Author: ECCYC

NEW JERSEY — The most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.

CDC report: Unvaccinated kids twice as likely to end up in the hospital with COVID

A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is painting a clearer picture of hospitalizations among 5-11-year-olds during the omicron surge at the start of 2022. 

The study revealed that unvaccinated 5-11-year-olds were twice as likely to end up in the hospital with COVID-19 as those who were vaccinated. ADVERTISING

Justice Department to appeal order voiding travel mask mandate

The Justice Department is filing an appeal seeking to overturn a judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs, officials said Wednesday.

The notice came minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked the Justice Department to appeal the decision handed down by a federal judge in Florida earlier this week.

Travel in NY, NJ: Do I need to wear a mask?

A decision by a federal judge in Florida to throw out a national mask mandate in public transportation across the U.S. created a patchwork of rules Monday that vary by city and mode of transit.

Mask mandate ends on NJ Transit: Murphy

The mask mandate has been dropped for NJ Transit buses and trains, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday, April 19. The decision comes following a federal judge’s ruling that struck down the nationwide mask mandate on public transportation and an announcement by the TSA that it would no longer require face coverings.

Federal judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

A federal judge in Florida on Monday, April 18, voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation as exceeding the authority of U.S. health officials in the coronavirus pandemic.

FDA approves first COVID-19 breath test for emergency use

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, April 15, that it had authorized the first test to detect COVID-19 through breath for emergency use.

CDC extends travel mask requirement to May

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday, April 13, that it is extending the nationwide mask requirement for public transit for 15 days as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was set to expire on April 18, until May 3 to allow more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant that is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S.

Murphy tests positive for COVID

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced on Thursday, March 31. He’s asymptomatic and feeling well, but was set to cancel all events and isolate for five days.

Moderna’s low-dose COVID vaccine works for kids under 6, company says

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the company announced on March 23 — and if regulators agree it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer.

Moderna asks FDA to authorize 4th dose of COVID shot

Drugmaker Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration on March 17 to authorize a fourth shot of its COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose for all adults.

WHO now tracking hybrid COVID-19 variant: ‘deltacron’

Scientists are learning more about a hybrid variant of COVID-19 that has been detected called “deltacron.” Deltacron was first reported early this year, when it was thought to be a co-infection of the omicron and delta coronavirus variants (meaning people were possibly infected with two variants at once). Now, researchers believe it’s a single, hybrid variant that combines genes from both delta and omicron.

TSA extends mask mandate on planes, public transit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other mass transit, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face-covering requirement will be extended through April 18.

NJ drops school mask mandate but not all districts end requirement

As New Jersey health officials continue to report progress in beating back the latest wave of COVID-19 infections, Gov. Phil Murphy on March 7 allowed schools to drop the mask mandate. However, not all school districts across the state opted to drop masking rules.

Gov. Murphy ends Public Health Emergency 2 years after NJ’s first COVID case

On March 4, 2020, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received word that the state recorded its first case of COVID-19. He recalled the day on Friday, March 4, exactly two years later, during what he said was his last in-person COVID-19 briefing.

What the CDC’s new ‘Community Level’ tool means for your county

Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday, March 4.

Murphy dropping NJ schools mask mandate

While COVID numbers continue to decline in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced an end to the state’s mask mandate for public schools. The governor said students and school staff can go maskless beginning March 7. The statewide mandate has been in effect since the start of the academic year in September.

4th COVID shot: Who will need another booster soon?

As COVID cases caused by the omicron variant finally start to wane in the U.S., is it time to look ahead to the next variant? And will we need another booster shot to protect us from it?

Pfizer asks FDA to allow COVID vaccine for kids under 5

Pfizer on Tuesday, Feb. 1, asked the U.S. to authorize extra-low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5, potentially opening the way for the very youngest Americans to start receiving shots as early as March.

Newark University Hospital gets military aid amid COVID surge

A military medical team is now on the ground in Newark, New Jersey after arriving early Thursday, Jan. 20 to assist with the surge in COVID-19 patients and staff shortages that has left University Hospital overwhelmed.

Gov. Murphy: NJ schools could ditch masks before end of academic year

 As New Jersey’s COVID numbers start to slowly drop, Gov. Phil Murphy predicted Thursday, Jan. 20 that schools in the Garden State could reach a point before the end of this school year where masks are no longer required.

CDC encourages more Americans to consider N95 masks

U.S. health officials on Friday, Jan. 14, encouraged more Americans to wear the kind of N95 or KN95 masks used by health care workers to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those kinds of masks are considered better at filtering viruses from the air. But they previously were in short supply, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials had said they should be prioritized for health care workers.

Murphy reinstates Public Health Emergency for NJ as COVID spreads rapidly

Gov. Phil Murphy renewed his Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency declarations for the Garden State on Tuesday, Jan. 11. The executive order allows state agencies and departments to use resources to assist in the battle against COVID-19, according to a release from the governor’s office.

NJ COVID surge, pandemic recovery top priorities for Gov. Murphy in 2022

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 11, as the Garden State continued to grapple with another wave of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

“Our state remains on a war footing against a virus that has now taken on a new form. Omicron is doing its best to stop us in our tracks and push us back. We will not let it,” Murphy said.

FDA shortens Moderna booster wait time to 5 months

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shortened the amount of time Moderna recipients need to wait to get a booster dose from six months to five months, aligning the timeline with Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine. 

The agency announced it amended its emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine to allow adults to get a booster dose a month earlier than previously. 

Officials, including Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, cited the highly transmissible omicron variant as reasoning for the update. 

CDC shortens Pfizer booster wait time to 5 months

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention updated their recommendation for when many people can get the Pfizer COVID booster shot, shortening the interval from six months to five months.

The booster wait times for those who received the Johnson & Johnson (two months)or the Moderna vaccines (six months), have not changed.

Additionally, the CDC also recommended that moderately or severely immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years old receive an additional, third dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their second shot.

NJ COVID hospitalizations soar

COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jersey have blown passed the peak number reported during last winter’s surge, state Health Department data showed on Monday, Jan. 3. There were 4,715 people hospitalized on Sunday, Jan. 2. By comparison, the peak daily number of hospitalizations during last winter’s surge was 3,873.

NJ first lady positive for COVID; Gov. Murphy tests negative

New Jersey’s first lady Tammy Murphy tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test, a spokesperson said on Sunday, Jan. 2. Gov. Phil Murphy and the rest of his family tested negative, but will continue to test regularly in the coming days, the spokesperson said.

NJ cities tighten COVID restrictions with mask, vaccine mandates

As COVID cases continue to surge across New Jersey, the cities of Hoboken and Paterson enacted new indoor mask mandates. Meanwhile, Newark geared up for a new vaccine mandate for indoor dining and entertainment venues.

Paterson schools go remote after winter break amid COVID surge

As New Jersey continues to see a startling spike in COVID-19 cases statewide, the Paterson school district announced on Wednesday, Dec. 22, that students will start 2022 remotely. They were initially expected to return to classrooms on Jan. 4, however given the spike in COVID cases, they will learn remotely from Jan. 4 through Jan. 17. School buildings will reopen on Jan. 18.

NJ, NY CityMD locations temporarily close while demand for testing grows

As demand for COVID-19 tests explodes across the tri-state area, City MD is “temporarily closing” 31 locations to “preserve [the] ability to staff sites.”

Newark issues indoor mask mandate in public spaces to curb COVID uptick

Folks in Newark will need to mask up before they enter indoor public spaces under an executive order signed on Monday, Dec. 19, by Mayor Ras Baraka. The indoor mask mandate was issued as the state and city continue to see a concerning spike in COVID-19 cases, spurred by the omicron and delta variants.

Biden pledges 500M free COVID-19 tests to counter omicron

With the omicron variant on the rise, President Joe Biden announced 500 million free rapid tests for Americans, increasing support for hospitals under strain from the variant and an emphasis on vaccination and boosting efforts.

How to get a free at-home COVID test kit in NJ

Need to get tested for COVID-19? A new federally funded program allows New Jersey residents to request a free at-home COVID-19 test kit.

Moderna booster raises antibodies against omicron 37-fold

Moderna said recent data on its booster shot showed that the third dose of the COVID vaccine significantly increased antibody levels against the omicron variant.

According to the company, the currently authorized booster dose increased omicron-neutralizing antibodies approximately 37-fold, compared to pre-boost levels.

Breakthrough COVID infections may create ‘super immunity’

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University say they’ve found evidence to suggest that breakthrough infections create “super immunity” to the virus that causes COVID-19.

“You can’t get a better immune response than this,” senior author Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the OHSU School of Medicine, said.

Watch out for these 5 early omicron symptoms, study says

Wondering if you have a cold or the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus?

Well, based on the top five symptoms according to one study, it might be hard to tell.

A year after 1st COVID vaccinations in NJ, governor pushes booster shots

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the state on Wednesday, Dec. 15, by promoting booster shots.

US COVID-19 death toll hits 800,000

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000 on Dec. 14, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available last spring.

New US travel restrictions go into effect

Beginning Monday, Dec. 6, travelers heading to the U.S. will be required to show evidence of a negative COVID test within one day of boarding their flight instead of three days prior, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status. See what you need to know here.

Additionally, the TSA will extend the requirement to wear a mask on planes, trains, subways and other public transportation hubs including airports and bus terminals through the winter.

Scientists call omicron variant ‘most mutated’ version of virus

There’s one thing we keep hearing from the scientists who’ve gotten a close look at the omicron version of the virus: It’s really mutated. More mutations don’t necessarily make a virus more dangerous, but viruses evolve over time to increase their chance of survival, which can be bad for humans.

First omicron variant case confirmed in NJ, Murphy says

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said New Jersey’s first omicron case was confirmed on Friday, Dec. 3, in a fully vaccinated woman who visited New Jersey from Georgia.

Omicron COVID variant identified in California; 1st known US case

The first known case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified in California, the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Dr. Anthony Fauci said the person was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29.

US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck

The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.

How to pronounce the new COVID-19 variant

Omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern designated by the World Health Organization, gets its name from a letter in the Greek alphabet. But unlike the alpha or delta variants before it, omicron might not roll off the tongue so naturally to English speakers.

Rising concerns over omicron variant

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said he expects COVID cases to rise until at least the new year, and he’s asking people to remain vigilant over the holiday season as both New Jersey and New York closely monitor for the first cases of the omicron variant.

Omicron variant prompts new US travel ban on South Africa, other nations

The United States’ ban on non-citizen travel from South Africa and seven additional African nations began on Monday, Nov. 29, due to omicron, a new COVID-19 variant of concern, White House officials said.

The United States announced on Dec. 24 it would lift the ban.

5 things to know about omicron, the new COVID ‘variant of concern’

The announcement of a COVID-19 variant called omicron by scientists in South Africa, where it was first detected, has sent governments and financial markets around the world reeling. Click here to learn more about what experts know about the new “variant of concern.”

What is this new omicron COVID variant in South Africa?

South African scientists have identified a new version of the coronavirus that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant actually arose, but it was first detected by scientists in South Africa and has also been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.

CDC approves expanding COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all adults

The U.S. on Friday, Nov. 19, opened COVID-19 booster shots to all adults and took the extra step of urging people 50 and older to seek one, aiming to ward off a winter surge as coronavirus cases rise even before millions of Americans travel for the holidays.

Pfizer agrees to let other companies make its COVID-19 pill

Pfizer said it would grant a license for the antiviral pill to the Geneva-based Medicines Patent Pool, which would let generic drug companies produce the pill for use in 95 countries, making up about 53% of the world’s population.

Getting a COVID vaccine before the holidays? Here are some key dates to know

Time is running out if you plan to be fully vaccinated against COVID by the holidays. Click here for the deadlines to be fully vaccinated before each holiday.

US lifts nearly 20-month international travel ban

More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.

Bans on travel from specific countries ended on Nov. 8. The U.S. will allow in international travelers, but they must be vaccinated — with a few exceptions.

The U.S. also reopened the land borders with Canada and Mexico for vaccinated people. Most trips from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. are by land rather than air.

US gives final clearance to COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11

U.S. health officials on Nov. 2 gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.

The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.

Vaccinated just as likely to spread delta variant within household as unvaccinated: study

People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Oct. 29, shows.

Child tax credit 2022: What we know so far

As inner-party conflict continues to shave off elements of President Joe Biden’s sweeping domestic policy package, there may be good news for parents. While it’s unclear what the ultimate bill will include, Democrats arrived at a framework Thursday, Oct. 28, that included a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit.

Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot safe, effective for kids 6 to 11

Moderna said on Oct. 25 that a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds, as the manufacturer moves toward expanding shots to children.

FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids

Federal health regulators said late Oct. 22, that kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections in elementary school children and caused no unexpected safety issues, as the U.S. weighs beginning vaccinations in youngsters.

NJ among top vaccinated states in U.S.

New Jersey is among the top 10 states in the country with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates at 74%. Helping to lead the charge is Paterson, which has a 90% vaccination rate.

COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins

Many state employees returned to in-person work on Oct. 18, the same day Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement for them to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular virus testing went into effect. The vaccine or test mandate also applies to teachers in New Jersey.

New COVID safety guidance for the holidays released by the CDC

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released updated COVID-19 safety guidance for the holiday season on Friday, Oct. 15, including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors if you’re not vaccinated and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.

Rutgers team tries to understand ‘brain fog’ COVID connection

Dr. William Hu, the Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is leading a team trying to figure out what brain fog is and how it’s connected to COVID-19.

FDA endorsement essentially calls for Johnson & Johnson to be 2-shot vaccine

An FDA panel unanimously recommended a Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine on Friday, Oct. 15.  The terms of the endorsement essentially call for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to be a two-dose shot, rather than the one-dose shot for which it’s been known since it first got emergency use authorization last spring.

The panel called for a second shot to be available to people 18 and older, at least two months after the first shot.

FDA panel recommends Moderna booster shot, but the process isn’t over

A panel of medical experts affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration endorsed a COVID vaccine booster from Moderna on Thursday, Oct. 14. The panel recommended a half dose as a booster.  

Vice President Kamala Harris visits NJ day care, vaccination site

Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in New Jersey on Friday, Oct. 8, to discuss the state’s latest vaccination efforts. She visited a day care center to highlight child care provisions in the president’s spending proposal as well as a vaccination site at Essex Community College.

Children will feel impact of pandemic on mental health for years: UNICEF report

UNICEF released a critical report on Friday, Oct. 8, which found that children and young people could feel the impact of the pandemic on their mental health for many years to come.

COVID vaccine for kids: Doctor answers your questions

The Pfizer vaccine for kids could be on the market in about a month after the drug maker filed for FDA authorization Thursday, Oct. 7, for their shot for kids ages 5 to 11.

However, many parents still have questions about the children’s COVID vaccine. Dr. Sallie Permar, the head of pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, joined the PIX11 Morning News on Friday, Oct. 8, to share more information and answer some of the biggest questions.

Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents

Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday, Oct. 7, when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11.

NJ leaders take on ‘Mayors Vaccine Challenge’

Two New Jersey mayors are going head-to-head in an effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s all part of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the Garden State that has already propelled it as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight against COVID-19. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is squaring off with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora in what the state is calling the “Mayors Vaccine Challenge.”

New Jersey surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases

As of Tuesday, Sept. 28, more than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in New Jersey since the pandemic reached the state in 2020.

Pfizer submits vaccine data on kids to FDA

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced they have submitted initial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Phase 2/3 trial of their COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.

In the trial, which included 2,268 participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing antibody responses using a two-dose regimen of 10 μg doses. 

NJ offers $500 ‘return to work bonus’ to unemployed residents

Unemployed New Jersey residents could earn a $500 bonus to return to the workforce as part of a new program announced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, Sept. 27. The “Return and Earn” initiative will offer the one-time bonus to folks who secure a job through the program, including positions that require on-the-job training.

CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday, Sept. 23, endorsed booster shots for millions of older or otherwise vulnerable Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the recommendations from a panel of advisers, but then overnight added one more the panel had rejected.

The panel had voted against saying that people ages 18 to 64 can get a booster if they are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.

FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 65 and older, high-risk Americans

The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

J&J booster shot 94% effective 2 months after 1st dose

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said new data shows a second dose — or a booster shot — of their one-shot COVID vaccine was found to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 when given two months after the initial dose.

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11

Pfizer said Monday, Sept. 20, its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.

Vaccine mandate for child care facilities

Gov. Phil Murphy said all child care workers and facility employees need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face regular weekly testing. As of Sept. 24, all employees, students and children in a facility’s care ages two and up will need to wear masks indoors, with limited exceptions.

Moderna vaccine is most effective against hospitalization from COVID-19: study

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared how effective each of the three COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalization from the virus. The CDC reported that effectiveness was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the J&J vaccine (71%).

New Jersey surpassed as state with highest rate of COVID deaths

Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.

COVID-19 is ‘getting better’ at becoming airborne virus

Recent COVID-19 variants are much more adept at airborne transmission than the original version of the coronavirus, according to a new study. University of Maryland researchers analyzed the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered that carriers breathe out 43 to 100 times more infectious viral aerosols than those infected with the original strain.

EU removes US from safe travel list

The European Union recommended that its 27 nations reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. because of rising coronavirus infections there.

COVID-19 variants significantly reduce protection of vaccines, prior infection: study

A new study confirms that vaccinations and even prior COVID-19 infection provide significantly less protection against newer variants. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University say in order to protect against the Alpha, Beta, and now Delta variants, these findings stress the importance of doubling down on both vaccinations and public health measures during the pandemic.

Mask debate moves from school boards to courtrooms

The rancorous debate over whether returning students should wear masks in the classroom has moved from school boards to courtrooms. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. In some cases, normally rule-enforcing school administrators are finding themselves fighting state leaders in the name of keeping kids safe.

Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey’s statewide rent moratorium expires at the end of the year.

These foods are extra hard to find right now because of shortages, supply chain issues

Notice your grocery store shelves looking a little bare lately? You’re definitely not the only one. Supply chain issues have created shortages of highly specific ingredients.

‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022

The nation’s top infectious disease expert believes the pandemic’s end is near as long as the U.S. follows the right protocols to contain COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s only open if the country’s 80 million to 90 million unvaccinated people are convinced to get the shot.

Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?

Comirnaty, who? It’s the same exact mRNA vaccine Pfizer has been producing through the emergency use authorization, but now it’s being marketed under a new name.

Is an earache a new COVID-19 symptom?

Doctors say they’re seeing a new COVID-19 symptom in some patients. According to experts, an earache has been reported more frequently by those testing positive for COVID. Earaches can cause pain, a feeling of blockage and sometimes muffled hearing.

Johnson & Johnson: Vaccine booster provides ‘rapid, robust’ response

Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday, Aug. 25, announced new data the company said supports the use of its COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with their single-shot vaccine.

J&J said the new data showed that a booster shot of their vaccine generated a “rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.”

NJ to require teachers, state workers be fully vaccinated

All school personnel and state workers in New Jersey will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, Aug. 23.

Will COVID booster shot have the same side effects as the first two shots?

The Biden administration said Wednesday, Aug. 18, that COVID booster shots will soon be available, but how will the Sept. 20 rollout work, and what side effects should Americans expect?

Lambda and B.1.621: New COVID variants could be the worst yet, doctor warns

At least two new COVID-19 variants have hit the United States and they could be worse than the delta variant in their infectiousness and ability to stand up to vaccines, according to a top medical authority.

U.S. health officials call for booster shots for all to battle COVID-19

U.S. health officials recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The announcement was made on Aug. 18.

Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards

The Senate’s top Democrat says federal law enforcement officials need to crack down on fake COVID-19 vaccination cards being sold online.

COVID claims more young victims as deaths climb yet again

The COVID-19 death toll has started soaring again as the delta variant tears through the nation’s unvaccinated population and fills up hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than during earlier phases of the pandemic.

Concerts, outdoor events still risky as delta variant surges, experts say

Concerts and outdoor events are returning, and many are requiring proof of vaccination as part of new safety protocols designed to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. But while experts say being outdoors is less risky in general, they continue to recommend additional precautions for those visiting crowded outdoor venues.

Biden weighs stiffer vaccine rules as delta variant spreads rapidly across U.S.

When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new COVID infections soar, he’s testing a tougher approach.

Who doesn’t need the COVID-19 vaccine?

It has been eight months since the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers nationwide. Since then, the vaccine has become available to anyone ages 5 and older. Experts explain the few instances in which a person would not qualify for, or should delay getting vaccinated.

Extra COVID shot OK’d for immunocompromised individuals

The FDA has approved an extra, third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems.

Fake COVID vaccine cards worry college officials

With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.

What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card

Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.

Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?

Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.

Will NJ mandate masks indoors?

Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”

COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines

Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.

How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?

So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.

COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?

COVID-19 breakthrough cases are rising, and now people want to know which vaccine offers the best protection from the coronavirus.

Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?

Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.

NJ schools mask mandate: Teachers’ union backs, Republicans slam Murphy decision

New Jersey Republicans have largely trashed Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Aug 6 that masks will be required in all schools in the upcoming academic year.

Gov. Murphy mandates masks in schools

In a reversal of plans, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Aug. 6 a mandate for masks in schools for the upcoming academic year.

NJ health care workers must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19

Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Aug. 6 mandating that all workers in state and private health care facilities either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested for it twice a week.

50% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated, White House says

The United States reached a vaccination milestone on Aug. 6: 50% of the population, all ages, were fully vaccinated, the White House COVID-19 data director confirmed.

CDC says people who’ve had COVID should get shot or risk reinfection

Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.

Moderna says vaccine 93% effective after 6 months

Moderna said its COVID vaccine has 93% efficacy six months after the second shot, according to a report released on Aug. 5.

Can I get ‘long COVID’ if I’m infected after getting vaccinated?

It’s unclear, but researchers are studying the chances of long-term symptoms developing in anyone who might get infected after vaccination.

What is the delta plus variant of COVID?

The latest surge in COVID-19 infections is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India late last year. Now, a variation of that variant is beginning to generate headlines. Here’s what we know about the COVID sub-strain being called delta plus.

Vaccine mandate for state colleges?

Currently, some state colleges in New Jersey are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff and some have made it optional. Murphy said a universal mandate “is certainly an option,” but for now individual universities can make their own call.

More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise, Fauci says

Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Aug. 1 that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.

Walmart requiring COVID vaccination, masks for many employees

Walmart associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, needed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. Walmart also required associates, including those fully vaccinated, to wear masks in its stores.

Iconic NJ restaurant The Fireplace closes after 65 years

A popular restaurant in New Jersey closed its doors after 65 years of service.

The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.

New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination

A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.

CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.

Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months

The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.

Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status

Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.

NJ mask guidance

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli strongly recommended that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks in indoor settings when there is increased risk.

CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.

U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says

The United States is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring COVID-19 cases fueled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on July 25.

Is asking about someone’s COVID vaccine status a HIPAA violation?

HIPAA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 during a time when medical records were being computerized. It was created to simplify the administration of health insurance and to prevent unauthorized access to peoples’ medical histories.

In fact, HIPAA doesn’t block anyone from asking another person about their health status, according to Alan Meisel, law professor and bioethics expert at the University of Pittsburgh.

Child tax credit checks: Will they become permanent?

The parents of an estimated 60 million American children began receiving child tax credit payments from the IRS in mid-July in a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?

‘Pandemic of the unvaccinated’

President Joe Biden was forced to confront the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for a summer backslide.

Common cholesterol drugs may significantly reduce risk of death from COVID-19: study

Statins, a common medication for lowering cholesterol, may be saving lives among patients with COVID-19. A study revealed hospitalized coronavirus patients who took statins were much less likely to die from the illness.

WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak

The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged on July 15, 2021, that it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak.

Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says

A study released in July 2021 suggested that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million on July 7, 2021, as the crisis increasingly became a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

Unvaccinated made up 99% of US COVID deaths in July 2021

America’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said in July that about 99.2% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States involved unvaccinated people. “It’s really sad and tragic that most all of these are avoidable and preventable,” he added.

There’s more to the worker shortage than pandemic unemployment, experts say

The workforce shortage is a combination of several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in the economy, and changes in the workforce demographics, experts say.

Latest official indicators

As of Monday, there have been 1,936,765 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 30,361 lab-confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to the state Health Department.

COVID-19 timeline: How novel coronavirus spread

When Rasheed Adewole’s friends from other high schools used to complain about their heaps of homework, he would feel a flood of shame.

The other teens, whom he met through a college-prep program, attended magnet and suburban schools in New Jersey that offered an array of demanding Advanced Placement courses. He attended a Newark charter school that offered just one advanced class: AP U.S. History, which he took his senior year. In most of his other classes, expectations were low and homework was scarce.

“The regular classes sometimes were just sad,” said Adewole, who graduated from Marion P. Thomas Charter School in 2017. “I felt like I was just going to school to sit there rather than to learn.”

Adewole, who is Nigerian American, was on the losing end of a stark divide in New Jersey. Students who are Black, Hispanic, or poor are far less likely than their white and Asian peers to take the most rigorous high school courses, including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, which often serve as springboards to college. 

Among last year’s juniors and seniors, just 19% of Black students and 23% of Hispanic students took at least one AP or IB class, according to newly released state data which, for the first time, include course enrollment by race. By contrast, 41% of white students and 68% of Asian students enrolled in one or more of those courses.

In hypersegregated Essex County, where Adewole went to school, the disparities are on vivid display. At one extreme is wealthy Livingston township, where the vast majority of students are white or Asian and less than 2% are poor, while at the other end is Irvington township, where nearly every student is Black or Hispanic and two-thirds are poor. In Livingston, 76% of 11th and 12th graders took at least one advanced course last year, compared with only 12% in Irvington.

In Newark, the state’s largest district, just 19% of juniors and seniors took an AP or IB class last year — about half the statewide rate.

There were some notable exceptions. Two Newark charter schools — KIPP and North Star Academy, where almost all the students are Black or Hispanic — had the highest AP enrollment rates in the county. However, those students were less likely than their peers in several of the county’s wealthy districts to pass the AP exams, which is more closely associated with college success.

But, for the most part, Black and Hispanic high schoolers in New Jersey are vastly underrepresented in advanced courses. Those who do enroll face long odds of earning passing scores on the course exams, which generally is required to earn college credit.

In New Jersey, 207 out of every 1,000 white high schoolers take an AP class, and 119 pass an AP exam, according to recent estimates by the thinktank Center for American Progress based on 2015-16 data. But only 81 out of 1,000 Black students take an AP course, and just 23 pass an exam.

New Jersey’s racial gap in access to advanced courses is wider than the national average, and likely has multiple causes, including biased admission policies and schools that struggle to prepare students for advanced classes. The result is thousands of Black, Hispanic, and poor students who are left out of rigorous high school courses, their talents squandered and ambitions frustrated. 

“It puts kids who are already at a disadvantage in an even worse situation,” Adewole said.

Unequal opportunities

Advanced courses can act like jet fuel for ambitious high schoolers.

The classes can help prepare them for college-level work, give them an edge in college admissions, and potentially let them earn college credits or place into higher-level courses. Students who take AP classes are also more likely to attend college and earn degrees, though it’s not clear whether the AP program causes those outcomes or simply enrolls higher-achieving students. 

Pointing to that uncertainty, along with Black and Hispanic students’ low pass rates on the AP exams, some critics question efforts to expand AP access. Yet students themselves report that AP and IB classes are often the most academically challenging courses available in their schools. 

However, those classes rarely reflect the student population. 

Black students account for about 15% of high schoolers nationwide, but only 9% of AP students, according to federal data from 2017-18. The rate is even worse for AP science courses, including chemistry and biology, which enroll less than 3% of all Black and Hispanic students, according to a new report by the Education Trust.

“It’s not a matter of students’ desire or interest,” said Allison Rose Socol, the advocacy group’s assistant director of P-12 policy. “Black and Latino students don’t have the kind of access that they deserve.”

Exclusion from advanced courses can happen in two ways: The courses aren’t offered, or certain students aren’t enrolled.

The latter type occurs in relatively diverse schools, where Black and Hispanic students tend to be underrepresented in AP classes. For example, at Columbia High School in Maplewood, 78% of white juniors and seniors took at least one AP class last year, compared to just 24% of Black students, according to state data.

Experts cite different causes for Black and Hispanic students’ under-enrollment in advanced courses, including educator bias when recommending students; students lacking information about the classes or feeling unwelcome; and admission policies that prioritize students’ past academic achievement over their interests and motivations.

“We have a structure where AP and IB has been deemed the place where rigor occurs, and we set up gates that prevent some students from accessing it,” said Sasha Rabkin, president of Equal Opportunity Schools, a national organization that helps schools expand course access.

The other type of exclusion relates to course offerings, or lack thereof. In New Jersey, Black students are more than four times as likely as white students to attend a high school with 3 or fewer AP classes, according to the Center for American Progress analysis. At the same time, white students are more than twice as likely as Black students to attend a school with 18 or more AP classes.

In the Newark school district, where more than 90% of students are Black or Hispanic, access varies by school. The selective magnet high schools average 12 AP and IB courses, while the open-enrollment comprehensive high schools average seven courses, according to Chalkbeat’s analysis of state data. 

At Science Park High School, about 54% of juniors and seniors took at least one advanced course last year and nearly 30% passed an AP or IB exam. At Barringer High School, just 10% enrolled and too few passed the exam for the state to report the figure.

In interviews, educators at three comprehensive schools said they have tried to increase AP enrollment by recruiting more students, broadening eligibility requirements, and creating pre-AP classes to better prepare students. However, because so many students arrive at the comprehensive schools academically behind, teachers struggle to get them ready for the rigor of AP classes by their junior or senior years, the educators said.

“Most students are not even close to being at grade level upon entering the school,” said one teacher, who requested anonymity in order to speak openly about her school. “You do the kids a disservice if you just throw unready students into an AP course.”

As high schools nationwide have expanded access to AP courses in recent decades, more students have failed the AP exams, which some researchers attribute to a growing number of academically under-prepared students taking the courses. The tension between access and readiness has led some schools to move away from AP.

At People’s Prep, a charter high school in Newark, only 6% of juniors and seniors took an AP class last year — the lowest rate in the city. Keith Robinson, the school’s executive director, said People’s Prep has shifted its focus to more “inclusive” programs, including honors classes and dual enrollment, which allows high schoolers to take courses and earn credits at local colleges.

“When we have to make strategic decisions about limited resources,” he said, “the impact that we can have for students is just better with the other programs that we offer.”

Expanding access

Some New Jersey schools manage to enroll many students of color in advanced courses.

At North Star Academy, Newark’s largest charter school organization, 87% of juniors and seniors took at least one AP class last year. About 31% of students also passed at least one AP exam, which was nearly twice the statewide rate.

“It comes down to three things,” said Brett Peiser, CEO of Uncommon Schools, the nonprofit that oversees North Star. “First is access, second is enrollment, and third is what we do to try to ensure student success.”

To make sure schools offer the classes, Uncommon created ready-to-use teaching materials for 15 different AP courses, he said. To prepare students, the schools provide pre-AP classes. To help students choose courses, counselors use data analytics to show students their odds of passing different AP exams based on their grades and test scores. And to boost pass rates, students take multiple practice AP exams and receive tutoring when needed.

“We still believe strongly in the value and importance and rigor of AP exams,” Peiser said.

In the Newark school district, a few magnet schools boast advanced-course enrollments that surpass the statewide average. They include Science Park, which offered nearly 30 AP and IB courses last year. 

Ayomikun Fisher, an 11th grader at the school, said the suite of IB courses she’s taking challenge her intellectually, strengthen her study habits, and hopefully will help her secure a spot at a top university, where she plans to study chemical engineering.

“It really prepares me for that,” she said, adding that almost all of her IB classmates are Black or Hispanic.

In 2016, the district partnered with the College Board, which oversees the AP program, to boost the number and rigor of AP courses. Three years later, the College Board awarded Newark for increasing AP enrollment while maintaining or raising exam pass rates. 

More recently, the district has pushed elementary schools to offer gifted-and-talented classes and eighth-grade Algebra, which is considered a gateway to advanced math in high school. At the same time, the district has established dual enrollment partnerships with a growing list of colleges and universities.

“It’s about access and readiness,” said Newark school board member A’Dorian Murray-Thomas.

Similar work is underway at Marion P. Thomas Charter School, which includes two elementary schools and the high school that Rasheed Adewole attended. Under a new superintendent, former Science Park principal Angela Mincy, the high school has added honors and dual-enrollment options, and will offer five AP classes next school year — up from just two available now, said Assistant Superintendent Chris Abbaleo.

“We have the students who are capable of handling the rigors of an AP course,” he said, adding that the goal now is to give them more AP options.

Adewole, now 23 years old, managed to excel even without access to many advanced courses in high school.

Last spring, he graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, a private liberal arts school in Pennsylvania, and was hired by an investment management firm in Philadelphia. But he also went to great lengths to overcome the limits of his high school education: He joined the college-prep program, found a mentor to guide him through college, and spent days or weeks working on papers that his peers completed in one night.

“I wanted to walk confidently like they did freshman year,” Adewole said, but instead he had to scramble to catch up. “For me it was like, I can’t be found out.”

He’ll never know for sure whether taking more advanced courses in high school would have smoothed his path to college. But he does know that if his school had offered the classes, he would have been the first to sign up.

“There’s a difference between not wanting to do the work,” he said, “and the opportunity not being there.”

Patrick Wall is a senior reporter for Chalkbeat Newark, covering public education in the city and across New Jersey. Contact Patrick at pwall@chalkbeat.org.

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BERNARDS — Even as New Jersey has been loosening pandemic-era mandates enacted two years ago, a federally run veterans nursing home in New Jersey continues to restrict visitors and residents.

Every two weeks, Susan Mondie drives 90 minutes to Lyons Community Living Center to visit her husband. She’s allowed a visit that lasts just 30 minutes.

Donald Mondie, 85, served as a Green Beret in the Vietnam War. He is disabled and sees a recreation therapist several times each week, according to his wife.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, Donald Mondie spends most of his time in his room. To even go outside on the back patio, veterans are required to have an escort.

Recently, the veterans at Lyons were unable to go out to the patio for several days because of a mother goose. The large bird had laid its eggs on the patio, making it “unpredictable,” according to emails reviewed by New Jersey 101.5.

With warmer weather, the back patio also serves as a visitation area. But when the weather is under 40 degrees, or dangerous geese are present, the residents must see their visitors indoors.

“My husband is suffering serious mental decline and I believe it is mainly due to the isolation he has had to endure,” Mondie said, adding that she sees no end in sight to these restrictions.

Veterans’ homes hit hard

The Lyons Community Living Center is one of over one hundred Veterans Affairs nursing homes throughout the country. And like other long-term care facilities — such as the veterans homes in Menlo Park and Paramus, which lost 119 residents during the height of the pandemic — the Lyons residents have been hit hard.

To limit the spread of COVID-19, the VA New Jersey Healthcare System has been enforcing federal guidelines based on its Moving Forward Plan. The current guidelines went into effect in November 2021.

One such guideline at Lyons CLC is that each veteran can only see visitors for one day every two weeks. Visits can only last 30 minutes at most.

Other restrictions include supervised visits and no physical contact with loved ones. Gifts cannot be passed directly to residents and a lack of volunteers means no visitations on weekends.

How visitation is determined at VA homes

VA New Jersey Healthcare System spokeswoman Christine Farrell told New Jersey 101.5 that the Veterans Health Administration has chosen its guidelines with care.

“The residents of Long Term Care facilities, such as those in our CLCs, have endured tremendous difficulties throughout the pandemic,” Farrell said. “Although the majority of CLC residents are now vaccinated, they are still at greatest risk for an adverse outcome. Out of an abundance of caution, VHA is proceeding judiciously on easing these requirements.”

Under the guidelines, visitations and resident passes are largely dictated by two constantly changing factors. Depending on the Somerset County positivity rate and the most recent COVID-19 case within the facility, Lyons could be in one of three stages.

If there has been a positive COVID-19 test among residents or staff within the last 10 days, Lyons would be in Stage 1. In this stage, residents can only see one visitor at a time and they cannot leave on day passes.

After 10 days without a new case, the facility moves into either stage 2 or 3 depending on how rapidly the virus is spreading throughout the county. These stages are relatively relaxed but do not make opportunities for in-person visitations more frequent.

Farrell noted a regional uptick in cases over the past few weeks is being felt at Lyons.

As of April 25, 29 residents and more than 300 staff at the facility have tested positive, according to state figures. Given the new cases among staff and residents, the community living center remains at Stage 1.

“With patient safety being of paramount importance, VA New Jersey is committed to keeping our CLC residents and their families connected,” Farrell said. “The number of face-to-face outdoor visits is steadily increasing, and virtual visitations also continue to grow.”

Rick Rickman is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com

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There was no change in the outcome of last week’s Newark school election after ballots from missing districts were counted on Monday, according to results posted by the Essex County Clerk’s Office. Officials still haven’t said why ballots were missing for six days.

A “Moving Newark Schools Forward” slate backed by Mayor Ras Baraka retained its lopsided margin of victory for the three open seats on the nine-member Newark Board of Education, according tallies updated on Monday afternoon.

Likewise, votes approving the district’s $1.2 billion budget for the 2022-23 school year overwhelmingly outnumbered no votes under the updated totals.

In addition, the election’s 2.35% turnout initially tabulated on election night remained a low 2.6%, with the additional votes counted on Monday.

Vote totals posted online by the clerk’s office ceased updating on Tuesday night about two hours after polls closed with the 30 districts still unreported. Those partial results remained unchanged the rest of the week. On Thursday, the clerk’s office filed a request in state Superior Court for a judge’s order unlocking the voting machines from the 30 unreported districts, said County Clerk Christopher Durkin.

Judge Joseph Vena granted the order on Friday, and the machines were opened to access the paper ballots and computer cartridges containing the accompanying digital data, Durkin said. He said those ballots were counted Monday and posted by his office Monday afternoon.

Durkin said he did not attend Friday’s hearing, where the Essex County Corporation Counsel’s office represented him. He said ballots are supposed to be taken directly from polling places to his office by workers for the county Board of Elections, a separate agency, and that he did not know why that didn’t happen on election night.

The board of elections secretary, Linda Von Nessi, did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. The corporation counsel’s office also did not respond.

Durkin said official results will not be certified until May 2. In the meantime, he said unofficial results had been posted with 100% of districts reporting and a small number of mail-in ballots still uncounted.

According to the county’s online results page, the three unofficial winners from the Baraka slate are: Crystal Williams, with 2,945 votes; A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, with 2,881; and Daniel Gonzalez, with 2,780. Murray-Thomas and Gonzalez are incumbents, while Williams is a newcomer to the board.

They were followed by losing candidates Thomas Luna, who had drawn the top spot on the ballot, with 1,215 votes; Maggie Freeman, with 1,159; Philip Wilson, with 907; and Allison James-Frison, with 780.

The order of finish remained the same among the winning and the losing candidates.

The budget, which raises spending by 14% but cuts taxes slightly thanks mainly to increased state aid, was approved by 3,126 to 457.

Newark is the state’s largest school district, with 38,000 regular public school students and more than 20,000 enrolled in charter schools. Challenges facing the board include test scores that lag behind statewide averages; learning losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic; and technological and language gaps for a student population with economic and other disadvantages.

Murray-Thomas, 26, is a Newark native who lives in the Central Ward and works as associate director of equity and inclusion at the private Morristown Beard School in Morris County.

Gonzalez, 51, is a father of two adult children and finance director for the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties regional sewerage authority.

Williams is a Verizon network technician and mother of seven children in grades pre-K through college.

The sweep was a warm-up victory for the mayor, who is making his own re-election bid in Newark’s May 10 non-partisan municipal race. Baraka will lead a similarly named “Moving Newark Forward” slate with running mates for all nine city council seats.

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com

Newark, NJ – The Archdiocese of Newark’s year-long celebration of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines will conclude with a cultural procession and joyous Mass at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Sunday, May 1, at 2 p.m. Traditional Filipino attire is welcomed.

The festivities will begin with a massive procession meant to embody the pageantry that is a hallmark of Filipino Catholic worship. This procession will include parishioners from each of the Archdiocese’s four counties — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union — who will walk in carrying items representing some of the Philippines’ many Catholic traditions like Simbang Gabi and the Sinulog-Santo Niño Festival. Additionally, 500 children will offer flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary in honor of the Flores de Mayo devotion held each May.

Following the procession, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, will preside over a liturgy commemorating the first Mass celebrated in the Philippines on March 31, 1521. This liturgy will feature performances from the 130-member Filipino Apostolate choir, which will sing significant songs from Filipino Catholic history. Bags containing Filipino food will be distributed afterward.

“It is very important to celebrate the 500th anniversary because our faith is a central part of our lives,” said Father JM Manolo A. Punzalan, director of the archdiocesan Filipino Apostolate, in reference to the fact that the most recent Pew Research Center statistics showed 81 percent of Filipinos identify as Catholic. “You can go to a church anywhere in the world and find Filipinos there. We’re very active in the Church because we were gifted with our faith, and now we want to share it with everyone. We were a mission area, and now we’re the missionaries. That’s a reason to celebrate.”

The Archdiocese’s year-long celebration launched on the actual 500th anniversary of the Gospel’s arrival in the Philippines — March 31, 2021 — with a commemorative Mass at St. Joseph Church in Lodi, followed by a Jubilee Mass at St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City that April. Hundreds of Filipino Catholics then followed a replica of the Jubilee Cross, which Ferdinand Magellan erected at the Philippines’ first Mass, as it traveled to parishes throughout the Archdiocese every month for the past year. Along the way, those who participated in the pilgrimage experienced a different Filipino faith tradition at each host church.

And now that the once-dormant Filipino Apostolate has been revived under Father Punzalan’s leadership, there will be many more opportunities to unite the Filipino Catholic community. Up next, the Apostolate will raffle off a trip to the Holy Land and several other prizes to people who participated in the Jubilee Cross pilgrimage. A picnic at Liberty State Park, guest speaker presentations, and other faith-based events are also planned.

“Filipinos have our own brand of Catholicism,” Father Punzalan said. “We have a lot of religious traditions and popular piety that are not in many American churches. So, we needed to bring back the Apostolate because we needed an organization that will make sure the Filipinos’ faith and spirituality are being acknowledged. We’re not making a separate Church from the Archdiocese; we’re actually looking to enhance how Filipinos live their parish life by encouraging them to become more active.”

There are an estimated 67,740 Filipinos living within the Archdiocese of Newark, according to 2017 U.S. Census Bureau data. The Filipino Apostolate aims to connect those who are Catholic through spiritual programs, fun gatherings, and social justice initiatives. To learn more about the Apostolate, visit its Facebook page.

About the Archdiocese of Newark
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Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes retaliated against an employee after he declined to process photos of “Valdes and her husband in various stages of undress,” according to a new lawsuit.

Ferrara Law Group filed the lawsuit on behalf of Clifton residents Henry Hernandez in Passaic County court last week. Hernandez, 50, has been a media specialist at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office for more than a decade.

Valdes is accused of giving CDs to Hernandez with various images in 2010, then again in 2014. The lawsuit says she requested that he process the images on the disks.

In the first instance, court filings state Hernandez was surprised to find “inappropriate” photos of Valdes on the disk.

“When he opened the disc on his computer, Plaintiff saw photographs of Valdes
and her husband in various stages of undress,” the lawsuit states. “Hernandez did not believe that it was appropriate for him to view these materials and handed the disc back to Valdes and told her that he could not process it.”

Then in 2014, the suit says Valdes again gave him a CD with photos for processing. It adds that this time she gave Hernandez an advanced warning of “personal items” on the disc.

Hernandez gave this disc back to Valdes before reviewing its contents. After this second refusal, Valdes and the PCPO staff started treating him differently, according to the lawsuit.

More than a decade ago, Hernandez’s supervisors called him “superman” for his performance at work. But starting in 2014, he suddenly began to feel “frozen out” at work.

The lawsuit does not state which photos Valdes did want to be processed or why.

The tensions came to a head as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the civil complaint. Hernandez, a type 1 diabetic with heart issues, requested plastic barriers for his unit like others within the office in early 2020.

But Chief of County Investigators Christopher Drelich is accused of ignoring the request for over a year. When Hernandez followed up, the lawsuit says Drelich instead put a sign on his door banning all visitors without prior approval.

Hernandez’s unit contracted COVID-19 in December 2021, court filings state, while the barriers were not installed until Feb. 2022.

In addition, Hernandez’s lawsuit claims he was not paid for working from home on weekends throughout the pandemic. The PCPO is accused of not addressing the matter until July 2021 when it agreed to pay him, with an exception.

PCPO supervisors “decided that they would deduct one hour per day worked at home from Plaintiff’s compensation not due to any specific allegations of Plaintiff performing personal work on PCPO time, but rather the generic assumption that he was doing so,” according to court documents.

The lawsuit has been transferred from Passaic County to Bergen County to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.