency.
  • Learn from the lessons of COVID-19 and prepare for the possibility of resurgence.
  • Ensure hospitals, health care systems and other health delivery facilities have inventories of personal protective equipment and ventilators.
  • Build our own state personal protective equipment and ventilator stockpile.
  • Create a playbook for future administrations for the next pandemic.
• Gov. Murphy today signed an executive order which extends retired officer carry permits by a period of 90 days until after the ongoing public health emergency ends.
• April 26
  • The state has received an additional 3,730 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results in the state to 109,038.
  • As of 10 p.m. Saturday:
    • 6,573 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19.
    • 1,804 are in critical or intensive care.
    • 1,418 ventilators are in use.
    • 76 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
    • 684 COVID patients have been discharged.
  • 75 more deaths have brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 5,938.
    • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
      • 49.3% White
      • 22.0% African American/Black
      • 17.2% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.4% Asian
      • 6.0% other
  • 200,756 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 86,650 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 43.4%.
    • 114,146 tests have returned negative.
• April 25
  • With 3,457 new confirmed test results, the total statewide number of positive test results is now 105,523
  • As of 1 p.m. Saturday:
    • 6,722 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19. Murphy: “consecutive decrease since Thursday”
    • 1,971 are in critical or intensive care.
    • 1,442 ventilators are in use. Murphy: “these numbers are down”
    • 99 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
    • 561 New hospitalizations. Murphy: “overall trend is in the right direction”
    • 686 discharges
  • A total of 5,863 deaths, with 249 new confirmed deaths. Murphy claims the total number of deaths are more than those New Jerseyans killed during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War combined “let that sink in for a moment.”
  • Murphy: “We cannot ease up one bite on our social distancing…or slip up…there will be many more Spring days…please please stay at home.”
  • Persichilli: “We need you to continue do your part, wash your hands…cover you coughs and sneezes…if you are sick please isolate yourself…stay connected, but stay healthy.”
  • Murphy plans to lay out his “broad plan for how to begin reopening” the state on Monday.
• April 24
  • With 3,047 new confirmed test results, the total statewide number of positive test results is now 102,196
    • 185,329 tests have now been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 81,563 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 44.1%
  • As of 10 p.m. Friday:
    • 6,847 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19. A 17% decrease in the growth rate in the past ten days.
    • 1,933 are in critical or intensive care.
    • 1,487 ventilators are in use.
    • 98 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
  • 253 more deaths has brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 5,617
    • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
      • 53.5% White
      • 20.1% African American/Black
      • 16.3% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.3% Asian
      • 4.9% other
  • 452 long-term care or assisted living facilities have now reported at least one COVID-19 case.
  • At the state’s veterans homes:
    • Total census of all residents in veterans homes is 725.
      • 244 veterans have tested positive for COVID-19.
      • 91 residents have died.
  • Gov. Murphy signed an executive order outlining new measures to help renters and homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order allows:
    • Renters to use their security deposits to pay their rent.
    • Creates a FAQ section and question portal for tenants and landlords about rights and responsibilities.
      • www.covid19.nj.gov/renters
    • Generates an addition information page on covid.nj.gov for homeowners taking advantage of mortgage forbearance.
    • In collaboration with the NJ Apartments Association, urges all landlords to waive late fees and continue to work with tenants who cannot pay their rent due to COVID-19.
  • Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. and Congressman Andy Kim demand that the Trump Administration fairly and quickly distribute financial aid to the fishing industries in states like New Jersey that have incurred greater economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker joined a group of 74 senators urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to direct federal advertising to help support local radio, television and print media hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  April 23

  • The state has received an additional 4,427 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results to 99,989
  • There were an additional 307 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 5,368
  • Out of a total of 179,717 tests conducted, 79,558 have come back positive giving the state a positivity rate of 44.4%
  • Next week the state will begin testing all residents and staff at each of NJ’s five centers for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    • They will be using a saliva-based testing system developed at Rutgers University.
  • New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton announced that all agency, road testing, and inspections facilities will remain closed until at least Monday, May 11
  • New Jersey saw another 140,139 unemployment claims filed this week, as the number of weekly payments increased to 556,000 — a 560 percent jump from a year ago.
    • The Labor Department has distributed $1 billion in unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March.
  • Mayor Andre Sayegh announced the launch of the pilot program, Neighbor Express, in Paterson.
    • Neighbor Express is a volunteer run program that helps connect neighbors to deliver groceries and provide a helping hand to senior citizens during COVID-19.
    • Through Paterson’s Neighbor Express website, senior citizens within the city can request meals, and order their groceries, a volunteer will go to one of the grocery stores that have partnered with the city to pick up and deliver the groceries to the senior resident.

  April 22

  • With 3,551 new confirmed test results, the total statewide number of positive test results is now 95,856
  • As of 10 p.m. Friday:
    • 7,210 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, a 3% decrease in the growth rate in the past two days.
    • 1,983 are in critical or intensive care.
    • 1,570 ventilators are in use.
    • 745 COVID patients have been discharged, bringing the total number of patients discharged to 9,692.
    • 84 patients are in the state’s field medical stations.
  • 314 more deaths has brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 5,063
    • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
      • 49.3% White
      • 22% African American/Black
      • 17.2% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.4% Asian
      • 6.1% other
  • 438 long-term care or assisted living facilities have now reported at least one COVID-19 case.
    • 11,608 residents of these facilities have tested positive.
    • 2,050 of the total number of deaths are from long term care facilities.
  • At the state’s veterans homes:
    • Total census of all residents in veterans homes is 741.
      • 183 veterans have tested positive for COVID-19.
      • 80 residents have died.
    • Total census of workers in veterans homes is 1,331.
      • 98 have tested positive for COVID-19.
      • None have died.
  • With nearly all labs in the state reporting information, out of 142,616 tests performed, 76,818 tested positive, for an overall positivity rate of 44.50%
  • Governor Murphy today signed legislation which will require hospitals to report demographic and racial data for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to the Department of Health. In conjunction with this signing, the COVID-19 Information Hub has been updated with preliminary racial data that has already been collected.
  • Gov. Murphy along with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont are initiating a COVID-19 contact tracing program.
  • The Office of Emergency Management has received a shipment of 500 ventilators to be distributed to area hospitals.
  • U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker and Congressmen Bill Pascrell, Jr. and Josh Gottheimer today announced the awarding of $2,351,114.87 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance grants to the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to aid the county’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Tonight, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell will field calls from his constituents on the growing coronavirus epidemic. He will be joined on the call by Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Dr. Joseph Duffy, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.
  • Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announces today he will propose the withdrawal of the Arts Referendum planned for the November ballot to allow voters to decide on the establishment of an Arts and Culture Trust Fund.
  • Faculty, students and staff from across Rutgers campuses will come together to produce face shields and intubation boxes themselves with off-the-shelf materials to help relieve the PPE shortage at area hospitals.

  April 21

  • The state is reporting its highest daily COVID-19 death toll with 379 fatalities, bringing the state total to 4,753.
  • With 3,643 new cases, there have now been 92,387 total positive cases reported.
  • With more than 90% of labs reporting, 167,233 tests have been performed, with 74,884 returning positive for a positivity rate of 44.75%
  • As of 10 p.m. Monday:
    • 7,594 hospitalized
    • 1,930 in critical/intensive care
    • 1,501 ventilators in use
    • 630 patients discharged
  • Health Commissioner Persichilli says 73% of patients in critical or intensive care are on ventilators, the lowest percentage for “quite some time.” Last week, 97% of these patients were on ventilators.
  • 432 long-term care or assisted living facilities have now reported at least one COVID-19 case.
    • 11,527 residents of these facilities have tested positive
    • 2,048 have died
  • At the state’s veterans homes:
    • In Paramus, out of 239 total residents, 119 have tested positive and 46 have died due to COVID-19. 51 staff members have tested positive. All residents have been tested for the virus.
    • In Menlo Park, out of 226 total residents, 60 have tested positive and 29 residents have died. 36 staff members have tested positive.
    • In Vineland, out of 282 total residents, one has tested positive.
  • Poison control is reporting an increase of 21% in calls related to exposure to household cleaning products and disinfectants.
  • New Jersey students who are having hardships paying private student loans and who were not eligible for relief under the federal CARES Act may now qualify for assistance under a new student loan initiative. Eligible students are those who borrowed through the Federal Family Education Loan Program or who have privately-held student loans.
    • Borrowers in need of assistance must immediately contact their student loan servicer to identify the options that are appropriate to their circumstances. Relief options offered by participating servicers include:
      • Providing a minimum of 90 days of forbearance relief for borrowers; 
      • Waiving late payment fees for borrowers;
      • Ensuring no borrower is subject to negative credit reporting;
      • Ceasing debt collection lawsuits for 90 days; and
      • Working with eligible borrowers to enroll them in other applicable borrower assistance programs.

  April 20

  • The state has received confirmation on 3,528  new positive test results, bringing the total number of positive tests to 88,806
  • There were 177 new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total number of fatalitites in the state to 4,377
  • NJ has added data regarding COVID-19 cases at long term health care facilities in the state to the information dashboard at covid19.nj.gov
  • In response to growing concerns about financial market disruptions on local governments, the Murphy Administration and the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank have implemented a backstop municipal bond note program.
    • I-Bank’s $50 million liquidity investment, which is designed to help mitigate financial impacts to municipalities during the coronavirus state of emergency, launched on April 15.

  April 19

  • The state is reporting an additional 3,915 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results in the state to 85,301.
  • There were also 132 additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 4,202.
  • 155,289 tests have been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 69,902 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 45.1%.
    • 85,387 tests have returned negative.

  April 18

  • With 3,026 new confirmed test results, the total statewide number of positive test results is now 81,420.
    • 147,850 tests have now been performed at the seven labs reporting to the state. 66,734 have returned positive for an overall positivity rate of 45.14%
  • As of 10 p.m. Friday:
    • 7,718 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19, a 3% decrease in the growth rate in the past two days.
    • 2,024 are in critical or intensive care
    • 1,641 ventilators are in use
    • 814 COVID patients have been discharged, bringing the total number of patients discharged to 9,692
    • 90 patients are in the state’s field medical stations
  • 231 more deaths has brought the total number of COVID-related fatalities to 4,070
    • 125 of those newly reported deaths are associated with long-term care facilities.
    • Racial breakdown of fatalities:
      • 50.9% White
      • 22% African American/Black
      • 16.7% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.4% Asian
      • 4.8% other
    • Health Commissioner Persichilli says that the disproportionate impact on the state’s communities of color has led the department to hold discussions with elected officials and the New Jersey Medical Association, the largest and oldest organization representing African American physicians and their patients. Persichilli says they will continue to work with the organization to reduce the disproportionate impact.
      • Gov. Murphy says African American cases and fatalities are 50% higher than overall representation in the state.
  • 119 patients in the state’s psychiatric hospitals tested positive and seven have died
  • New Jersey veterans homes, which have an overall population of 787 residents, have reported 151 positive cases and 59 deaths associated with COVID-19 at the Menlo Park and Paramus locations. There are no cases at the Vineland location.
  • Gov. Murphy says the growth rate of new confirmed cases over the past 21 days and the number of new hospitalizations shows that the state is flattening the curve.
    • More people are now leaving hospitals than entering, with 814 discharges and 377 new hospitalizations on April 17.
    • The number of patients in ICUs is beginning to stabilize.
  • Murphy also addressed a Facebook post by Atlantic County surrogate James Curcio in which he writes that county officials need to “sound the alarm,” and calls for New Jersey to be reopened and to “untie the hands of the private sector so it can rescue NJ from this nightmare.” The governor called such statements “irresponsible,” adding, “If we ‘untie’ the system right now, there will be blood on our hands. This is literally life and death.”

  April 17

  • The state is reporting an additional 3,250 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive results in the state to 78,467
  • As of 10 p.m. last night:
    • 8,011 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19
    • 1,961 are in critical or intensive care
    • 1,594 ventilators are in use
    • 787 people have been discharged
  • There were also 323 additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 3,840
    • Racial breakdown:
      • 50.3% White
      • 22.3% African American/Black
      • 16.6% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 5.4% Asian
      • 5.4% other
  • The Attorney General’s Office, through The Division of Consumer Affairs, will begin issuing temporary emergency licenses to foreign-licensed physicians.
  • If you are a non-medical professional and would like to volunteer, visit covid19.nj.gov/help
  • Mercer County announced that the Philadelphia District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers will be converting portions of St. Francis Medical Center to better accommodate COVID-19 patients.
  • Senate President Steve Sweeney today said that he is naming Paul Sarlo, the chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, and Senator Steve Oroho, the Senate Republican Budget Officer, as the Senate’s bipartisan fiscal strategists to work with the Murphy Administration and the Legislature to develop plans to restart the state’s economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
  • Congressman Donald Norcross announced today that Rutgers University–Camden will receive $188,253 in federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project titled “RAPID: Factors Contributing To Sequence Conservation in the SARS-CoV-2 Genome.”
    • This research will investigate the biology of COVID-19 and its interactions with the human host to stem the spread of the disease and mitigate its devastating impacts on the global human population.
  • The Presidential Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.  The deadline for a change of party affiliation is May 13, 2020.  The deadline to register to vote in the Primary Election is June 16, 2020.
• With 4,059 more positive cases overnight, the state total is now 68,824.
  • With 95% of lab tests reported, there is a overall positivity rate of 44.83%
  • As of 10 p.m. Monday, 8,185 residents were hospitalized
  • 2,051 are listed in critical/intensive care
  • 1,626 ventilators are in use
  • Between 10 p.m. Sunday and 10 p.m. Monday, 514 patients were discharged from hospitals.
• Another 365 deaths have been reported due to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 2,805.
  • 27 of these new deaths were residents of long-term care facilities
• Out of 375 long-term care facilities in the state, 342 facilities now report at least one COVID-19 positive case.
  • A total of 5,945 residents of the state’s long-term facilities have tested positive.
  • 123 facilities are now prohibited from admitting new patients.
• Based on new data from three predictive models, the date of the peak has been extended to April 25.
  • At that peak, there would be a projected 15,922 hospitalizations, including 3,821 ICU admissions and 3,503 patients requiring ventilators.
  • Gov. Murphy says that modeling only holds if residents continue to follow strict social distancing guidelines.
• The PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will be open Wednesday at 8 a.m. for a maximum of 500 tests.
  • The Bergen Community College site will be open Thursday for a maximum of 500 tests.
  • Gov. Murphy says the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel has not been reaching the 500 test limit, as the site in Paramus frequently has. Murphy suggests residents looking for a test head to Holmdel rather than Paramus if possible.
• The NJPBA, Hackensack Meridian Health and American Dream are partnering to open a drive-thru, appointment only testing site for first responders and frontline health care workers at the American Dream mall in the Meadowlands.
• Gov. Murphy says there are now 66 total testing sites across New Jersey.
• 576,904 New Jersey residents have applied for unemployment in the past three weeks.
  • The state Department of Labor is increasing the capacity at its call centers to better handle the influx of calls, also equipping 500 more claims agents and support staff with laptops so they can work from home, and reducing the amount of time it takes applicants to hear about their eligibility by updating IT programming.
  • Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo reports nearly 300,000 residents are now getting unemployment benefits.
• Gov. Murphy has signed three bills the Legislature passed on Monday, to:
  • Allow employees forced to care for family members due to of COVID-19 up to 12 weeks of paid family leave in a 24-month period without losing their job.
  • Extend the tax filing deadline for income and corporate taxes from April 15 to July 15, consistent for deadline for federal tax returns
  • Extend the Fiscal Year to September 30
• The state’s health care volunteer intake form has been expanded to also accept those who have experience as an emergency medical responder to help EMS squads at Covid19.nj.gov/volunteer
  • The Dept. of Health has issued a waiver allowing certain individuals with EMT or paramedic experience whose certifications have expired in the past 5 years to help with the response.
  • 21,600 total volunteers have signed up to date.
• More than 10,600 out-of-state medical providers are now licensed to offer telemedicine to New Jersey residents.
• The MVC has again extended the closure of all its facilities, which are now scheduled to reopen on April 27.
  • Some agency functions like license and registration renewal can be done online.
• April 13
  • The state has seen an overnight increase of 3,219 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive cases to 64,584
    • As of 10 p.m. last night, 7,781 residents have been hospitalized.
    • The daily growth rate is 1%.
    • 1,886 residents have been listed in critical/intensive care.
    • 1,611 patients are on ventilators.
    • There were also 556 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours; with a discharge rate of 14%.
  • There were also 94 additional deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 2,443
    • Racial breakdown:
      • 51.2% White
      • 21.3% African American/Black
      • 18.6% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 6% Asian
      • 2.9% other
    • Age Breakdown:
      • 1.18% between 18 years and 29 years
      • 4.5% between 30 years and 49 years
      • 16.7% between 50 years and 64 years
      • 32.8% between 65 years and 79 years
      • 45.5% over 80 years
  • With nearly all labs in the state reporting information, out of 118,000 test performed, 54,600 tested positive, for an overall positivity rate of 46.22%
  • Governor Murphy alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced the formation of a regional advisory board to coordinate cooperative mitigation efforts as well as to help guide each state’s re-opening once the COVID-19 emergency passes.
  • Governor Murphy signed and executive order with regards to phone and internet service.
    • The order prohibits internet and phone services from being shut off until 30 days until the current public health emergency has ended.
    • Prohibits all service downgrades, service reductions or late fees due to non-payment unless they are imposed in accordance with a policy approved by the Board of Public Utilities.
    • Requires reconnections of any internet or phone service that was disconnected due to non-payment after March 16th.
  • Governor Murphy today announced his intention to sign into law a bill extending New Jersey’s income and corporate tax filing deadline to July 15. The bill received final passage in the Legislature today and will be signed by the Governor tomorrow.
  • Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver signed on with a national coalition of lieutenant governors urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift the discriminatory 3-month wait period that gay, bisexual, queer and transgender men have to adhere to before donating blood.
  • Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced that New Jersey is temporarily suspending rules for the sixteen of the professional boards and committees under the DCA’s supervision that ordinarily require in-person continuing education to maintain a professional license, certificate of registration, or certification.
  • The Senate today approved two bills authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean that would provide tax credits and deferrals to small businesses confronted with economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus crisis.
    • Bill S-2347 would establish the Business Related Tax Deferral Assistance Program.
    • Bill S-2348 would create a tax credit program at the state level modelled on the federal Employee Retention Credits in the CARES Act.

  • Senate President Steve Sweeney today introduced legislation expanding access to workers’ compensation and other benefits for front-line workers sickened by the coronavirus.

    • The Sweeney bill would create a presumption that coronavirus disease infections contracted by essential employees who interact with the public, including health care workers and public safety workers, are work-related for the purpose of determining employment benefits for work-related injuries and illnesses, including workers’ compensation benefits. It would cover workers in the public and private sectors.
  • The Senate today approved Bill S-2345. It would require refunds for reservations made during a public health emergency, a state of emergency or when travel restrictions have been imposed. The measure would be retroactive to March 1.
  • The Senate today approved a resolution, SR-64, sponsored by Senator Cryan, Senator Bateman and Senator Nellie Pou, urging financial institutions to waive bank fees and suspend credit card penalties, late fees, and interest payments for the duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
  • Senate today approved legislation authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Sandra Cunningham that would assist inmates in obtaining needed services when they are released from incarceration.
    • Bill S-2331, would aid in obtaining food stamps, cash assistance and temporary emergency housing under the state’s general assistance program, and Medicaid services, including treatment for behavioral health services such as addiction treatment, and mental health care.
  • The Senate today voted to approve bill, S-2374. It would revise the Family Leave Law to include leave for employees who need to care for a sick family member due to an epidemic of a communicable disease, or to prevent the spread of the disease. During the COVID-19 outbreak, workers would be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of family leave during a 24-month period without losing their jobs.
  • The Senate approved legislation today that would expand the Governor’s authority to freeze rent hikes in times of emergency.
    • Bill S-2341 would give the Governor the ability to put a complete freeze on rent increases for commercial tenants with fewer than 20 employees, as well as residential tenants, regardless of any inflation that may have occurred during the period of the notice.
  • The Senate approved legislation which would allow public notaries to authenticate documents remotely for the duration of the public health emergency.
  • The Essex Count Correctional Facility will be one of the first jail facility in the United States to utilize the recently approved antibody rapid blood test to screen every inmate and detainee for COVID-19, whether they are symptomatic or not.
  • The PNC Bank Arts testing site will be closed today due to weather.
    • Weather permitting, the site will reopen tomorrow, April 14th.
  • The Bergen Community College testing site will be open tomorrow, April 14th.

  April 12

  • The state is reporting an additional 3,733 cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 61,850
    • 64,885 tests have come back negative. NJ’s positivity rate is currently 44.5%
  • NJ also had an additional 168 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 2,350
  • In the last 24 hours 658 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital

  April 11

  • The state has seen an overnight increase of 3,599 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive cases to 58,151
    • As of 10 p.m. last night, 7,618 residents have been hospitalized.
    • 1,746 residents have been listed as in critical condition.
    • 1,650 patients are on ventilators.
    • There were also 682 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.
  • There were also 251 additional deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 2,183
    • The underlying conditions for 1,083 fatalities:
      • 29% cardiovascular disease
      • 17% diabetes
      • 15% other chronic diseases
      • 10% chronic lung disease
      • 7% chronic renal disease
      • 7% neurological issues
      • 6% cancer related
      • 6% other
      • 3% none
    • Racial breakdown for 1,350 fatalities:
      • 52% White
      • 22% African American/Black
      • 17% Hispanic/LatinX
      • 6% Asian
      • 3% other
  • With nearly all labs in the state reporting information, out of 111,410 test performed, 49,368 tested positive, for an overall positivity rate of 44.3%
  • Governor Murphy signed and executive order for NJ Transit and all private carriers.
    • The order directs NJ Transit and all private carriers to cut the capacity of all train, bus and light rail vehicles and all paratransit vehicles to 50%.
    •  Requires all public transit riders to wear a face covering when traveling.
    • Requires residents to wear a face covering when walking into a restaurant or bar for takeout orders.
      • If you are not walking into an establishment (i.e. curbside pickup) a face covering is not required.
  • Governor Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved New Jersey’s request to use emergency, non-congregate sheltering for individuals impacted by COVID-19 that do not have the means or ability to isolate themselves.
  • The National Governors Association will be making an explicit ask, on behalf of all states, for $500 billion dollars in direct state aid.
  • Tomorrow, Easter Sunday, Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Arts testing centers will be closed.
  • Health Commissioner Persichilli announced a tiered approach to bed capacity.
    • Tiers 1 & 2: Units and hospitals for the most critically ill and those graduating out of critical care but need an intensive level of supervision.
    • Tier 3: Medical surgical interventions but are appropriate for hospital stays. These individuals will go to the alternative care sites.
    • Tier 4: Patients who need vigilance for 1 to 5 days. They will receive care in the 3 field medical sites set up by the Army Corps of Engineers.
    • Tier 5: In convalescent care that can be rendered safety in hotels.
    • Tier 6: Dormitories that can accommodate asymptomatic individuals who may not have a home or may need to quarantine for 14 days.
  • The USNS Comfort will be accepting admissions from the hospitals in NJ for mid acuity medical surgical patients.
  • 305 of the 347 long term care facilities are reporting at least 1 positive test case of COVID-19.
  • As of today, the Department of Health will be sending the following guidelines to long term care facilities:
    • COVID-19 capable facilities (those who can care for patients and implement all infection control protocols) can admit new patients or readmit residents.
    • COVID-19 struggle facilities (those who can not care for patients while implementing protocols) will not be allowed to admit or readmit any patients.
    • COVID-19 negative facilities can admit patients unless they cannot implement infection control protocols.
  • There have been a total of 160 staff and 80 patients in New Jersey’s 4 psychiatric facilities that have tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has announced that the COVID-19 drive-thru test site at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center is now open to all municipal and county employees who work in any of the County’s 70 municipalities regardless of residency by appointment seven days per week.
    • Proof of employment within the municipality will be required.

  April 10

  • The state has seen an overnight increase of 3,627 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive cases to 54,588
  • There were also 233 additional deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 1,932
  • 105,611 total patients have been tested for COVID-19 with a positivity rate of 44.2%
  • As of 10 p.m. last night there were 7,570 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.
    • 1,663 patients are on ventilators.
    • There were also 682 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.
    • You can find more information on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.
  • Governor Murphy signed an executive order allowing for certain low-risk inmates who may be at risk of contracting COVID-19 to be placed on temporary home confinement, or to be released on parole if they were already eligible through an expedited process.
    • No one convicted of a “serious” crime will be eligible.
  • Governor Murphy announced the acquisition of 15 point-of-care ID NOW testing instruments from the federal government to expand access to COVID-19 testing in New Jersey.
    • The portable, rapid testing machines, dispersed to health care systems throughout the state, will be able to test for COVID-19 and process specimens in approximately 5-13 minutes.
  • Department of Corrections commissioner Marcus Hicks says that 129 staff members have been impacted by the coronavirus.
    • 20 inmates have tested positive and one has died.
    • There are currently 400 inmates in quarantine. 1,000 staff members are also in quarantine
  • Josh Gottheimer and Bill Pascrell, Jr. requested that measures to increase graduate medical education slots for hospitals be included in the forthcoming coronavirus economic relief package.
  • The NJ Economic Development Authority will begin accepting applications for its Small Business Emergency Assistance Loans this Monday, April 13.
    • The $10 million program will provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 to small and mid-size businesses.

  April 9

• 3,748 more positive tests pushes the state total to 51,027.
  • 7,363 are currently hospitalized, 1,523 are in intensive care, 846 are in critical care, 1,551 are on ventilators, and over the past 24 hours, 604 patients were discharged and returned home.
  • The State Department of Health is now reporting this additional information from hospitals on a new COVID-19 dashboard.
• 198 more deaths have been reported today, for a total of 1,700 fatalities.
  • 20 of those newly reported deaths are associated with the state’s long-term care facilities.
• According to modeling from the state’s Innovation Center, the peak of the state’s COVID-19 outbreak could arrive within two to three days, resulting in 14,400 hospitalizations and 2,880 critical care cases.
• Bergen Community College’s FEMA testing site will be open on Friday, April 10 to residents who are showing symptoms. 500 tests will be available, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. or whenever tests run out.
• On Saturday, April 11, both FEMA sites will be open. Bergen Community College will be open to the general public, and the PNC Bank Arts Center will be open exclusively to health care workers and first responders.
• Both testing sites will be closed on Easter Sunday.
• Rep. Andy Kim is calling for FEMA to open a third site in South Jersey to provide testing for residents.
• Gov. Phil Murphy says FEMA has committed to supporting the state’s two sites through May 31.
• Murphy signed an executive order extending the grace period for residents unable to pay insurance premiums due to a loss of income or other impacts from the health crisis:
  • 60-day grace period for medical and dental insurance premiums
  • 90-day grace period for home, car, rental and life insurance premiums, among others.

• The NJ Department of Health is allocating $5 million to local health departments to assist in COVID-19 related matters such as contact tracing, assisting nursing homes, assisting community testing sites, supporting individuals who need a safe place to quarantine.
• Health Commissioner Persichilli addressed concerns about the state’s veterans homes and what the state is doing to respond:
  • At the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home, there are 40 confirmed cases, with five residents hospitalized. Since the beginning of March, there have been 34 deaths, 10 of which are related to COVID-19.
  • In the state’s three veterans memorial homes, there are now 58 COVID-positive residents and 14 deaths that are directly related to COVID-19.
  • To address staffing concerns, the National Guard has sent 40 combat medics to the Paramus home and 35 to the Menlo Park facility.
  • The Department of Health has also identified five licensed practical nurses and four registered nurses who will report to veterans homes on April 13 to assist staff.
• The state is also continuing to work on a plan to assist long-term care facilities that don’t have the physical space to cohort COVID patients on a separate floor or wing. Persichilli says they are looking at a regional approach and that the state is preparing facilities to accept only COIVD-positive patients in the north, south and central regions of the state.
  • Overall, 3,388 residents of the state’s long-term care assisted living and dementia facilities have tested positive for COVID19. That’s out of an overall population of 75,000.
  • 262 out of the state’s 375 long-term facilities have now reported at least one COVID-19 case.
  • The New Jersey Judiciary has made an electronic filing system available to allow attorneys and self-represented litigants to submit some filings electronically.
    • Using the Judiciary Electronic Document Submission (JEDS) system, attorneys and self-represented litigants can electronically submit documents related to divorce, post-divorce motions, child custody/parenting time, and child support applications and modifications.
    • JEDS can also be used to submit complaints, answers, and motions for civil, special civil, the law division, general equity, and foreclosure.
    • The Judiciary will continue to add case types as the system is developed further.
• April 8
  • Officials have announced 3,088 new positive tests, for a total of 47,437.
    • 231 long-term care facilities out of 375 in the state have now reported at least one COVID-19 case.
    • Based on information from seven labs sending the state testing data, 94,525 tests have been performed and 41,550 have come back positive, for an overall positivity rate of 44%.
    • According to hospital data, there are 7,026 hospital patients that are COVID-positive or under investigation. 1,617 patients are in critical care — and 1,576 of those in critical care are on ventilators.
  • Another 275 deaths brings the statewide total to 1,504.
    • 48 of these new deaths are associated with long-term care facilities.
    • Flags will continue to fly at half staff to commemorate those who have died during this pandemic.
  • Gov. Murphy has signed three executive orders:
    • The first, Executive Order 120, moves the state primary from Tuesday, June 6 to Tuesday, July 7.
    • Executive Order 121 increases weight limits on interstate highways from 40 tons to 46 tons for trucks carrying COVID relief supplies.
    • Executive Order 122 has several components to ensure social distancing:
      • All nonessential construction projects will cease effective 8 p.m. Friday.
        • Exceptions include: projects that are hospital or school-related, transportation-related, affordable housing, individual housing sites that can adhere to strict limits to workers on site, and emergency repairs to safely secure sites.
      • All essential retail businesses must indefinitely limit the number of customers to 50% of their approved capacity.
        • Customers and employees must wear face coverings, stores must install physical barriers between customers and employees whenever possible, and must regularly sanitize frequently used areas.
        • No town or county can impose their own rules on essential businesses.
  • The state’s second FEMA-supported field hospital has been set up at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, with 500 beds. It is slated for a soft open Saturday.
    • Its priority will be lower acuity, non-COVID patients, but it will be expanded to patients with coronavirus if needed.
    • Pediatric and pregnant patients will not be admitted to field hospitals.
    • The third and final FEMA field hospital will open at the Atlantic City Convention Center and is slated to be ready April 14.
  • Bergen Community College’s testing site will be open Thursday, while the PNC Bank Arts center will be closed.
  • 100 ventilators arrived in New Jersey from California Tuesday night and are being prepped for use in hospitals.
• Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker have announced the awarding of more than $26 million in FEMA public assistance grants to the New Jersey State Police to aid first responders on the front lines.

  • The award represents 75% of the total costs incurred so far by the State Police to respond to COVID-19.  FEMA’s guidelines require grant awardees to pay the remaining 25%.

  • Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is quarantined at home after testing positive for COVID-19. He was tested along with hundreds of first responders in the city over the weekend.
• April 7
  • The state is reporting another 3,361 positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in NJ to 44,416.
    • Gender:
      • 60% male
      • 40% female
    • Age:
      • 1% under 30 years of age
      • 5% between 30 years and 49 years
      • 17% between 50 years and 64 years
      • 32% between 65 years and 79 years
      • 45% over 80 years
    • Out of 89,911 total tests performed, 39,353 have come back positive for a positivity rate of 43.77%
  •  NJ is also reporting a total of 232 new deaths due to the virus, the highest daily increase to date. This brings the number of total fatalities in the state to 1,232
    • Three deaths have been removed from the previous total.
      • Some cases that are investigated further determine the person did not live in NJ or did not meet the criteria to be categorized as someone who died from COVID-19.
  • Governor Murphy signed four different executive orders today:
    • One would extend the current public health emergency status by 30 days
    • One closes all state and county parks in NJ
      • The decision to close municipal parks will be made by each individual municipality
    • One extends deadlines or any Boards of Education that operate on an April election timetable since those elections have been moved.
    • One closes public schools indefinitely and cancels any student assessments.
      • This order also waives the assessment requirement for graduation, including the portfolio submission.
      • This order also waives the use of student test scores for teacher evaluations
  • NJ state police superintendent Pat Callahan announced that California was sending 100 ventilators to New Jersey, landing today.
  • Callahan said that there are currently 562 law enforcement officers who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 2,941 are self-quarantining.
  • The testing site at the PNC Bank Arts Center will be open tomorrow from 8 a.m. until either 4 p.m. or they reach 500 tests.
  • The Bergen County testing site will be closed tomorrow, opening again on April 9.
  • Both the Monmouth County and Bergen County sites will be open on April 11 for 500 tests each. Both will then be closed on April 12, Easter Sunday.
  • Gloucester County is opening a testing site tomorrow at Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell.
    • The site is for symptomatic Gloucester County residents only.
    • The site is by appointment only.
    • More information on the testing site can be found at http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/
  • Governor Murphy said that he has discussed with the other governors in the area a regional response to the eventual reopening of schools and businesses when that time comes, but it is not yet time for that.
  • The Governor also announced that he will be touring the Field Medical Station at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison tomorrow.

  April 6

  • The state is reporting another 3,663 positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in NJ to 41,090
  • There were an additional 86 deaths reported, bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 1,003
    • Gender:
      • 60% male
      • 40% female
    • Age:
      • 1% under 30 years of age
      • 6% between 30 years and 49 years
      • 16% between 50 years and 64 years
      • 32% between 65 years and 79 years
      • 45% over 80 years
    • Race:
      • 33% White
      • 12% African America/Black
      • 2% Asian
      • 7% other
  • With nearly all labs in the state reporting information, out of 84,768 test performed, 36,826 tested positive, for an overall positivity rate of 43.44%
  • Health commissioner Judith Persichilli announced, for next 2 weeks, NJ will see significant activity in its hospitals capacity, based on new predictive models.
  • As of today, New Jersey has opened 26,000 alternate care spaces, created to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Officials are seeing a decline in the growth rate of new positive cases.
    • From 24% on March 30th to 12% on April 6th.
  • Gov. Murphy signed an executive order to allow retired public employees to return to work, in whichever capacity, to help with the pandemic.
    • This will not have an effect on pension status.
  • Bergen Community College & PNC Bank Arts Center testing sites:
    • April 7th only the Bergen Community College test site will be open for testing.
    • April 8th only the PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will be open for testing.
  • FEMA is extending its partnership with the state for both Bergen and PNC testing sites through May 31st.
  • Senator Cory Booker detailed the highlights from The Cares Act.
    • Expanded span and duration of unemployment benefits.
    • Expanded eligibility
      • Independent contractors, self-employed and “gig” workers are now eligible for unemployment benefits.
    • An extra $600/month will be provided for unemployment benefits for the next 4 months for individuals who qualify.
    • 80% of NJ families qualify for direct cash payments of emergency relief funds.
      • Scheduled to be released the week of April 13th.
        • $1,200 for individuals
        • $2,400 for couples
        • $500 per child in household
        • For people earning up to 75,00 for individuals or 150,000 for couples.
    • The bill includes an addition $10 million available per small business in NJ.
    • Small businesses and non profits (including churches and religious organizations) that have less than 500 people qualify for the new Paycheck Protection Program and up to $10,000 for Small Business Administration grants.
    • For more information on eligibility visit www.Booker.Senate.gov/coronavirus
  • Currently 159 of NJ’s 375 longterm care facilities have reported at least 1 positive COVID-19 case.
    • The Health Department is calling every long term care facility to determine the adherence of the rules and regulations stipulated, as well as informing all residents and family members of the outbreak that is occurring.

  • Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced today the first steps to confront the $70 million budget impact COVID-19 will have on the municipal budget of Jersey City.

    • The city will offer a voluntary separation package for those who have 15 years or more of service with the city.

  • Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced 824 summonses for violations of the Executive Order to stop the spread of COVID-19 were issued and 44 non-essential businesses were closed last week.
    • The enforcement of a complete lockdown of the city was announced on March 31^st, including a joint agreement with the neighboring cities of East Orange, Orange and Irvington.
  • Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Heath Department is working with the NJ dispensaries to ensure access is maintained to the over 74,000 patients enrolled in the medicinal marijuana program.
    • Allowing dispensaries to perform curbside/drive up delivery.
    • Reduced caregiver fees to $20 to ensure affordability.
  • The city of Trenton is issuing a mandatory 8:00 PM curfew within the city’s limits.  That includes all persons (who are not working) and businesses within the Capital City.  Restaurants, corner stores, and gas stations must shut down at 8 pm.
  • Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg today urged all New Jersey Transit riders to heed the agency’s directive issued to wear face coverings to protect against unnecessarily spreading the coronavirus to their fellow riders and to NJ Transit employees.
  • Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced a series of measures to help law enforcement address the manpower challenges that result from officers being sick or quarantined at a time when unprecedented demands are being placed upon them. The measures include:
    • Facilitating the hiring of retired officers as Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEO IIs).
    • Offering guidance through the Police Training Commission (PTC) for police departments to use recruits in more supporting roles.
    • Establishing training through the Division of Criminal Justice for military police and security personnel in the National Guard in case they are activated for law enforcement duties.

  April 5

  • New Jersey has an additional 3, 381 positive test results.
  • The total number of positive test results is now 37,505.
  • The total number of fatalities in New Jersey is 917.
  • The state reports 44,661 negative test results. This figure includes data reported to the state by the state lab plus seven private laboratory entities, representing more than 95 percent of private testing capacity in New Jersey.

  April 4

  • New Jersey has received an additional 4,331 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 34,124.
  • The county breakdown of new cases:
    • Atlantic 28
    • Bergen 607
    • Burlington 98
    • Camden 74
    • Cape May 7
    • Cumberland 5
    • Essex 409
    • Gloucester 31
    • Hudson 494
    • Hunterdon 23
    • Mercer 89
    • Middlesex 400
    • Monmouth 301
    • Morris 214
    • Ocean 268
    • Passaic 489
    • Salem 0
    • Somerset 108
    • Sussex 21
    • Union 287
    • Warren 30
  • The state has also reported an additional 200 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 846:
    • 47 deaths are from Bergen county
    • 37 from Essex county
    • 21 from Ocean county
    • 8 from Mercer county
    • 8 from Morris county
    • 6 from Monmouth county
    • 4 from Passaic county
    • 3 from Warren county
    • 1 each from Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Somerset and Sussex
  • Breakdown of the 846 reported fatalities:
    • 61% male
    • 39% female
    • 1% under 30
    • 6% between 30 and 49
    • 16% between 50 and 64
    • 32% between the ages of 65 and 79
    • 46% over the age of 80
    • 35% had documented underlying health conditions, with the number expected to grow as they investigate further
    • 4 individual cases are identified as not having underlying health conditions
  • Hospitals are reporting over 4,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in hospitals, with an additional over 2,000 awaiting test results.
  • 1,494 of those confirmed positive cases are in critical care. 1263 are on ventilators.
  • Gov. Murphy said COVID-19 is responsible for more New Jerseyan deaths than happened on 9/11 and declared the pandemic one of the greatest tragedies in New Jersey’s history.
  • Gov. Murphy in a conversation with Vice President Pence reiterated that New Jersey is still pending 1650 ventilators from the original ask to the federal government.
  • Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the CDC recommends the use of cloth coverings for your face, like scarfs and bandanas. Cloth face coverings are not a replacement to social distancing, you must continue to keep 6 feet distance, wash your hands for 20 seconds and if you feel sick stay indoors away from others.
  • Long-term care settings will receive a follow-up letter from the Department of Health reminding them of their responsibility under the law to have an outbreak response communication plan, when at least one case has been confirmed with COVID 19 in their facilities.
    • This will include specific guidance as to how to notify people: it must be in person and in writing to all residents, family and staff members. Due to visiting restrictions any communications via telephone or email must be followed up in writing within three days.
    • If this notifications do not go out by close of business Monday the names of facilities with at least one confirmed COVID 19 case will be made public.
  • Friday night northern New Jersey had 9 hospitals on divert primarily due to staffing issues and critical care bed capacity. 3 hospitals were on divert for critical care, 6 on full divert primarily due to staffing issues.
  • A crisis alert is going out asking for more volunteers. Visit COVID19.nj.gov/volunteer to volunteer.
  • The state is working with hospitals to rapidly increase capacity, including using hotels and dorms near hospitals for medical staff so they are close to were they are needed.
  • Field medical station in Secaucus will open on Monday.
  • There are 75 testing sites across NJ, for more information visit COVID19.nj.gov/testing.
  • New Jersey will receive 70,000 N95 masks and other PPE equipment from a seizure of supplies by federal authorities in Brooklyn.
  • Police Superintendent Callahan signed an administrative order giving municipalities the ability to prohibit rentals to transient guests or seasonal tenants for the duration of this emergency, including hotels and motels.
  • Newark issued 122 summons and closed 7 businesses that were violating stay at home orders.
  • In Raritan Township a man was arrested for organizing a basketball game with 6 juveniles in violation of stay at home orders.
  • The Department of Labor received 362,000 unemployment applications in 2 weeks. The department is increasing capacity adding phone lines, procuring laptops for staff to work remotely and working on improving a 40 year-old mainframe system.

  April 3

  • The state is reporting another 4,372 positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in NJ to 29,895
  • There were an additional 113 deaths reported, bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 646
  • So far, the state has administered 64,827 tests. 27,219 of those tests came back positive, giving the state a positivity rate of 41.99%
  • Health commissioner Judith Persichilli announced that, of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are hospitalized, 1,227 (41%) are on ventilators.
  • Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJ Economic Development Authority, put out some statistics regarding the impact the coronavirus has had on the state’s business community:
    • In a survey conducted 10 days ago, 73% of small businesses reported significant loss of revenue.
    • More than 50% had to make cuts, reduce staff, etc.
  • Sullivan also spoke about the initial response to the state aid programs that were opened for applications today:
    • A grant program for businesses with 10 or fewer employees that would provide up to $5,000 per business opened at 10 a.m. and by 10:16 a.m. they received 10,000 applications. As of 1:30 they had 16,500 applications.
    • They are hoping to distribute the rewards as early as next week.
  • State police superintendent Pat Callahan said that 79 violators have been cited for flouting the Governor’s executive order.
  • The PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will be open tomorrow, Saturday, April 4, at 8 a.m.
    • Testing will be performed for health care workers and emergency personnel only
  • There is a testing site opening in Cumberland County.
    • The site will be located on the Vineland Campus of Rowan College Cumberland
    • Testing is available for symptomatic Cumberland County residents only, by appointment only.
  • A testing site in Essex County will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week in Weequahic Park.
    • Testing is available for symptomatic residents of Essex County only, by appointment only.
  • The Governor said that there are now a total of 42 testing sites operating throughout the state.
  • Governor Murphy ordered to flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff immediately and indefinitely in honor of those who have lost their lives, and those who will lose their lives, to COVID-19.
  • The NJ Economic Development Authority this morning began accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 under its Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program.
    • Businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as there is expected to be high demand for the program that is currently capped at $5 million.
    • The NJ EDA has established the toll-free number 844-965-1125 for inquiries related to its Small Business Emergency Assistance offerings.
      • The hours are Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Paterson mayor Andre Sayegh, public safety director Jerry Speziale, chief of fire Brian McDermott, and chief of police Michael Baycora announce that there will be COVID-19 testing for all essential personnel in the fire and police department.

  April 2

  • With 3,489 more cases, a total of 25,590 New Jersey residents have now tested positive for COVID-19.

    • With nearly all labs in the state reporting information, out of 56,915 test performed, 23,395 tested positive, for an overall positivity rate of 41.11%
    • Officials say test results may be from specimens collected up to 10 to 14 days ago, meaning the positive case numbers do not reflect the effects of social distancing orders and likely will not for another week.

  • With 182 new deaths reported today, 537 residents have now died from the coronavirus.

    • 47% of those who have died were over the age of 80, 35% had documented underlying health conditions, and 14% of deaths, or 76 total, are associated with longterm care facilities.
      • 110 long-term care facilities, out of 375 total in the state, now have at least one positive COVID-19 case.
  • Gov. Murphy says the Field Medical Station at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus is expected to open Monday.
    • The 250-bed hospital will take not be taking coronavirus patients — it will take non-acute patients in an effort to free up space at acute care hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
    • The staff working at these sites will be prepared to treat patients if they develop COVID-19 while at the site.
    • The hospital is the first of three field hospitals expected to open in New Jersey — the following two will open in Edison and Atlantic City and the hospitals will add 1,000 hospital beds total.
      • A 500-bed hospital at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison is expected to be ready April 8
      • Another 250-bed hospital at the Atlantic Center Convention Center is scheduled to be up and running April 14
    • Staffing has mainly been obtained through the state’s volunteer portal, as well as the National Guard.
  • Murphy has signed an executive order formally authorizing State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan to commandeer equipment necessary for the state’s COVID-19 response, from N-95 masks to ventilators.
    • Murphy also signed an administrative order permitting blood drives to continue to ensure the state meets medical needs.
  • A record 206,253 new unemployment claims were filed with the state Department of Labor last week. That brings the two-week total to more than 362,000.
    • The previous record was set in November 2012 after Superstorm Sandy, when initial claims rose to more than 46,000 in a single week.
    • Data released by the US Department of Labor shows nearly 156,000 New Jersey residents are currently collecting unemployment, about 51,000 more than the prior week.
  • Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence Township is operating a drive-up testing site for Mercer County residents, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To receive an appointment, a doctor must send a notification to the site stating the patient meets the requirements for a test.
  • The New Jersey Department of Education, NJTV and the New Jersey Education Association have partnered to begin “NJTV Learning Live” a new public television program featuring lessons taught by New Jersey educators in the subjects of English Language Arts, math, science, social studies, art music and physical education. Programming will include an hour each day for grades 3-6, beginning at 9 a.m.
  • Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer says more than 600 child care centers are now open to provide emergency child care for essential workers — including heath care professionals and first responders.

  April 1

  • New Jersey has received an additional 3,649 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 22,255
  • The state has also learned of an additional 91 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 355.
  • The Department of Justice announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
    • The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recently passed stimulus legislation, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds.
  • Governor Murphy signed an executive order:
    • Authorizing the Division of Consumer Affairs to temporarily reactivate the licensees of health care professionals previously licensed in the State within the last five years.
      • This will enable doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who have recently retired or have allowed their licenses to lapse to temporarily reactivate their license.  
    • Authorizing the Division of Consumer Affairs to grant temporary medical licenses to doctors who are licensed and in good standing in foreign countries.
    • Temporarily waiving certain scope of practice restrictions on Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) related to physician collaboration, including a rule requiring that an APN enter into a joint protocol with a collaborating physician and a rule requiring APNs to obtain authorization from a collaborating physician in order to dispense narcotic drugs. 
    • Temporarily waiving certain scope of practice restrictions on Physician Assistants (PAs) related to physician supervision, including a rule requiring PAs to obtain physician authorization prior to prescribing a controlled dangerous substance.  
    • If you are qualified and would like to volunteer your services visit: covid19.nj.gov/volunteer
  • The Governor said that NJ has secured an additional 350 ventilators from the national stockpile, bringing the total number of additional ventilators obtained by the state to 850.
    • He also said that the state has secured on it’s own, in addition to anything the federal government has provided, an additional 10 million pieces of personal protective equipment.
  • Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said that 93 long term care facilities in the state are reporting at least one positive case of COVID-19.
  • Col. Callahan of the NJ State Police announced that there were 4 incidents overnight of people violating the executive order who were cited.
    • He also said that the State Police are partnering with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to help ensure 100% compliance with the executive order as Lakewood continues to be a source of various violations.
    • The Newark Police Department, operating under a zero-tolerance policy, issued 125 summonses last night and closed five businesses.
  • Of the two FEMA testing sites, only the Bergen County site will be open tomorrow from 8 a.m. on. The Monmouth county site will be closed.
  • The FAFSA renewal application deadline for eligible college students has been extended from April 15 to June 1.
  • Governor Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced an extension of the state tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15.
    • In conjunction with this announcement, they also said they are extending the end of the state fiscal year from June 30 to September 30 to take some stress off of the state budget process.
  • The Small Business Administration put out guidelines for businesses looking to apply for funds from the $349B Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act:
    • The application process will begin Friday, April 3 for small businesses and sole proprietorships that can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
    • On April 10, 2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.
    • For additional information, please see the fact sheet for borrowers,  fact sheet for lenders, overview of program and borrowers loan application.
  • The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will launch the application for its Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program on Friday, April at 9 a.m.
  • Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
  • Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez announced that she has tested positive for the coronavirus.

  March 31

  • New Jersey has received an additional 2,196 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 18,696.
  • The state has also learned of an additional 69 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 267.
    • 55% Male and 45% female
    • 1% were less than 30 years of age
    • 12% were between 30 years and 48 years
    • 17% were between 50 years and 64 years
    • 30% were between 65 years and 79 years
    • 47% were over the age of 80
    • 42% had underlying conditions (obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc.)
  • Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli says 44,330 tests have now been run in the state, resulting in 17,253 positive tests, for an overall positivity rate of 38.92%.
  • NJ State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan says a total of 383 law-enforcement officers across New Jersey have tested positive for COVID-19, and 3,081 are self-quarantining at home.
  • DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe announced NJ state parks, forests and wildlife management areas are open for passive recreational activities (walking, biking, hiking and fishing) and will waive all park entrance fees.
    • Park restrooms will be closed during this time.
    • Visitors must practice social distancing if they visit the parks.
    • Playgrounds and exercise areas will be closed and roped off.
  •  Senator Cory Booker today urged a trade group representingmedical technology companies that manufacturepersonal protective equipment (PPE)and other critical suppliesto begin mobilizing its member companies to increase production to address the dire shortage.
  • New Jersey has 100% compliance from municipal water companies voluntarily halting all service shut-offs throughout the pandemic.
  • Residents may anonymously report any instances of unlawful practices, such as inappropriately prescribing drugs, to www.covid19.nj.gov
  • Employers are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar federal payroll tax credit against costs incurred by keeping workers on payroll.
  • Workers who are eligible for unemployment insurance will receive an addition $600 per week through July 31st 2020.
  • Wednesday, April 1st the PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will be open at 8AM.
    • Only symptomatic residence will be tested
    • Bergen Community College testing site will be closed
  • 3 more county testing sites are preparing to open
    1. Middlesex County
       • Location: Kilmer Vehicle Inspection Site
       • Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10A – 2P
       • Testing by appointments only
       • Middlesex County residents only
       • Visit: www.middlesexcountynj.gov/COVID19testing
    2. Camden County
       • Location: Coopers Poynt Park
       • Open weekdays from 12P – 4P
       • Open through April 15th
       • Testing by appointments only
       • Camden County residents only
    3. Ocean County
       • Location: Ocean County College
       • Testing by appointments only
       • Ocean County residents only
       • Visit ochd.org
  • Currently 81 of NJ’s 375 longterm care facilities have reported at least 1 positive COVID-19 case.
  • The Department of Health has issued new guidelines for longterm care facilities.
    • Universal masking of all visitors and staff on entering a facility.
    • All symptomatic residents should be masked while receiving direct care.
    • Facilities must create separate wings, units or floors to receive asymptomatic residents coming into or returning from the hospital.
    • Facilities must limit the staff working between the units to avoid any spread of the virus.
    • Facilities must create a separate wing or unit to accept COVID-19 positive residents.
  • Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today led a coalition of 21 Attorneys General in calling on the Trump Administration to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact and freeze most other federal rule-making actions.
    • The call urges the federal government to halt most rule-making unrelated to COVID-19. It also asks the Administration to consider reopening closed public-comment periods, so federal agencies can receive fresh input from state and local governments, businesses and others affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences.
  • For those who are in need of emotional support should call the New Jersey Mental Health Hotline: 1866-202-HELP
  • The mayors of East Orange, Orange, and Irvington joined forces with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to announce a series of new operations to combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. 
  • • Operation Lockdown:
  • • • Starting today, the four municipalities will jointly enforce complete lockdowns on their communities for seven days.
      • On April 7, the cities will re-evaluate the situation.
      • Until then, non-essential and non-emergency travel is barred on the streets of these communities.
      • Joint police units will patrol borders and other points.
      • Violators will face summonses and other legal action.
  • • Operation Clean Business:
  • • • Essential businesses that are allowed to remain open must clean their premises. 
      • They must frequently wipe down high touch points including doors and counters. 
      • Employees and customers must practice social distancing.
      • At the close of the business day, owners are encouraged to sanitize their businesses.
      • Health inspectors will see that this is carried out. 
  • • Operation Wipedown:
  • • • Owners of senior citizen centers and complexes must sanitize public areas, including high touch points such as: mailboxes, elevators, doorknobs, and countertops three times a day with disinfectant.
      • Owners must sign compliance statements, saying that they have adhered to the order.
      • Inspectors will ensure that owners adhere to these policies, collecting compliance statements.
      • If inspectors find the owners have not taken required sanitization measures, the inspectors will cite the owners for appropriate legal action.
  • • Operation Mobile Wellness Checks:
  • • • Police departments will conduct mobile patrols, making sure that people are practicing social distancing and enforcing Governor Murphy’s Executive Order. 
      • Violators will be ticketed and face legal action.

  March 30

  • 3,347 more positive test results brings New Jersey’s total number of coronavirus cases to 16,636.
  • 37 more deaths due to COVID-19 complications brings the state’s total number of fatalities to 198.
  • With 95% of labs reporting to the state, there have been 40,806 tests performed with 15,582 positives, for an overall positive rate of 38.19%
  • Gov. Murphy says 3,611 individuals with medical experience have signed up so far to volunteer at the field hospitals New Jersey will be opening in the next few weeks.
  • The Trump administration is sending 300 more ventilators to New Jersey from the Strategic National Stockpile. The governor’s office has requested a total of 2,300 ventilators.
  • Murphy has issued additional clarifications to Executive Order 107, pertaining to which businesses are allowed to operate:
    • In a reversal, New Jersey will now allow firearms businesses to operate in light of new federal guidance that identifies them as “critical infrastructure.”
    • Auto dealerships are allowed to operate remotely or online, and authorized dealers can deliver directly to customers and allow customer pick-up.
    • Realtors may show homes to individuals one on one or to members of the same household. Open houses remain prohibited.
    • Breweries and brew pubs are allowed home delivery.
    • Golf courses must stay closed.
  •  Since that executive order went into effect, there have been 70 compliance violations, including 34 indictable offenses.
  • State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan says 288 law enforcement officers have COVID-19, and 2,477 are under self-quarantine.
  • The state has released new projection models based on the COVID-19 Hospital Impact Model for Epidemics, or CHIME, recently issued by the University of Pennsylvania:
    • If the state did not enforce any kind of social distancing measures and residents went about their lives normally, total hospital bed capacity would be reached by April 9, and the peak of total hospitalizations would reach nearly 80,000 patients by mid-May.
    • If 31% of resident comply with social distancing measures, total hospital bed capacity would be reached by May 8, and the peak of total hospitalizations would reach 34,000 by mid-June.
    • Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli says with 40-45% social distancing compliance, the state would likely be able to meet demand for hospital beds.
  • U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito, along with Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh have announced a joint federal-state “COVID-19 Fraud Task Force” to investigate and prosecute misconduct related to the coronavirus pandemic.
    • Misconduct includes unlawful hoarding of medical supplies, price gouging, charity scams, procurement fraud, insurance fraud, phishing schemes and false or misleading investment opportunities.
    • Residents can report possible misconduct at (866) 720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov. Complainants may remain anonymous.
  • Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a temporary rule waiver for families that rely on in-home health aides to look after elderly or disabled individuals to limit the number of health care providers required to visit a patient’s home on a routine basis.
    • The waiver, which takes effect immediately,  allows supervising nurses to conduct required plan-of-care evaluations every 60 days by phone or video chat instead of in person.
  • Grewal also announced statewide restrictions, effective immediately, for the prescribing and dispensing of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, prescription drugs used to treat malaria and certain chronic inflammatory conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
    • The demand for these drugs has increased following reports that the drugs are being tested as possible treatments for COVID-19. Reports have raised concerns that the drugs are being hoarded by people who do not have an immediate need, including doctors and dentists.
    • Under the restrictions, prescribers are not to prescribe medications in short supply as a preventative measure against COVID-19 for the prescriber’s family or friends or to stockpile the drugs for office use.
    • All prescriptions written should be for treatment of conditions within the prescriber’s scope of practice, and pharmacists should not fill prescriptions if they believe the prescriber is acting outside the scope of their practice.
    • Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine may be prescribed and dispensed for treatment of COVID-19 only if supported by a positive test result, which must be documented on the prescription, and limited to a 14-day supply, with no refills permitted.

  March 29

  • New Jersey has received an additional 2,262 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 13,386.
  • The state has also learned of an additional 21 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 161.
  • 163 New Jersey police officers have tested positive for the coronavirus.
    • Previously, the number of officers that had tested positive was said to be about 700. In a statement Sunday night, Col. Patrick Callahan, acting superintendent of the State Police, said the first numbers were “overstated”.
  • The CDC issued a travel advisory to residents of the tri-state area Saturday night. Urging New York, New Jersey and Connecticut residents to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14-days effective “immediately.”
    • Gov. Murphy appeared on ABC News THIS WEEK said it is “de facto happening already.” “People aren’t traveling a lot. It’s a travel advisory and we will take it seriously. We are pounding the table morning, noon and night: Stay home, stay home, stay home.”
  •  Rutgers University is among the first in the country to expedite graduation of medical students. 192 graduates will now be eligible to begin residencies in the coming weeks.
  • Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco opened a mobile, drive-thru COVID-19 test site for symptomatic first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County only. The drive-thru test site will be located at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus.
• March 28
• New Jersey has received an additional 2,289 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 11,124.
• The state has also learned of an additional 32 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 140.
• Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli says 29,822 tests have now been run in the state, resulting in 10,436 positive tests, for an overall positivity rate of 34.9%.
• Gov. Phil Murphy announced a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments for borrowers who have been economically impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
• Gov. Phil Murphy said that under an executive order, landlords can’t evict tenants during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Gov. Phil Murphy to sign an executive order requiring all designated health care facilities to report their daily number of ventilators, bed capacity and their personal protective equipment inventory to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Health.
• Gov. Phil Murphy today detailed two new initiatives that will assist health care organizations with expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A $140 million pre-payment to health care providers to support preparations related to COVID-19.
  • The New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority (NJHCFFA) has launched a $6 million emergency loan program to assist New Jersey’s health care organizations during this time.
• Bergen County to open COVID-19 drive-thru test Site for Bergen County first responders and health care professionals on Sunday.
• March 27
• With 1,982 new cases overnight, 8,825 residents in New Jersey have now tested positive for COVID-19.
• State officials have announced 27 more deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 108.

• Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli says 24,843 tests have now been run in the state, resulting in 8,296 positive tests, for an overall positivity rate of 33.4%.
  • As of Thursday, Persichilli says 1,080 patients currently in the state’s hospitals have tested positive, and an additional 1,872 patients are awaiting results.
  • Because of a seven-day backlog of testing results, numbers reported today likely do not take into account the effects of ramped-up social distancing orders.
  • Persichilli also announced 55 of the state’s 375 long-term care facilities report at least 1 positive case of COVID-19.
  • In order to staff three field hospitals that are in the process of coming online, Gov. Phil Murphy has put out a call for volunteers both in New Jersey and across the country with qualified medical training to help staff the new hospitals.
    • Those who may be qualified include: Retired nurses and doctors, nursing and medical students, EMTs and former members of armed services medical corps.
    • Interested individuals can sign up at covid19.nj.gov/volunteer
    • The first hospital is slated to open at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in about a week. Commissioner Persichilli says that site will be a general hospital, not only for COVID-19 patients. The second hospital, at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, will be dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients. The third hospital will be at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
  • Murphy says he has authorized the advanced payment of more than $140 million to health care providers to prepare them for COVID-19 related expenses, including expanding capacity.
• • On Saturday beginning at 8 a.m., the FEMA-supported testing site at Bergen Community College will limit COVID-19 screenings to first responders and health care professionals with symptoms who provide identification proving they either live or work in the county.
  • The testing site at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel will also be limited to symptomatic first responders and health care professionals on Saturday, March 28.
  • Beginning Sunday March 29, the two FEMA-supported testing sites will alternate – with only one site open each day.
    • On Sunday, only the BCC site will be open, starting at 8 a.m., to symptomatic New Jersey residents, and can test 500 people.
    • On Monday March 30, only the PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will be open starting at 8 a.m. to test 500 NJ residents.

  • On Sunday, more than 200,000 New Jersey households enrolled in NJ SNAP will receive an extra benefit payment to help address food needs related to the coronavirus pandemic.
    • A total of $70 million in extra NJ SNAP benefits will be provided over the next two months to help residents enrolled in the program purchase groceries.
    • Residents who need food assistance can visit and apply for SNAP online at www.NJHelps.org.

  • NJ Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton says all of the agency’s road test and inspection facilities will remain closed through April 12 in an effort to keep people from coming in close proximity with one another.
    • Other commission operations continue online, including those that support commercial trucking to keep the supply chain moving. Fulton says residents can also take care of many requirements through the MVC’s online portal – including license renewal or replacement, change of address, and registration renewal.
    • The MVC previously granted a two-month extension for drivers licenses, auto registration and inspections that are due for renewal in March, April or May. For example, a license expiring on April 1 is now good through June 1.
    • The federal REAL ID requirement has been extended for another year, until October 2021 to give customers more time to come into compliance.
  • Republican Congressman Chris Smith announces he has persuaded U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to release a shipment of 41.3 million medical-grade gloves to medical professionals and first responders.
    • 32.5 million gloves produced by Ansell are being held at the port in Baltimore, Maryland, and a shipment of 8.8 million gloves are in Oakland, California.
    • “In light of that fact that New Jersey has the second highest number of cases of any state in the country, Ansell has assured me that many of these will be put to use here in New Jersey,” Smith said.
  • Asbury Park is the latest Jersey shore town to close its boardwalk. While its beaches remain open to the public, the Monmouth County town says restricting boardwalk access is meant to ensure social distancing.
    • Other towns that have closed their beaches or boardwalks include:
      • Seaside Heights (beaches and boardwalk closed)
      • Spring Lake (boardwalk closed, beaches open)
      • Point Pleasant (boardwalk closed, beaches open)
      • Lavallette (beaches and boardwalk closed)
      • Ocean City (beaches and boardwalk closed)
• March 26
• New Jersey has received an additional 2,492 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 6,876.
• The state has also learned of an additional 19 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 81.
  • 3 of the 19 reported deaths were associated with longterm care facilities.
    • 43 of the 375 nursing homes/long-term facilities in New Jersey have at least one resident being reported as positive for COVID-19.
• Decisions regarding the reopening of schools in the state will not be made until April 17th at the earliest.
• Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Arts Center testing sites will ONLY accept symptomatic healthcare workers and first responder (Police, Fire and EMS) on Saturday, March 28th.
  • Beginning Saturday, April 4th the PNC Bank Arts Center testing site will ONLY accept symptomatic healthcare workers and first responder going forward.
• 155,000 workers in New Jersey have applied for unemployment due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Gov. Murphy has signed legislation to expand temporary disability insurance and family leave insurance.
• New Jersey has requested from the National Strategic Stockpile an additional 4.5 million N-95 masks and 2,500 ventilators for state healthcare facilities to combat COVID-19.
• New Jersey has created an online forum through which businesses and non hospital healthcare facilities, in possession of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), not required for the provision of critical healthcare services can submit information regarding their inventory to provide to facilities in need.
  • Information must be provided by Friday, March 26 at 5 p.m.
  • The form is available at www.covid19.nj.gov/PPEreport
• Residents who want to donate personal protective equipment to assist medical professionals should contact www.covid.nj.gov/PPEdonations or PPEdonations@njsp.org
• Gov. Phil Murphy today announced that President Donald J. Trump has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Jersey.
  • The declaration will provide federal assistance to supplement statewide recovery efforts affected by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has announced a strict city-wide “shelter-in-place” mandate that will be enforced in a more muscular way.
  • Exceptions:
    • Supermarkets and local stores to collect essentials
    • Pharmacy/Prescription pick-ups
    • Doctors visits
    • Walking dogs
    • Stepping out to get fresh air in front or back of home/doorstep/porch/terrace
  • Children need to be accompanied by an adult and people should only leave their homes in pairs.
• Baraka also announced a program that will provide small businesses and small non-profit agencies with emergency grants.
• Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora is announcing the creation of the Small Business Fiscal Relief Program; a new City initiative to support local small businesses during this time of economic hardship.

  • Terms of the loans will include the following:

    • 60-month (5-year) repayment term
    • No payments and 0% interest for the first year
    • 2% interest amortized over the remaining term of the loan (48 months)
• The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved a suite of new programs designed to support businesses and workers facing economic hardship due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
  • The package of initiatives includes a grant program for small businesses, a zero-interest loan program for mid-size companies, support for private-sector lenders and Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), funding for entrepreneurs, and a variety of resources providing technical support and marketplace information.
• Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Public Safety officials announced today new policies in response to the international Covid-19 pandemic, including an increase to police community presence and emergency response.
• Jersey City will be opening two new testing sites, one drive-thru site and one walk-up site, located on either side of Jersey City to best accommodate its residents who need to be tested for COVID-19.
• The NJ Department of Corrections have 3 new confirmed cases (among officers) of COVID-19, bringing their total to 4 confirmed cases.
  • No prisoner has tested positive for COVID19.
• NJ Human Services announces $70 million in food assistance for vulnerable families in New Jersey amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • More than 200,000 households will receive enhanced NJ SNAP benefits.
• March 25
• NJ has received an additional 736 positive test results, bringing the total number of positive test results to 4,402
• The state also learned of an additional 18 deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 62
  • 11 of the 18 deaths were males, 7 were females
  • Their ages ranged from 52 to 93
  • 50% had underlying conditions, nine are still under investigation
  • Five were associated with long term care facilities
• The Governor announced today that he signed an executive order requiring all childcare centers in the state to certify by Friday that they are only caring for the children of essential personnel.
  • Those that cannot certify will be required to close by Wednesday, April 1.
• Governor Murphy said at a press conference that the state has 18,433 acute care beds, including 2,000 for people requiring critical care. He says the goal is to increase capacity by 2,360
• NJ will open four FEMA field hospitals with 250 beds each.
  • The first will open at the Meadowlands Exposition Center
  • Then the NJ Convention Center in Edison
  • Then Atlantic City’s Convention Hall
  • A fourth site will be identified later
• Governor Murphy tweeted that the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1.9 million to help 24 health centers in New Jersey address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity.
• Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco has announced that the County will begin accepting donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as respirator/surgical masks, medical face shields/goggles, protective medical gowns and latex gloves
  • Donations will be accepted at the Annex Building located at 220 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus, N.J. (located behind Bergen New Bridge Medical Center off Pascack Road and Ridgewood Avenue) beginning tomorrow, Thursday, March 26
  •  The site will remain open every weekday, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka announced today that he will invest up to $6 million in six initiatives to keep Newark’s most impacted residents safe, healthy, and financially secure.
  • The six programs will be introduced almost daily through April 3
  • They include:
    • Up to $2 million investment in a small business and non-profit emergency fund with grants up to $10,000 for 200 qualified businesses.
    • Approximately $1 million investment in rapid, short-term rental housing for 300 of the most vulnerable Newark residents, including those without permanent addresses.
    • Up to $1 million investment in community-based non-profits that serve Newark residents.
    • A $1 million investment in the “Live Newark” program to provide down payment and rehabilitation funds for up to 100 Newark homeowners.
    • Up to $750,000 arts initiative investment that will assist up to 30 arts and cultural organizations with operating funds and capital funds.
    • The mayor has directed the tax assessor to accept applications from building owners with business tenants who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The buildings will be reassessed to reduce the taxes owed by the building and the tax savings will be passed along to the small business tenants in form of a rent reduction.
• Essex County announced that they will be opening a drive through COVID-19 testing center tomorrow for county residents only.
• The governor through executive order added certain businesses to the list of those considered to be “essential” and therefore allowed to remain open:
  • Mobile phone retail and repair shops
  • Bicycle shops, but only to provide service and repair
  • Livestock feed stores
  • Nurseries and garden centers
  • Farming equipment stores
  • The new administrative order on essential businesses also clarifies that municipalities may impose additional restrictions on beaches and boardwalks.
• Mayor Steve Fulop announced today that Jersey City is projecting a $70M financial loss amid the COVID-19 outbreak: $50 million in revenue loss coupled with $20 million in added expenses in response to the health crisis.
• The City of Paterson announced that it would be closing all city parks indefinitely beginning today.
• March 24
• With 846 new cases reported overnight, New Jersey now has 3,675 total positive cases of coronavirus.
  • 17 more deaths brings the state’s total number of fatalities to 44.
  • 35% of cases are between the ages of 30 years and 49 years.
• As of 8 a.m., New Jersey has the second highest number of coronavirus cases of any state in the country, behind only New York, which has more than 25,600 cases.
• Gov. Murphy, the Attorney General as well a the Department of Education have applied for a federal waiver to cancel all student standardized testing schedules for April.
  • All schools will still be postponed until further notice.
• A second shipment of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be delivered to the frontline medical community.
  • 200,000 N95 masks
  • 84,000 respirators and other gear
• PSEG will contribute 50,000 N95 mask to the NJ medical community.
• The Department of Environmental Protection with the Board of Public Utilities called on all municipal water utilities to suspend all water shut-offs during the outbreak.
• NJ is the first state to create a jobs portal for those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• 4 field hospitals have been approved by the federal government and FEMA in the following locations:
  1. Meadowlands Exposition Center
  2. Edison Convention Center
  3. Atlantic City Convention Center
  4. TBD Urban Search and Rescue Location
• Passaic County will be opening a COVID-19 testing center tomorrow at William Paterson University.
  • Test site is only open to Passaic County residents with a note from their doctors.
• All complaints regarding companies/employers that are not complying with the mandated COVID-19 procedures should be directed to the following number: 609-963-6817

• NJ Treasury is freezing nearly a billion dollars in spending as fiscal uncertainty over COVID-19  mounts.

• Mayor Steven M. Fulop and health officials announced today, the city is increasing humanitarian efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic by expanding life-saving services for the homeless – including the reopening of free public showers, supplying meals and personal hygiene kits to support them, while also assisting the county to secure temporary housing for the homeless to self-quarantine.
• Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the New Jersey Bureau of Securities within the Division of Consumer Affairs announced today that the Bureau is taking emergency action to ease the path for financial services professionals who live in New Jersey to work in New Jersey at a time when social distancing measures related to COVID-19 make it harder for them to commute into New York City.
  • The Emergency Order allows New Jersey residents who work and are registered as financial professionals in other states – but not in this state – to temporarily conduct activities with, or on behalf of, existing customers or clients from their homes or temporary offices in New Jersey.
  • The Bureau is also reminding investors in New Jersey to beware of financial predators who may see an opportunity to trick investors into so-called “safer, guaranteed investments” that are really scams.
• Stockton University will postpone its traditional graduation ceremonies in May. Instead, the university will hold a virtual ceremony now and plan for a traditional Commencement in the fall.
• Rutgers has created a new center to coordinate the university’s myriad research and public health and outreach efforts to combat COVID-19.
  • The center’s goal is to serve as an institutional hub for Rutgers’ COVID-19 research activities and information dissemination.
• • Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, who has been at the forefront of efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19, has taken personal measures to flatten the curve.  County Executive Tedesco, who is not experiencing any symptoms, has decided to self-quarantine at the recommendation of the Bergen County Health Officer after attending a press conference with an individual identified as COVID-19 positive.
  • Gov. Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan today announced an Administrative Order, permitting additional retail businesses to operate during their normal business hours. Effective immediately, the following businesses are considered essential in accordance with Executive Order No. 107:
    • Mobile phone retail and repair shops
    • Bicycle shops, but only to provide service and repair
    • Livestock feed stores
    • Nurseries and garden centers
    • Farming equipment stores
      • Businesses that remain operational must comply with social distancing.
• March 23
  • With 935 new cases reported overnight, New Jersey now has 2,844 total positive cases of coronavirus.
    • 7 more deaths brings the state’s total number of fatalities to 27.
  • As of 2 p.m., New Jersey has the second highest number of coronavirus cases of any state in the country, behind only New York, which has more than 20,800 cases.
  • New Jersey’s second FEMA-supported drive-thru testing site is now open at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
    • Residents looking to get tested there must show proof of New Jersey residence and have symptoms such as cough or fever.
    • The site expects to collect samples from 300 to 400 people per day and has the resources to test 2,500 people per week.
    • The first FEMA test site in New Jersey opened at Bergen Community College on Friday.
  • Hudson County has opened a test site at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus. It is open to residents of Hudson County or to first responders who work in the county, and anyone wishing to get tested there must be exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness and must make an appointment by calling 201-388-1097.
  • Gov. Murphy has signed Executive Order 109, directing the suspension of all elective surgeries and invasive procedures performed on adults that are scheduled to take place after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27.
    • The executive order applies to all medical and dental operations that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of the patient, as determined by the patient’s physician or dentist.
  • Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Jared Maples is directing all commercial laboratories to report their coronavirus test results to the New Jersey Department of Health to make sure the state has the most accurate and up-to-date information.
  • In an unprecedented move, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner signed a consent order calling for the state’s county jails to temporarily release up to 1,000 inmates in an effort to lessen the spread of coronavirus within the correctional system.
    • Inmates will be considered for release if they are serving a sentence:
      • As a condition of probation
      • As a result of a municipal court conviction
      • For a fourth-degree crime, disorderly persons offense, or petty disorderly persons offense
    • All individuals who are released will have to comply with the statewide stay at home order and complete their sentences when the public health emergency concludes.
    • Prosecutors can challenge the release of specific individuals if they contend release could pose a significant risk to the individual or to public safety.
  • Residents who are feeling the emotional and mental toll of coronavirus can now call a hotline for free, confidential support.
    • NJ Mental Health Cares is staffing 1-866-202-HELP (4357) with trained specialists to take calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
  • Residents who want to donate personal protective equipment to assist medical professionals should contact PPEdonations@njsp.org
  • Lieutenant Governor and DCA Commissioner Sheila Oliver, DEP commissioner Catherine McCabe and Board of Public Utilities President Joe Fiordaliso are asking all water providers, public and private, including those operated by municipal governments, to suspend shut-off orders during the COVID-19 outbreak in the event residents are unable to pay their water bills.
• March 22
• The state received 590 new positive COVID-19 test results overnight, bringing the state total to 1,914.
  • There have been 4 additional deaths, bringing the total of COVID-19 related fatalities to 20.
• On Monday, Union County is opening a county-run, drive-through COVID-19 testing facility at Kean University for residents, first responders, and essential personnel.
  • Testing is by-appointment only and residents must be registered by their doctor or health care provider.
  • The testing location will not allow patients without vehicles to enter the campus, even with a valid prescription and appointment.
• Gov. Murphy will be announcing critical telehealth and telemental health options for more than 3 million residents.
  • They will be accessible without co-pays.
• March 21
• The state has 442 new coronavirus cases overnight — bringing the state total to 1,327.
  • There have been 5 more deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 16. The victims include:
    • A male in his 40s from Bergen County
    • A male in his 50s from Monmouth County
    • A female in her 70s from Morris County
    • A male in his 80s from Essex County
    • A male in his 90s from Bergen County
• Gov. Murphy signs an executive order requiring all New Jersey residents to “stay at home.” Under the executive order, all gatherings are canceled – including weddings, in-person services and parties.
  • The governor said the rules would remain in effect “for weeks to months”
  • Non-essential retail businesses are ordered to close indefinitely effective at 9pm on Saturday.
  • Businesses allowed to continue to operate include:
    • Grocery stores
    • Pharmacies
    • Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
    • Gas stations
    • Auto Repair/Mechanics
    • Convenience stores
    • Banks
    • Medical Supply stores
    • Hardware/Home Improvement stores
    • Laundromats/Dry Cleaners
    • Printing/Office Supply stores
    • Mail & Delivery shops
    • Restaurants/Liquor Stores/Bars (for delivery and takeout only)
    • Construction site work
    • Manufacturing/Trucking/Transportation operations
• Gov. Murphy signs a second executive order requiring all rules laid out by the state to supersede orders issued by county and municipal officials
• Gov. Murphy announced the launch of a new, online COVID-19 Information Hub. The governor described it as a “one-stop shop for answers to frequently asked questions, important information and updates, a list of phone numbers and other available resources.”
• Gov. Murphy recommended any worker left unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic to seek help through the state’s online portal.
• Gov. Murphy urged families who have homes on the Jersey shore to not travel to their shore homes. He asked families to stay in their primary homes because the local health care infrastructure is not prepared.
• Gov. Murphy mandates the indefinite closure of all municipal, county, and State public libraries in addition to all libraries and computer labs at public and private colleges and universities.
• March 20
• The state received an additional 155 positive COVID-19 tests, bringing the total to 890.
• There were also two additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11.
  • One was a 37-year-old male from Essex County.
  • One was a 52-year-old male from Bergen County.
• Gov. Murphy signed several pieces of legislation that:
  • Prohibits an employer during the ongoing Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency from terminating or refusing to reinstate an employee who has, or is likely to have, an infectious disease which requires the employee to miss time at work.
  • Authorizes the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to make grants during a state of emergency or a public health emergency. The EDA will also be authorized to grant certain business documentation submission deadline extensions.
  • Provides county clerks with additional week to mail ballots for 2020 primary election; requires ballot position draw to occur one day early if statutory date falls on holiday
  • Requires school districts to provide school meals or meal vouchers to students eligible for free and reduced price school meals during school closures due to COVID-19 epidemic
  • Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing of coronavirus disease 2019 and for telemedicine and telehealth during coronavirus disease 2019 state of emergency
  • Modifies deadline by which public agency is required to respond to request for government record during period of emergency
  • Allows public bodies to conduct meetings, and provide notice, by electronic means during periods of emergency
  • Permits extension of deadlines for adoption of county and municipal budgets under certain circumstances
  • Authorizes all licensed health care facilities and laboratories to collect specimens to test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); allows waiver of staffing ratio requirements
  • Requires food access information be displayed on websites of 2-1-1 system and executive branch departments during public health emergencies to the extent practicable
  • Permits corporations to hold shareholders’ meetings in part or solely by means of remote communication during state of emergency
  • Limits return of items purchased from retail food stores under certain circumstances
  • Urges FCC to take temporary measures to secure broadband access for those affected by COVID-19
• The CEO of Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, Michael Maron, announced that he has tested positive COVID-19
• Murphy announced that a total of 654 people were tested at the Bergen County Community College FEMA testing center on its first day of operation.
  • The second FEMA testing center, located at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, will be opening Monday, March 23 at 8 a.m.
• Murphy announced new partnerships with the private sector. Testing for COVID-19 is now being performed in the state by both LabCorp and BioReference Laboratories.
  • In addition, the state’s Public Health and Environmental Laboratories will soon be able to process over 1,000 tests a day
• Health commissioner Judith Persichilli announced the halting of all adult health day care services in every county.
• The health commissioner also announced that she had conducted a walk through of a facility in Woodbury with the Army Corps of Engineers that the Corps deemed acceptable to be used as an additional facility to handle any overflow.
  • The facility needs to be cleaned and is expected to be ready to go within 3-4 weeks
  • Bringing this facility back online will create an additional 300 hospital beds in the state.
• The Camden City School District announced that, effective Monday, March 23, meals will only be distributed on Mondays and Thursdays.
  • Enough food will be sent home for several days. For example, on Mondays enough food will be provided for three days (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and Thursday enough food will be provided for two days (Thursday and Friday).
  • Hours of Operation: Monday and Thursday from 10 AM to 12 PM
• Murphy, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf requested at least $100B from the federal government in the form of a direct cash assistance program to provide an immediate financial infusion to all four states to help cover costs related to COVID-19 response operations.
• The Murphy administration announced that it will require hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to waive patient fees for COVID-19 testing and related diagnostic services for those who lack health insurance.
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ordering all workers in non-essential businesses to stay home and banning gatherings statewide. Nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size or for any reason are canceled or postponed.
• NJ Transit has adjusted its operating schedule in order to deal with the decrease in ridership.
  • All weekday rail service, with the exception of Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL), will operate on weekend schedules with the following modifications until further notice.
    • Gladstone Branch rail service will operate on weekdays only.
    • Eight extra trips will operate between Dover and Hoboken during weekdays only.  Departure times for these trains will be available on njtransit.com.
    • ACRL will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
• State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso are urging people to stay away from the COVID-19 testing site that is being constructed at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Monmouth County until a formal announcement is made about its opening. The facility has not yet opened and having people drive through the site is hindering construction efforts.
• March 19
• The state now has 742 total cases of COVID-19 with the addition of 318 positive test results.
  • Bergen County still has the highest number of cases at 80
  • The age range for those infected is now 3 years to 95 years.
• There were four additional fatalities, bringing the total number of deaths in NJ to nine.
  • One Monmouth County female in her 70s
  • One Ocean County male in his 70s
  • One Essex County male in his 60s
  • One Bergen County male in his 30s
• Gov. Murphy signed into law a bill to expand access to telehealth services and to allow professional and occupational licensing board to expedite licensure of out-of-state professionals.
• Gov. Murphy signed into law a bill that allows for the conduct of state business and legislative sessions at locations other than Trenton during periods of emergency or other exigency. It also allows for the conduct of legislative business using electronic means.
• Gov. Murphy signed an executive declaring a moratorium on removing individuals from their homes pursuant to an eviction or foreclosure proceeding.
  • The order comes a day after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac announced they would be suspending all foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days.
  • The governor is also asking any financial institution holding residential or commercial mortgages, equity loans, lines of credit or business loans, to implement a process to work with the mortgagors or loan holders to avoid foreclosure or default arising out financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, or by any local, state, or federal government response to COVID-19.
• New Jersey’s state senate has passed a package of 27 bills to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The state Assembly advanced the same bills earlier this week, which means they will now head to the governor for his signature. At his daily briefing the governor promised to swiftly review and sign the bills. Here is a sampling of some of the bills and what they would cover:

  • S-2304: would provide that an employee is eligible for earned sick leave, family temporary disability leave, temporary disability leave or family leave, as appropriate, if they are unable to work during a state of emergency because a physician or public health authority has determined they should quarantine to protect the health of others.

  • A-3813/S-2292: would allow remote learning to apply to the 180-day instruction requirement for school districts during extended emergency school closures. This bill would apply for both a declared state of emergency and a public health emergency.

  • A-3840/S-2281: would require school districts to provide meals to students enrolled in the free or reduced meal program during COVID-19 school closings. The bill provides direction as to how schools may distribute meals or meal vouchers.

  • A-3843/S-2283: would require health insurance and Medicaid to cover testing for COVID-19, telehealth and telemedicine services, without cost-sharing requirements, during the state of emergency.

  • A-3846/S-2293: would create the “Temporary Lost Wage Unemployment Program” to allow those affected by coronavirus to recoup wages lost and to assist employers who pay wages to workers under quarantine. The bill appropriates $20 million for the program.

  • A-3848/S-2301: would prohibit an employer from terminating, or refusing to reinstate, an employee who takes time off from work at the recommendation of a medical professional due to an infectious disease.

  • A-3865/S-2291: would prohibit retail food stores from accepting the return of any groceries and other food products purchased during, and for 30 days following, a state of emergency declared in response to COVID-19.

• Congressman Andy Kim announced that he will self-quarantine for two weeks following direct contact with a member of Congress who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• The NJ Department of Health has identified positive COVID-19 cases in six nursing home facilities around the state
  • Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli has ordered admissions to these facilities to be curtailed
• Gov. Murphy announced that the first state-run drive-through COVID-19 testing center will be opening March 20 at Bergen County Community College. A testing center in Monmouth County at PNC Bank Arts Center is expected to open soon.
  • The center at Bergen County Community College will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week.
  • Priority will be given to health care workers.
  • Those that are asymptomatic will be turned away.
• The governor ordered the closure of all personal care businesses that cannot comply with social distancing policies by 8 p.m. tonight
  • This would include businesses such as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, etc.
• The governor signed an Executive Order regarding the upcoming elections in the state.
  • The Order specifically requires the following, effective immediately:
    • Candidates filing petitions for the March 30th deadline shall be able to submit their petitions online, in addition to in person, and the Secretary of State shall create an online form that allows voters to submit their signatures on petitions electronically.
    • The March 21, 2020 special election in Fire District 1 for the Township of Old Bridge shall be postponed until May 12, 2020, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
    • The March 31, 2020 special elections in the Township of West Amwell and Atlantic City shall be postponed until May 12, 2020, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
    • The school board elections scheduled for April 21, 2020 shall also be postponed until May 12, 2020, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
    • All elections scheduled for May 12, 2020, both before and after this Order takes effect, shall be conducted solely via vote-by-mail ballots.
    • No changes announced as of yet to the primary election scheduled to take place June 2.
• NJ Transit announced that they are requesting $1.25B in federal aid to replace lost revenue and support COVID-19 related expenses. The agency has seen an 88% decrease in ridership since March 9 and is experiencing increased costs due to the extra cleaning being done to help prevent the spread of the virus.
• The Township of Union began a town-wide Senior Citizen Wellness Check effort. Throughout the week, Township of Union personnel will place phone calls to Union residents age 62 or older who have a landline or a cellphone. If the resident is not home, a message will be left and a follow-up call will be made.
• Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco rescinded his Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency in the County at the request of the governor.
  • The Executive Order that would have mandated the closing of shopping malls and other businesses, reduced restaurants to take-out and delivery, and put restrictions big box stores was slated to go into effect Saturday at 8 a.m.
• Senate President Steve Sweeney urged companies with subscription-based billing to suspend the fees associated with early termination.
• The Office of the Attorney General today released some guidance on how New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination applies to individuals who have COVID-19
  • Your employer cannot fire you because you coughed at work and they perceived
    you to have a disability related to COVID-19.
  • If you have east-Asian heritage and a coworker repeatedly harasses you by claiming that Asian people caused COVID-19 or calling this “the Chinese virus,” your employer must take reasonable action to stop the harassment if they knew or should have known about it.
  • For more information check out the guidance offered by the OAG here.
•  The U.S. Small Business Administration named New Jersey a ‘declared disaster state’ in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration will allow New Jersey small business owners impacted by the pandemic to apply for financial assistance.
  • To apply for an SBA loan, click here.
  • For guidance on SBA loans, click here.
  • Sen. Bob Menendez proposed a bill that would make these loans, up to $2 million, interest-free
• March 18
• The state now has a total of 427 cases of COVID-19, with the addition of 162 positive test results. There were two new fatalities reported, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to five.
  • The age range for the total number of cases are 5 years to 95 years. The median age is 52.
• 260 additional beds are being brought online to area hospitals
  • 199 in northern NJ
  • 11 in central NJ
  • 50 in southern NJ
• 277 additional hospital beds are expected to come online in the coming weeks.
• Inspira Medical Center Woodbury is expected to reopen and accommodate an additional 300 beds.
• Gov. Murphy has announced a FEMA-supported COVID-19 testing site will be opening on Friday at Bergen County Community College. A second site will open at PNC Bank Arts Center in Monmouth County.
• NJ is expecting the return of nine asymptomatic residents from the Grand Princess Cruise ship.
  • They are being held under CDC quarantine at the Dobbins Air Reserve base in Marietta Georgia.
  • Six low-risk individuals, are expected to return home today and self quarantine for the remainder of their stay (4-5 days).
• Gov. Murphy is working with the Trump administration and Army Corp. to increase the response to the outbreak in NJ.
• Gov. Murphy, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Department of Health, and the United Ways of New Jersey announced today that NJ 211 has been activated to help handle COVID-19 related calls from New Jersey residents.
  • Residents call also text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive text information and stay informed. To receive live text assistance, residents can text their zip code to 898-211.
• Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver petitions NJ residents to visit the DCA website to check eligibility and apply for a full menu of services to relieve the burden during the coronavirus crisis.
• Gov. Murphy, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont today announced Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is joining their coalition to implement a regional approach to combating COVID-19.
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has announced a mandatory curfew in the city beginning at 8 p.m. this evening. The curfew, according to the mayor, is mandatory unless there is an emergency or if residents are going to or coming home from work.
  • Effective 8 p.m. Wednesday, all nonessential businesses in Newark that do not sell food, medical supplies, prescriptions, gas or household good must close and not reopen until further notice.
  • Restaurants are only allowed to be open for takeout or delivery and must close at 8 p.m. every night.
  • Baraka will reassess the citywide mandate on April 1.
• Sen. Paul Sarlo today urged New Jersey banks to grant a two-month “holiday” on payments for mortgage payments and lines of credit to restaurants and bars that have shut down or are experiencing sharp declines in revenue due to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Atlantic County reports first COVID-19 confirmation.
• Two workers at Inspira Medical Center Vineland tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19.
• Cape May County Department of Health is reporting that a 30-year-old man from New York City tested positive at a local health care facility for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while visiting Cape May County.
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced authorities have located a woman who tested positive for the new coronavirus and then left East Orange General Hospital.
• Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that he has submitted a revised Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency in Bergen County to the Murphy Administration for review to be in conjunction with the Governor’s statewide emergency declaration.
• • Senator Joe Vitale is urging Gov. Murphy to close day care centers in New Jersey, extending the same public health measures that already cover public and private schools and Pre-K programs throughout the state.
• Sen. Cory Booker urged the Bureau of Prisons to allow phone calls and videoconferencing, free of charge, for all people behind bars, in the wake of the BOP’s prudent decision to temporarily cancel in-person visits in order to help contain the spread of Coronavirus.
• Sen. Bob Menendez, with nine democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raising serious concerns about Americans struggling to return home after being stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Senate passed the first federal coronavirus relief bill worth $500 billion. The aid package is to tackle the economic impacts of the coronavirus, provide sick leave, unemployment benefits, free coronavirus testing, plus food and medical aid to people impacted by the crisis. The first round of direct payments ($250 billion) to Americans will begin April 6.
• New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson today outlined steps the Department has taken to assist and protect those we serve amid the ongoing work to contain COVID-19.
  • Waive parent co-pays in state’s child care subsidy for parents who request it due to impacts from COVID-19.
  • Provide an additional $100 per child per month to child care providers for children in the State child care subsidy program to help child care centers remain open during this critical time to support working parents, emergency and essential personnel.
  • Automatically extend, for 60 days, WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance to individuals whose case is up for renewal in March or April.
  • Extend all Emergency Assistance cases through April 30.
  • Cover 90-day supplies of prescriptions for maintenance medications and early refills of prescriptions in Medicaid and CHIP.
  • Direct hospitals to waive cost sharing for uninsured individuals who are eligible for charity care for medically necessary testing and testing-related services for the COVID-19 virus.
  • Allow older residents receiving prescription drugs through Medicaid or the state prescription drug assistance program (PAAD and Senior Gold) to refill their prescriptions early and receive 90-day supplies of maintenance medications.
  • Temporarily close congregate day programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Issue guidance to Opioid Treatment Programs, which provide essential medication such as methadone or buprenorphine to individuals with an opioid use disorder, on ensuring the safe provision of medication including take-home medication.
• March 17
• The state now has a total of 267 cases of COVID-19, with the addition of 89 positive test results. There were no new fatalities to report, the total number of deaths in the state remains at 3.
  • 55% of all known coronavirus cases in the state have led to hospitalization
  • The age range for the total number of cases remains at 5 years to 93 years. The median age is 52.
  • More than half of the total number of cases are male.
• The City of Trenton announced its first positive COVID-19 test. Mayor Reed Gusciora says that the 48-year-old female has been under self-quarantine since being tested on March 11.
• Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla instituted a policy of self-isolation for all Hoboken residents effective 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.
  • The policy requires people to stay home except for essential needs, the purchasing of food, care for a family member or friend, to get health care, or employment where remote work is not possible.
  • Activities such as running, jogging, bike-riding, walking, and other similar types of exercise are permitted under the new self-isolation policy, but only if social distancing of at least six feet is observed.
  • All travel on public transportation or by vehicle is restricted for employment purposes only.
  • Restaurants are permitted through delivery and take-out service only, while grocery stores, supermarkets, bodegas, banks, restaurants with food, pharmacies, and coffee shops will remain open until 8 p.m.
  • The Mayor also announced the closure of all non-essential businesses in Hoboken including retail stores, all nail salons, hair salons, massage parlors, and non-essential medical offices.
  • He also urged residents to limit any gatherings of people to five people or less in public places, and encouraged all places of worship to suspend in-person services.
• Rutgers University announced that it is suspending all in-person instruction, with the exception of clinical instruction, for the remainder of the school year.
  • All events scheduled at the University through the month of May are also suspended, including Rutgers Day and commencements.
• Murphy directed the indefinite closure of all indoor shopping malls, amusement parks and amusement centers beginning at 8 p.m.
  • Restaurants that are located within indoor shopping malls will be allowed to remain open for delivery or takeout food service only.
• After hearing the president say that the Army Corps of Engineers was ready to assist New York state in erecting temporary hospitals to help deal with the influx of patients, Murphy made that same request for New Jersey.
• New Jersey MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton confirmed that the two-month expiration extensions put in place this week for driver licenses, learner permits, and registrations also apply to commercial driver licenses, commercial learner permits, commercial registrations and temporary tags.
• Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton announced the suspension of all evictions by the County Sheriff’s Office until further notice.
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka provided an update on the second person who tested positive for COVID-19 that was under investigation:
  • This person was a female who came to East Orange General Hospital to be tested for coronavirus.
  • The test came back positive but it was discovered after some investigation that the woman had given the hospital a false name and address.
  • The mayor said that the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Health Department are currently working to track this woman down and they urge her to return to the hospital where she can be treated.
• Baraka announced emergency measures that will go into effect in Newark that largely mirrored the conditions set forth in the governor’s statewide order
  • Police, fire, sanitation, health care, WIC, homeless services, water, and lead service line replacement services in the city will continue to function normally.
• Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that the implementation of Executive Order 2020-1B will be postponed until Saturday at 8 a.m. in order to provide additional clarity and to be in conjunction with state government.
  • The revised executive order includes closing shopping malls, limiting park activity to small families, reducing restaurants to take-out and delivery, closing health clubs and gyms, mechanic shops, leaving county government open but not to the public. Banks and law firms can stay open, big box stores can stay open but must adhere to restrictions similar to the county’s Blue Laws regarding purchases
• The NJSIAA, the governing body for high school sports in the state, announced that there will be no games, scrimmages or practices while the state’s schools are shut down.
  • Any student-athlete who is subject to the 30-day Transfer Rule will be eligible to participate 30 days after what would have been the start of the regular season – March 25 for boys and girls lacrosse and April 1 for all other spring sports.  Participation is day 31 from each of these dates regardless of when the first regular season game is actually played.
  • More information on championship opportunities for spring season sports will be provided later on.
• March 16
• NJ has 178 positive cases of COVID-19, an increase of 80 cases since Sunday.
  • New cases range in age from 5 to 93 years old
• Late Monday night, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state has its third coronavirus-related death — a male in his 90s who was being treated in Bergen County.
• The governor has ordered all public, private and parochial pre-K through grade 12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, to close effective Wednesday, March 18 until health officials deem it’s safe for classes to resume.
  • As of Monday, Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet says 90% of the state’s schools are already closed.
• The governors of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut have mandated the following, starting tonight at 8 p.m. and until further notice:
  • No crowds or gatherings of more than 50 people
  • Move theaters, performing arts centers, casinos, racetracks, gyms and fitness centers will be closed
  • Bars and restaurants will be closed and will be limited to delivery or takeout services only
• All non-essential and non-emergency travel in New Jersey is strongly discouraged between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., beginning this evening and until further notice.
• All non-essential retail, recreation and entertainment businesses must cease daily operations between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Murphy announces National Guard will be mobilized and moved to “ready posture.”
• Two drive-thru FEMA testing sites will open in New Jersey — one at Bergen County Community College, the other at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Monmouth County. New Jersey is one of 12 states where the federal government will be offering coronavirus testing.
• March 15
• There are 31 new positive COVID-19 test results, bringing the state’s total to 98. The total number of fatalities remains at two.
  • The new cases include 9 females and 22 males
  • The ages range from 30 to 77 years old
• The governor said that Monday he will be announcing details of a statewide school shutdown, public and private.
  • He also said that he will be announcing more aggressive measures to promote social distancing that could involve a statewide curfew.
• The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission announced all agencies, road testing, and inspection facilities would be closed for two weeks, effective immediately.
• Murphy called on the federal government to open a special enrollment period under the ACA. Though New Jersey operates a state-based exchange, it is in the process of transitioning and is still on a federal platform and so it requires the federal government to open this special enrollment period.
• Asbury Park declares state of emergency.
• Middlesex County declares a county-wide state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Newark announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the city. Officials said that 21 individuals have been tested. Those tests were sent to the state labs and then to the CDC for confirmation. Two tests came back positive. One individual is a male in his 50s who is currently in isolation. Officials are still working to confirm whether the second individual is in fact a Newark resident.
• President and CEO of University Hospital Shereef Elnahal announced that one health care worker at the hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. He says it is most likely that the worker acquired the case outside of the hospital. All hospital staff who came in contact with this worker are under self-quarantine. The Bergen County health department is assisting the hospital with this case as that is where the health care worker lives.
• Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo confirms the county has 11 positive test results: two from Nutley, one from Maplewood, two from Bloomfield, two from Millburn, three from Montclair, one from Newark.
• Teaneck officials announced an emergency declaration Sunday morning, a day after the township’s mayor asked all residents to self quarantine. Officials stressed that this is not a mandatory quarantine but urged everyone to avoid contact with others and work from home, if possible.
• March 14
  • Monmouth County woman in her 50s becomes the second person to die from coronavirus-related complications.
  • With 19 new cases, New Jersey has 69 positive cases of coronavirus.
  • The CDC says it will consider all positive tests conducted in public labs to be confirmed rather than presumptive.
  • Hoboken mayor Ravi Bhalla announced that the city will be implementing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Monday, March 16. All bars and restaurants were also directed to allow for delivery and takeout of food only.
  • NJ’s corrections commissioner announces a temporary ban on visits to state correctional facilities for the next 30 days.
  • New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission extends expiration dates for driver licenses, registrations, and inspections in response to COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The American Dream mall will temporarily close beginning March 15.
• March 13
• 21 new cases announced, bring the number of presumptive positive cases to 50.
• 354 school districts have closed or are preparing to close beginning March 16.
• Gov. Phil Murphy says statewide, long-term school closures are inevitable within the next few days.
• Bergen County executive Jim Tedesco closes movie theaters, performance halls and the county zoo.
• March 12
• Six new cases announced, bringing the number of presumptive positive cases to 29, with 37 persons under investigation.
• Gov. Phil Murphy recommends the cancellation of all events with more than 250 people, including parades, concerts and sporting events.
• Jersey City becomes first city in NJ to impose a curfew
• Bergen County, which has the highest number of cases, announces all 75 of its school districts will close.
• Wall Street experiences worst trading day since 1987 market crash
• March 11
• Eight new cases announced, bringing the number of presumptive positive cases to 23.
• First cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey that are found to have no clear origin, signaling community spread.
• March 10
• Officials announce first coronavirus-related death in New Jersey, the first fatality in the northeast.
• Four new cases, including one death, brings total of presumptive positive cases to 15.
• Gov. Phil Murphy announces state agencies have taken steps to immediately waive testing-related copays and other cost sharing for Medicaid members, public employees, individuals insured under state-regulated plans and those without any health care coverage.
• New York calls in National Guard to New Rochelle, the largest known cluster in New York.
• March 9
• Five new cases brings total of presumptive positive cases to 11.
• New Jersey declares state of emergency and public health emergency.
  • The state of emergency declaration and an associated public health emergency provides the state with greater flexibility and additional resources for the ongoing response.
  • It also enacts the strongest anti-price gouging provisions of New Jersey’s strict consumer-protection law.
• Stock Market plunge triggers a trading halt, the second time such measures have been enacted.
• Princeton University announces plans to move class instruction online, other colleges and universities follow suit and begin planning.
• March 8
• • Two more presumptive positive cases in New Jersey brings total to six.
  • New York declares state of emergency and public health emergency.

  March 6

  • Officials announce third and fourth presumptive positive cases
• • Officials announce second presumptive positive case

  March 1

  • First New York case of the coronavirus
• Federal and state officials began to lay the groundwork with the public to prepare for the spread of the new pathogen in the United States.
• • 24/7 coronavirus hotline opens: 1-800-222-1222
  • The federal Centers for Disease Control announced that it was beefing up staff at all 20 of its quarantine stations, including the one at Newark, to conduct the screenings in the effort to prevent the spread of the disease.