Just when it seemed like life could approach some semblance of normalcy, COVID has come roaring back, casting a shadow over Christmas services for millions in New Jersey.
The rapid surge of the highly contagious omicron variant had local health experts offering blunt advice Wednesday: Stay away from crowded Christmas Masses and holiday parties this weekend.
“If people are going to gather in places of worship, they should be prepared for the fact that they will be exposed to the variant,” said Perry Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. He’s canceling his own family gathering out of an abundance of caution, he added.
Worshippers should be encouraged to attend services virtually and people who gather indoors should wear masks, added Deborah Visconi, CEO at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus.
“This is spreading like wildfire,” she said about the COVID-19 variant. “This is a nasty virus with long-term effects, even if it seems like it’s mild.”
Whether millions of New Jerseyans will follow that advice remains to be seen. It’s been two years since Christians were able to celebrate the Christmas season normally. New Jersey’s five Catholic dioceses urged parishioners to be cautious this week, but services will go forward, with face masks officially encouraged but not required for celebrants and attendees.
New Jersey announced 9,711 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, by far the biggest one-day total during the pandemic. Hospitalizations are rising as well, though not as fast — a sign, health officials say, that vaccines are still doing their job. Early cases have suggested omicron may produce less virulent symptoms than previous variants, but officials caution that it’s too soon to know for sure.
Some houses of worship announced that they were shifting to online services or implementing tighter restrictions in light of the rising numbers.
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Episcopal church in upper Manhattan, said it would hold Christmas services online and cancel in-person celebration. “As the Cathedral has done before, placing the needs and concerns of the wider community first is crucial,” a message on its website explained.
In Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral canceled a family Christmas service planned for Thursday “due to large numbers of potentially unvaccinated children.” Other events, including a Christmas Eve Eucharist, will go on as planned, but masks will now be required at all indoor events, the church said.
In Newark, the Old First Presbyterian Church said it will limit capacity and also require masks for all, even those already vaccinated. In Maplewood, St. George’s Episcopal Church will offer outdoor services as well as a livestreamed event. In addition, church leaders have asked the congregation at the indoor service to limit singing.
St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield has canceled its Christmas and New Year’s parties, said church bookkeeper Malu Canlas. But Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will go on as scheduled.
Nina Nicholson, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, said some diocese churches are asking in-person attendees to preregister online for church services so congregations can limit attendance. Others are reducing or eliminating singing.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, which covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties, is not implementing new guidelines for Christmas at this time, said spokeswoman Maria Margiotta.
“Currently, masking is optional, but strongly recommended for those who are not vaccinated and for those who are at high risk,” she said in an email. “The Archdiocese of Newark will continue to monitor evolving CDC guidance as well as state mandates, which are subject to revision.”
In a statement to local Catholics on its website, the diocese warned that social distancing may be difficult at high-volume Christmas Masses. Parishioners could be encouraged to attend Christmas Masses that normally have lighter attendance.
Gov. Phil Murphy, in a tweet this week, urged New Jerseyans to get vaccinated, boosted and tested for COVID before Christmas, noting there are more than 100 free testing sites around the state. That was easier said than done, however, with long lines and delays at many locations.
Those who are vaccinated and boosted are less likely to become extremely ill, said Halkitis, the Rutgers dean. But he warned that it’s too soon to know just how dangerous the highly transmissible omicron variant can be.
Jerry Zuckerman, vice president of infection prevention and control at Hackensack Meridian Health, said, “Masking is still one of the most effective things we can do to prevent transmission. If it was my congregation, I would hope everyone would be wearing one.”
Even if individual risks from omicron prove low, religious services can act as a bridge to help spread it to more vulnerable populations, health experts warned. There’s growing concern about overburdening the health care system and whether it’s equipped to deal with a flood of patients who may show up to the emergency room requiring care, said Halkitis.
“People need to be cautious and avoid large gatherings. They should try to attend church virtually. They should not get together with their families,” he said.
He urged people to “dig deeper” during the holiday season and consider the most vulnerable part of the population. “Taking care of the people you love” is the best Christmas gift, he said.
NEW JERSEY — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.
Essex County executive talks COVID surge, testing
COVID cases in New Jersey are exploding at a rapid pace. Nearly 2,000 of those positive cases come out of Essex County, which is seeing a higher rate than most of the state.
Essex County Executive Joseph Divincenzo discussed how the area is working to keep residents safe and increase testing
Paterson mayor considers indoor mask mandate
Mayor Andre Sayegh told PIX11 News he is strongly considering an indoor mask mandate in an effort to keep residents safe. He also discussed the decision to shift schools in the district to go fully remote.
Paterson schools will 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. Students will begin their winter break with an early dismissal on Thursday. 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
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
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’
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.
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
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.
Beginning Monday, Nov. 8, bans on travel from specific countries ended. 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 Tuesday, 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 Friday, 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
FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids
Federal health regulators said late Friday, 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 Monday, 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.
IRS sending October installment of child tax credit after delay in September
Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients.
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.
Need to be vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas? Here are the deadlines
People who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas are running out of time. Two of the three vaccines available in the U.S. require two doses spread weeks apart and a waiting period once the shots have been administered.
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.
U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall
The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, Oct. 1, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down and give overwhelmed hospitals some relief.
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.
Is it safe to trick-or-treat this Halloween? CDC weighs in
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Face the Nation that kids can trick-or-treat safely this year, adding, “If you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely.”
CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs
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.
U.S. panel backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters only for 65 and over, high-risk
An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.
COVID outbreaks in NJ schools
As of Wednesday, Sept. 15, there were six outbreaks in New Jersey schools, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases that are epidemiologically connected and not from the same household.
The cases are a mix of students and staff, Persichilli said. More information will be released on the state Health Department website in the coming days.
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.
NJ COVID hospitalizations top 1,000 for the first time since May: Gov. Murphy
For the first time since May, more than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There were 1,012 people hospitalized with COVID, 92 of whom were on ventilators, according to state Health Department data. The last time the state had more than 1,000 COVID hospitalizations was over three months ago on May 11, Murphy said.
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.
August child tax credit payments issued: Here’s why yours might be delayed
The second installment of expanded child tax credits was issued on Aug. 13 to millions of eligible families, but some payments will likely be delayed due to a technical glitch, the U.S. Department of Treasury said.
Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards
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.
NJ county opens COVID booster shot appointments
Health care officials in a northern New Jersey county began offering COVID-19 booster shots to qualified residents on Aug. 14. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said appointments for a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine were open at vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark.
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 over the age of 12. 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
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?
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.
U.S. averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day as delta surges
The United States is now averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, returning to a milestone last seen during the winter surge in yet another bleak reminder of how quickly the delta variant has spread through the country. The U.S. was averaging about 11,000 cases a day in late June. Now the number is 107,143.
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.
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.
‘You have lost your minds’: Murphy lashes out at anti-vax protesters
Warning of more delta mutations, Fauci urges vaccinations
The White House COVID-19 response team said the delta variant continues to surge across the country. During a briefing on Aug. 5, Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Americans to take precautions to stop the virus from mutating. “The ultimate end game of all this is vaccination,” he said.
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
In a memo, Walmart announced that associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, will need 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
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.
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
Doctors warn about slightly different symptoms with delta variant of COVID
As concern grows regarding the COVID-19 delta variant, health leaders are warning about somewhat different symptoms that come with it.
Most unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get COVID-19 shots, new AP poll finds
A new poll shows that most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots. About 16% say they probably will get the vaccine.
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.
Gov. Murphy holds off on reinstating mask mandate
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September. Murphy says he “is comfortable where we are” on mask mandates but is also closely monitoring developments.
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 a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?
Biden grapples with ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’
President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.
Child tax credit: When to expect payments, how it may impact tax returns
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 new study reveals hospitalized coronavirus patients who take statins are 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 it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.
Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says
A new study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
What can I do if I didn’t get my child tax credit payment?
The official disbursement date for the first child tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service was July 15, but parents may not see the cash right away.
Delta now dominant COVID variant in New Jersey
The highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said on July 12. The governor urged New Jersey residents to get vaccinated against COVID if they haven’t already done so.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
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.
Free health insurance included in stimulus benefits for unemployment recipients
Along with $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax credit payments, the American Rescue Plan has another important benefit available to people who qualified for unemployment assistance this year: free health care.
Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
Yes, but not nearly as much as if you had both doses. Experts recommend getting fully vaccinated, especially with the emergence of worrisome coronavirus mutations such as the delta variant first identified in India.
Workers enjoy the upper hand as companies scramble to hire
With the economy growing rapidly as it reopens from the pandemic, many employers are increasingly desperate to hire. Yet evidence suggests that as a group, the unemployed aren’t feeling the same urgency to take jobs.
As of Wednesday, there have been 1,186,847 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,948 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
The mayor of New Jersey’s largest city announced Thursday that he will sign an executive order next week that will require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for anyone five years of age and older to enter many establishments including restaurants, bars, theaters and concert and sporting venues.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a statement that he will sign the executive order on Monday and that it will start by requiring anyone attending public New Year’s Eve events and parties to show proof of vaccination.
By Jan. 10, anyone entering a facility or business must show proof of at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose and be fully vaccinated three weeks later, the mayor said.
“Newark’s latest three-day test positivity rate has spiked to 27.16%,” Baraka said. “Guided by this data, the City of Newark is taking firm and aggressive action to prevent its spread and protect our residents and workers. Newark will continue to meet the challenge of COVID-19 with determination.”
The executive order applies to the following places:
Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, including taverns, coffee shops and fast-food establishments that have seating
Breweries, wineries, and distillery tasting rooms
Mixed-use facilities
Food courts
Indoor entertainment establishments, including nightclubs, hookah bars, pool and billiard halls, and cigar bars
Concert, and sporting venues
Movie theaters
Bowling alleys
Indoor exercise and recreational establishments, including exercise facilities, dance, yoga, and Pilates studios
Any facilities used for group fitness classes
Indoor event and meeting establishments, including hotel common rooms, banquet halls, conference centers meeting facilities, convention centers, auditoriums
Shared work facilities
These establishments must “prominently” post signage at their entrances notifying the public of the vaccination entry requirement, the mayor said.
The Prudential had already instituted a similar policy prior the mayor’s announcement Thursday night.
The following places do not have to require proof of vaccination of its patrons:
Houses of worship
Grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and food service establishments providing charitable food services
Pharmacies, medical offices, urgent care centers, or hospitals
Hardware stores, and retail establishments where people tend to be in motion and not standing or seated in close proximity to others for long periods of time
Private meeting spaces in residences or office buildings
Governmental facilities; warming and cooling centers, day service facilities for homeless persons, shelters serving homeless persons or victims of domestic violence
Election polling places
Other facilities as exempted by the Department of Health
The vaccination requirement of the order does not apply to the following individuals:
Individuals entering a covered establishment for a quick and limited purpose (for example, placing an order for takeout, picking up an order, or making a delivery)
A person entitled by law to a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief
This is the second executive order Baraka, who himself tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, instated this week to fight rising numbers of coronavirus cases. The previous one reinstated an indoor mask mandate in all public facilities and required that patrons be seated at a bar and wear masks unless they are actually eating or drinking.
While New York City has required diners to be vaccinated before going to restaurants or attending an entertainment event, New Jersey has not enacted such requirements on a statewide basis, and few if any municipalities in the state have announced such measures.
The state also requires all child care employees and all workers in New Jersey hospitals, long-term care centers, prisons, and a number of other state and private health-care facilities and high-risk congregate settings to be fully vaccinated or face repeated testing.
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The Morning Intelligence Briefing will be on holiday break through January 3rd – we wish all of our readers a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season – see you in 2022!
The statewide cumulative COVID-19 count stands at 1,186,847 cases and 25,948 confirmed fatalities (and 186,365 probable cases and 2,842 probable fatalities) as of Wednesday (an increase of 9,711 confirmed cases, 2,579 probable cases, and 28 lab-confirmed fatalities from the previous day). The viral transmission rate is 1.26. There are 6,370,688 people fully vaccinated.
The Democratic-submitted map was selected by tiebreaker John Wallace yesterday morning for congressional redistricting, which, as expected, extracts Democratic portions of CD7 and reroutes them to CD11 and CD7. The map’s new lines shore up the districts of Democratic incumbents Reps. Sherrill, Gottheimer, and Kim, while making Rep. Malinowski the apparent sacrificial lamb heading into next year’s midterm elections. In rendering his tiebreaking decision, Wallace said that while both delegations’ maps ‘meets the standards proposed at the outset’, he chose the Democratic map since the 2011 map chosen was the Republicans’. NJDSC Chairman Jones heralded the map, saying it ‘sets us on the path to victory’ next year, while GOP commission member Steinhardt said ‘we’re disappointed‘ with Wallace’s vote and rationale and that it ‘isn’t with the spirit of the process‘. The GOP commission members slammed the map as the ‘antithesis’ of being fair, and that they were ‘never given a real change to win’ Wallace’s support.
Middlesex County will acquire 18 acres of open space in Metuchen.
Union County Surrogate James LaCorte passed away. The county settled a second sexual harassment lawsuit from a former jail inmate, according to TAPinto.
Reps. Watson Coleman, Kim, and Sires urged the state to equitably distribute federal infrastructure funding.
In CD5, GOP candidate Nick DeGregorio says he will continue his candidacy in the newly redrawn district.
In CD6, Rep. Pallone praised the Congressional Redistricting Commission’s work, and said he’s ‘excited to run in the new’ district.
In CD7, Fredon GOP Mayor Flora says he will run next year in the district, following the redistricting of the town into CD7 from CD5, where he was previously running.
In CD8, Senator Sacco and Mayor Fulop will meet to discuss the congressional and Hudson County executive races, according to Hudson County View. Rep. Sires’ preferred successor, Robert Menendez Jr., is no lock for the nomination, according to NJ Spotlight.
In CD10, Democratic primary challenger Imani Oakley says the final redistricting map ‘represents a victory for our campaign’.
In CD11, GOP candidate Phil Rizzo says the redistricting process has become ‘about advancing the interests of power brokers’, and that he’s ‘not going anywhere’.
In CD12, Rep. Watson Coleman praised the new congressional district map as an ‘opportunity to broaden’ her work.
Governor Murphy will celebrate Christmas out of the country, according to NJ.com.
In Vineland, the AG’s Office is investigating a fatal police shooting.
In Closter, the borough is auctioning a Maserati with proceeds going back to the borough.
In Bogota, a police captain alleged age bias and harassment by the administrator, according to the Bergen Record.
In Chester, the council killed a proposed ordinance at their last meeting, according to NJ Hills.
In Fair Lawn, the council is requiring senior center attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to TAPinto.
In Garfield, BOE Trustee Mazzola passed away, according to the Bergen Record.
In Newark, Mayor Baraka tested positive for COVID-19, according to ROI-NJ.
In Paterson, schools are going all remote in January, according to Paterson Press. Dozens of police officers are out due to COVID-19, creating a staff shortage, according to Paterson Times.
In Ventnor, Joe Fussner was sworn-in as Police Chief, according to Downbeach.
The developer proposing a warehouse in the historic, wooded park didn’t come to the meeting, but the Boy Scouts did. The scouts joined a chorus of area residents, environmental groups, and outdoors enthusiasts in a school cafeteria in this Atlantic County community last week, crammed together for nearly four hours with protest signs and prepared comments.
New Jersey is the decision maker on whether the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will study expanding the four lanes of the 93-year-old Outerbridge Crossing to handle increasing volumes of traffic.
A new study finds New Jersey is at the top of the heap, ranked number one, when it comes to having the worst business tax climate in the nation. Janelle Cammenga, a policy analyst with the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, says the report looks at every state in America and “no surprise to you or to most folks in New Jersey I’m sure, New Jersey once again ranks 50th due to its combination of high rates and complex tax structure.”
The Red Bulls soccer team advanced one giant step closer to the finals Tuesday in Morris Township. By a unanimous vote, the Township Committee amended the zoning for the former Honeywell tract to include a sports training facility. Previously, the site was limited to office and laboratory development.
New Jersey Democrats came out on top Wednesday when the independent redistricting commission adopted their proposal on how to redraw the state’s 12 congressional districts. Retired state Supreme Court Judge John Wallace Jr., the commission chair, cast the deciding vote in favor of the Democratic map map over a competing proposal offered by the panel’s Republican members.
Rutgers University will join a group of nine other universities to study how best to fortify “soft targets” such as hospitals, malls, schools and stadiums against criminal and terrorist assaults. The consortium will be funded through a series of U.S. Department of Homeland Security grants over the next decade, according to Rutgers.
Democrats won a victory Wednesday when the New Jersey Redistricting Commission approved the party’s preferred new congressional map after the tiebreaker, former Supreme Court Justice John Wallace, backed the party’s map in what was otherwise a party-line vote.
Do you know who your congressional representative is? The New Jersey Redistricting Commission on Wednesday officially picked a proposed congressional district map proposed by Democrats that will shuffle a number of Jersey Shore towns among the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Congressional Districts.
Our map was designed to empower New Jersey voters. The final map is the antithesis of that. Our map provided voters, including minority voters, with meaningful opportunities to impact elections and met or exceeded every other standard we were provided. With 5 majority minority districts and 9 districts with a minority voting age population above 30%, the distribution of minority population among all districts accurately reflects the state’s diverse nature.
In New Jersey, visions of a “white Christmas” may be more likely in your dreams. However, waking up to a blanket of snow on Dec. 25 may be no less likely than usual, despite established evidence that Decembers are warming in the Garden State. “It was rare, even when it was colder in December,” said David Robinson, who oversees the Rutgers NJ Weather Network. “It’s just kind of hard to get it to snow a lot in December because the ocean nearby is still pretty mild.”
A judge on Tuesday denied a public defender’s request for two years of Morristown police reports, ruling they were irrelevant to the case of a man accused of tossing a handgun into a dumpster while fleeing from detectives in December 2019.
New Jersey’s Democratic-led Legislature on Monday started the last session of 2021 with more than 250 measures on the agenda, but Republicans made certain things weren’t going to happen either quickly or smoothly in the Assembly.
The public hearing for a proposed construction storage facility on Stickles Pond Road will now extend into 2022 after the Land Use Board announced yet another postponement Tuesday. Board Chair Paul Messerschmidt said the board received an emailed letter from BHT Construction representatives at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday asking for that day’s hearing to be pushed back to next month because of concerns about a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
The township Board of Education is evaluating three proposals to address overcrowding at J.P. Stevens High School. Pradeep Kapoor, director of sustainable design, and Kurt Vierheilig, director of design, for DMR Architects of Hasbrouck Heights, presented the proposals at the Nov. 23 board meeting. Each proposal includes changes to three areas — a front of school renovation, a classroom wing expansion and a courtyard enclosure.
Dozens of parents used their children’s shoes to voice opposition to mask mandates and potential vaccine requirements, in a silent protest outside of Marlboro Memorial Middle School. Saying the shoes symbolize students negatively affected by masking and potential vaccine requirements — which they claim violate rights, breathability and learning — parents Tuesday lined them up, pair-by-pair, outside of the building prior to the regular Board of Education meeting.
As coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the state, several New Jersey schools have announced plans to shift from in-person schedules to remote learning. Others say that while they plan to return in person, they have plans in place to switch to remote learning if necessary.
“We know it’s best for children to be in person,” Trenton Superintendent James Earle told NJ Advance Media. The school plans to open in person after its winter break, “however, if at any point during the break we feel like COVID-19 cases and/or quarantine infections have spread to a point where we can’t keep our staff and students safe, we will activate our emergency virtual/remote learning plan.”
On a statewide level, Gov. Phil Murphy said this week that officials will do “everything we can” to keep having in-person classes in schools across New Jersey after the upcoming winter break. However, individual schools have over the past few days made announcements regarding how upticks in COVID-19 cases, driven largely by the omicron variant, are affecting schools.
Here’s how several districts across the state have announced they plan to handle the surge in the coming weeks:
South Orange Maplewood Schools: School Superintendent Ronald Taylor announced that the district will begin the 2022 school year with virtual instruction starting Jan. 4.
“As we enter into the holiday and winter break the District, in collaboration with our local health departments (both Maplewood and South Orange) and school nurses, has been closely monitoring our community COVID-19 numbers,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “In consultation with these stakeholders and based on N.J. Department of Health guidelines, we are committed to make any changes to our protocols and delivery of instruction if needed based on the numbers of positive cases.”
Taylor said all staff and students will return to school for in-person instruction on Monday, Jan. 10.
“Thankfully, there has been no evidence of in-school COVID-19 transmission; however, our local community transmission is high and the cases are rising rapidly,” Taylor said in the statement.
Taylor said the recent spike in verified cases in the district’s schools have resulted in hundreds of students shifting to virtual learning due to quarantine. Additionally, dozens of staff members have also had to be isolated due to breakthrough cases. “The operations of our schools have suffered greatly,” as a result, he said.
“COVID-19 continues to be a brutal, relentless, and ruthless virus that rears its ugly head at inopportune times,” wrote Superintendent of Schools Roger Leon, whose letter was posted on the Speedway School Facebook page. “We are redoubling our efforts to be prepared for any necessary changes and a potential pivot to remote instruction. Some may move to that point sooner than others, but we all will be prepared if and when necessary.”
The district is set to be on break until Jan. 3.
“(R)ight now the plan is we will be back (in person), but if things change, we will be prepared to go remote,” Newark Public Schools Acting Communications Director Nancy Deering told NJ Advance Media.
Irvington: The town’s public schools district started a fully-remote learning schedule on Monday and plans on returning to school in January using remote learning, as well. The district will return to an in-person schedule on Jan. 10.
Superintendent April Vauss said in abundance of caution she felt it was necessary for the district to move to a remote learning model, and it will continue to monitor cases closely.
“A lot of our scholars already were in possession of Google Chromebooks. Since last year, at the beginning of the pandemic, we tried to move to a one to one model so that our students would have chromebooks at home and have chromebooks at the at the school,” Vauss said. “There are certain requirements that we have just as a district that would lend itself to being able to to move quickly to a remote model necessary, similar to what we did back when I became the superintendent back in 2020. We already implemented Google Suites and so it made it almost a seamless transition.”
Paterson: School officials announced on Wednesday in a statement that, after the upcoming holiday break, students and staff will begin remote learning and remain remote from Jan. 4-18.
The district’s remote request was made in collaboration with the Paterson Health Officer, Dr. Paul Persaud.
“The rising numbers of COVID-19 cases due to multiple variants are cause for concern for all of us. A surge of new cases has occurred in northeastern New Jersey, and it is expected that the trend will continue through the holiday break,” Superintendent of Schools Eileen Shafer said in the statement. “That is why I told the Paterson Health Officer of my concerns and asked for his support of my recommendation to begin remote learning throughout the district starting Jan. 4-18.”
Students are scheduled for a 1 p.m. dismissal on Thursday.
The district’s schools and offices will be closed for the holiday break from Friday, Dec. 24 through Monday, Jan. 3.
Trenton Central High School students sit spaced apart and behind plexiglass shielding in a US History 1 class. May 2021.Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med
Trenton: Public Schools Superintendent James Earle said the district is planning to return in January in-person, though it is closely monitoring case numbers and has a contingency plan.
“Our districts are required to have an emergency remote learning plan … so we have that already established,” he told NJ Advance Media. In monitoring COVID-19 cases, “we’ve actually seen some slight increases, and working with the health department and different medical professionals, just keeping ourselves on high alert about some schools in some areas in our district; however, we haven’t had to go virtual yet.”
Though the district wants to stay in person, he said, it will switch to remote if necessary.
Toms River: The Regional Schools District has said it plans to return to school on Monday, Jan. 3, fully in person.
“I know that as we enter this break and look toward 2022, there are questions and concerns about our schools as yet another wave of this pandemic factors in. While I certainly did not want to include the word ‘COVID-19′ in this holiday message, I do want to take a moment to reiterate that we’re maintaining our approach, with respect to the size of this district, to handle each situation as it arises, with no plans to alter district-wide operations,” Superintendent of Schools Stephen Genco said in a statement on Wednesday.
Office of Grants and Communication Coordinator Mike Kenny said the district has no plans to transition to remote learning in 2022, and will continue to provide all the necessary technological resources our staff and students need.
“While we remain very much in tune with the trends and continue to prioritize safety and health above all else, our goals remain the same, and we maintain the hope that our collective efforts will help us continue to forge ahead this school year,” Genco said.
Freehold: The district is also planning to return to full-time, in-person daily instruction when its break is over on Monday, Jan. 3.
“The Freehold Township School District already allocates one Chromebook per student in kindergarten through eighth grade. We also utilize two learning management systems, Schoology and Google Classroom. While the transition to full remote instruction would be seamless, we have no intention of going fully remote in January 2022 unless mandated to do so,” Superintendent Neal Dickstein said.
Jackson: Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said at this time there are no plans to go fully remote after the winter break, which ends on Jan. 3.
“Throughout the school year, we remind our students, staff and parents to be prepared for any scenario. This includes the need to go fully remote at any time, if necessary,” Pormilli said.
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Vashti Harris may be reached at vharris@njadvancemedia.com.
Christmas weekend is here! Whether you’re looking to do something as a family, or just send the kids out of the house for a few hours with your relatives, there are plenty of fun activities going on. Be sure to check out the holiday train display at Battleship New Jersey — entry is included in the admission price. Take a stroll at Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown for some fresh air or see Scuba Santa before he swims away for the season. Merry Christmas to all!
ALL WEEKEND
New Jersey Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Nutcracker Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday It’s the 50th anniversary of New Jersey Ballet’s beloved annual tradition enchants youngsters and grown-ups alike with splendid dancing, eye-popping special effects and a touch of holiday magic, set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic score performed live by New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Santa Train Ride at Northlandz Northlandz, Flemington Saturday – Sunday Get ready for the most exciting holiday encounter ever with a Holiday Santa Train Ride. Northlandz is promising to spread a cheerful Christmas vibe around that you are not going to forget for the whole next year. Santa Claus train ride event is for all kids and elders, families and friends. The kids are going to love the company of a real Santa that they always wanted to meet in person.
Battleship New Jersey Holiday Train Display Battleship New Jersey, Camden Friday & Sunday A new holiday model train display will be available for guests to experience in the Wardroom. This display, courtesy of the South Jersey Garden Railroad Society (SJGRS), will be free to experience with a tour of the Battleship. The Battleship will be open for tours every day in December except for Christmas Day.
HUNTERDON 579 TRAIL
Holidays on Hunterdon Trail 119 Main St., Flemington Friday – Sunday A day trip along Hunterdon County’s 579 trail is a magical way to enjoy the holiday season. The vineyards, farms and specialty markets are dressed up with fresh evergreens, twinkling lights, and warm hospitality. Hunterdon’s 579 Trail (hunterdon579trail.com) is made up of agricultural and agritourism sites located on or near Hunterdon County’s historic Route 579.
FRIDAY
Christmas Eve Family-Oriented Service United Methodist Church of Red Bank, Red Bank Join Christmas Eve at 5 pm for a Family-Oriented service. Sing carols and have fun this Christmas eve for kids and grown-ups alike.
Clear the House Stroll at Deep Cut Gardens 152 Red Hill Rd., Middletown It is Christmas Eve and there is still so much to do. To top it off, you have a house full of guests.Send them to Deep Cut Gardens for a one hour “Clear the House” stroll! Explore the gardens on this special holiday with a park guide. This free stroll takes place on even paths and at a slow pace, perfect for enjoying Deep Cut’s winter splendor.
ADVENTURE AQUARIUM
Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium Adventure Aquarium, Camden This holiday season, dive into Christmas Underwater, now through this Friday, December 24, and discover an incredible world of seasonal under-the-sea fun! Scuba Santa is back in Ocean Realm, sharing Christmas cheer with kids (and animals!) of all ages. Explore even more holiday decor than ever before, including underwater light displays, festive new shows and the World’s Tallest Underwater Christmas Tree. Christmas Underwater is included with your daily admission or membership and reservations are strongly recommended.
Christmas Wonderland Maple Leaf Farms, Manalapan The Christmas Wonderland features vintage figures from the 1950s-70s with different scenes, from the traditional Nativity Scene to a modern Christmas. You can also take your own pictures with Santa for free.
SUNDAY
Sea of Lights Spectacular Jenkinson’ Boardwalk, Point Pleasant This winter wonderland includes treats, crafts, pictures with Santa, games, Diving Santa and holiday entertainment.
TRENTON BRASS QUINTET
Trenton Brass Quintet New Jersey State Museum Auditorium, Trenton As part of Trenton’s Patriots Week, the Trenton Brass Quintet will perform a free concert in the NJ State Museum Auditorium. The concert will be a mix of sacred and secular holiday favorites. No tickets or reservations needed; masks required for all attendees over the age of 2.
NEWARK WINTER VILLAGE
Newark Winter Village Mulberry Commons Park, Newark Experience the beauty of Newark at the Winter Village, a stylish open-air festival overlooking beautiful downtown Newark with curbside eats, ice skating and marketplace. Enjoy food and hot beverages from selective local businesses inside a cozy heated private pod or igloo.
ONGOING
Festival of Trees Morven Museum, Princeton Open Sunday Christmas weekend Visit Morven for the time-honored holiday exhibition, Festival of Trees. Enjoy the juried collection of ornamental trees and mantels displayed throughout the museum’s galleries, sure to put you in the spirit of the season.
Newport Skates Newport Skates, Jersey City (Closed Christmas Day) NewportSkates, Jersey City’s only outdoor ice skating rink, is open for the 2021-2022 season. Skaters can once again enjoy beautiful views of the New York City skyline while zipping around the rink. Online ticketing is available through the NewportSkates website.
The Polar Express Whippany 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany (Closed Christmas Day) All aboard The Polar Express! Experience the magic of The Polar Express as you take a one-hour trip to the North Pole with the whole family. Experience the sights and sounds of the family-favorite movie while enjoying hot chocolate, Walker’s Shortbread, storytime and a silver sleigh bell surprise.
Christmas Light Spectacular Allaire Community Farm, Wall Twp. Open Sunday Christmas weekend Spend the evening with family and friends, under the wonder of the twinkling light display around the farm, as seen from our holiday hay wagon. Hayrides leave promptly according to ticket time. Please allow extra time in arriving.
Holiday in the Park Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Friday – Sunday Take a ride on your favorite Six Flags rides surrounded by glittering lights. There will be shows, rides, food and even a Wine Fest for the adults. The Drive-Thru Experience starts November 15, so get ready for a ride full of holiday cheer and explore the magic of the season.
Holiday Light Spectacular Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange (Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day) Take a winter stroll through the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo this holiday season under the sparkling lights of over 50 winter and animal characters. Celebrate the season of giving by bringing donations of non-perishable food items, new toys, and gently used coats.
Holiday Light Show Shady Brook Farm, Yardley, PA Friday – Sunday This spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than 3 million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter whimsical displays and familiar characters as you drive through in the comfort of your own car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride (weather permitting).
Magical Talking Christmas Tree and Train Ride Historic Smithville, Smithville (Closed Christmas Day) If you are having trouble locating Mrs. Claus, you can always ask the Magic Tree. Next to the Smithville Train Station an over-sized Christmas tree is brought in from Santa’s private forest. This beautifully decorated Christmas tree awakens to talk with you and your children about the upcoming holidays. Right next to the Magic Talking Tree the Smithville Train has decorated it’s tracks for the holidays. For $3 per person, you can take a short ride on the outskirts of Smithville on this fun, whimsical train.
Bonfire and S’mores Historic Smithville, Smithville (Closed Christmas Day) Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the month of December you can join for s’mores around the campfire on the Greene. For a small fee you will purchase your own s’mores packet and stick and make delicious treats from 5pm – 8pm, weather permitting.
DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express DiDonato Family Fun Center, Hammonton (Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day) Take a train ride through millions of Christmas lights, meet and greet Santa and his elves in his workshop. Hear stories and take photos with Mrs. Claus. The event culminates with a present from Santa.
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey hit a new record Wednesday with 9,711 new COVID-19 cases reported in one day. This is the most amount of cases ever to be reported throughout the almost two-year pandemic.
As of Wednesday, there were also 2,579 probable cases and 28 confirmed COVID-related deaths.
Since the Omicron was labeled as the dominant coronavirus variant, New Jersey and states across the country have been experiencing a surge in cases.
Looking at the numbers in the past week, when 3,524 cases were reported, cases have increased by 6,187 or more than 70 percent.
Even in the past month, cases have increased by 7,695 or more than 300 percent.
As a result of this latest COVID surge New Jersey towns and municipalities are pivoting plans.
Some schools in Sussex, Union,Middlesex, and Essex Counties shifted to virtual learning as COVID-19 case numbers in New Jersey schools spike. Hundreds of students in Newark schools have shifted to remote learning as well, Patch News Partner Chalkbeat Newark reports.
Even one higher education institution is pivoting their plans. The College of New Jersey, based in Ewing, Mercer County will be remote for the upcoming winter session in January due to COVID-19. Read More:New Jersey College Goes Remote For Winter Session Due To COVID
Additionally, two Essex County towns are bringing back the mask mandate.
On Monday, Mayor Ras Baraka announced that Newark is bringing back its indoor face mask mandate amid a “spike in new COVID-19 cases” and the “emergence of the omicron variant.” Read the full executive order below. Read More:Masks Are Back: Newark Indoor Mandate Returns As COVID Spikes
On Tuesday, the Montclair Town Council passed a resolution that will last for 30 days. All local businesses and venues located that are open to the public must require both staff and customers/visitors to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth while they’re inside the establishment and within six feet of other people. Read More: Montclair Council OKs Indoor Mask Mandate, Cites Omicron Spread
As case rates remain high in New Jersey so does the demand for tests heading into the holidays with Walgreens, Walmart and CVS now limiting the number of COVID-19 tests customers can purchase at one time. Read More:NJ Walgreens, CVS Limit COVID-19 Tests As Demand Explodes
With an increase in school cases, state officials continue to push the importance of vaccinations and boosters.
“Let’s spread cheer, not COVID,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. “Lets get vaccinated and boostered to protect ourselves, our family, friends, and our children.”
We can’t let our guard down against COVID-19. We encourage all individuals who have received their vaccination to get a booster dose this holiday season. Find an appointment today:
U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.
The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of new infections from the omicron variant that could overwhelm hospitals.
The drug, Paxlovid, is a faster, cheaper way to treat early COVID-19 infections, though initial supplies will be extremely limited. All of the previously authorized drugs against the disease require an IV or an injection.
An antiviral pill from Merck also is expected to soon win authorization. But Pfizer’s drug is all but certain to be the preferred option because of its mild side effects and superior effectiveness, including a nearly 90% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths among patients most likely to get severe disease.
“The efficacy is high, the side effects are low and it’s oral. It checks all the boxes,” said Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic. “You’re looking at a 90% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in a high-risk group — that’s stunning.”
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s drug for adults and children ages 12 and older with a positive COVID-19 test and early symptoms who face the highest risks of hospitalization. That includes older people and those with conditions like obesity and heart disease. Children eligible for the drug must weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kilograms).
The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against omicron because they don’t target the spike protein where most of the variant’s worrisome mutations reside.
Pfizer currently has 180,000 treatment courses available worldwide, with roughly 60,000 to 70,000 allocated to the U.S. Federal health officials are expected to ration early shipments to the hardest hit parts of the country.
Pfizer said the small supply is due to the manufacturing time — currently about nine months. The company says it can halve production time next year.
The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough Paxlovid to treat 10 million people.
Pfizer says it’s on track to produce 80 million courses globally next year, under contracts with the U.K., Australia and other nations. Health experts agree that vaccination remains the best way to protect against COVID-19.
But with roughly 40 million American adults still unvaccinated, effective drugs will be critical to blunting the current and future waves of infection.
The U.S. is now reporting more than 140,000 new infections daily and federal officials warn that the omicron variant could send case counts soaring. Omicron has already whipped across the country to become the dominant strain, federal officials confirmed earlier this week.
Against that backdrop, experts warn that Paxlovid’s initial impact could be limited.
For more than a year, biotech-engineered antibody drugs have been the go-to treatments for COVID-19. But they are expensive, hard to produce and require an injection or infusion, typically given at a hospital or clinic. Also, laboratory testing suggests the two leading antibody drugs used in the U.S. aren’t effective against omicron.
Pfizer’s pill comes with its own challenges.
Patients will need a positive COVID-19 test to get a prescription. And Paxlovid has only proven effective if given within five days of symptoms appearing. With testing supplies stretched, experts worry it may be unrealistic for patients to self-diagnose, get tested, see a physician and pick up a prescription within that narrow window.
“If you go outside that window of time I fully expect the effectiveness of this drug is going to fall,” said Andrew Pekosz, a Johns Hopkins University virologist.
The FDA based its decision on company results from a 2,250-patient trial that showed the pill cut hospitalizations and deaths by 89% when given to people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within three days of symptoms.
Less than 1% of patients taking the drug were hospitalized and none died at the end of the 30-day study period, compared with 6.5% of patients hospitalized in the group getting a dummy pill, which included nine deaths.
Pfizer’s drug is part of a decades-old family of antiviral drugs known as protease inhibitors, which revolutionized the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. The drugs block a key enzyme which viruses need to multiply in the human body.
The U.S. will pay about $500 for each course of Pfizer’s treatment, which consists of three pills taken twice a day for five days. Two of the pills are Paxlovid and the third is a different antiviral that helps boost levels of the main drug in the body.
(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Red flags for someone who claims to be from New Jersey
54 Jersey natives playing in the NFL in 2021 (+ 2 head coaches)
Some of them may even be on your fantasy football team.
Montclair Township Council unanimously voted on Resolution R-21-267 at the Dec. 21 Council meeting to enact an immediate mask mandate for all indoor public places in Montclair for the next 30 days. See the full text of Resolution R-21-267 below:
Resolution R-21-267 Instituting a Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Places in Montclair
December 21, 2021
WHEREAS, the Township of Montclair has a compelling interest to protect the health, welfare and safety of residents; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the emergence of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the disease COVID-19, a worldwide pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health organizations monitor all variants of the virus that cause COVID-19 in the United States and globally; and
WHEREAS, in July 2021, the CDC identified a concerning national trend of increasing circulation of the Delta COVID-19 variant, a variant which was more infectious and was leading to increased transmissibility when compared with other variants, even in some vaccinated individuals; and
WHEREAS, on November 24, 2021, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 was reported to the WHO; and on November 26, 2021, WHO named the new variant Omicron and classified it as a Variant of Concern (VOC); and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2021, the first confirmed case of Omicron was identified in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19, particularly the mutations and variants of the virus, throughout New Jersey and the Township of Montclair, continues to pose a severe threat to the public health, safety and welfare to the residents of the Township of Montclair; and
WHEREAS, wearing a mask is an effective way to reduce the spread of earlier forms of the virus, the Delta variant and other known variants; and
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends that in order to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and its variants, people who are not fully vaccinated should wear a mask indoors in public at all levels of community transmission; and specifically recommends mask-wearing indoors in public places designated as substantial or high community transmission regardless of vaccination status; and
WHEREAS, as of December 20, 2021, the CDC classified Essex County, New Jersey, as an area with high community transmission with a case rate per 100 thousand of 522.42, representing a positivity rate of 10.61%, and
WHEREAS, Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 242 allows municipalities to impose additional restrictions, in response to COVID-19, regarding mask requirements for individuals in indoor public spaces;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the Township of Montclair, that all businesses and venues located in the Township of Montclair that are open to the public shall require both staff and customers (or visitors) to wear face coverings or face shields over their nose and mouth while inside the establishment when in the presence of others (within six feet); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the face covering requirement of this Resolution does not apply to the following persons:
young children under age 2;
a person with a disability who cannot wear a face covering or cannot safely wear a face covering for reasons related to the disability;
a person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidance;
a person while eating or drinking inside any establishment that serves food or beverages; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the face covering requirement of this Resolution does not apply to certain gatherings, including religious services and political activities, which are constitutionally protected activities, and restrictions on these gatherings should be less aggressive than restrictions on other gatherings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a violation of any provision of this Resolution is subject to penalties as provided for by law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Council of the Township of Montclair, and shall remain in effect for 30 days.
