Day: March 14, 2020

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Presumptive Positive Case of COVID-19 at Mercer Elementary School

March 14, 2020

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–From Hamilton Township 10 pm. update:

Just recently we were made aware of a presumptive positive case of an individual associated with Mercer Elementary School, part of the Mercer County Special Services School District. 

The individual lives outside Mercer County and therefore, it is not a Mercer County case. However, the Hamilton Health Department is awaiting a list of Hamilton residents with whom this individual has been in contact. We will begin reaching out to those individuals once we receive their names and contact information.

As always, we will keep you informed of all releasable information as quickly as possible. 

Letter from Mercer County Special Services School District:

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) NOTIFICATION
Dear School Community,

In conjunction with the Mercer County Division of Public Health and the Hamilton Township Health
Department, we are informing you that an individual at Mercer Elementary School, tested presumptive
positive for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 13, 2020. This individual is awaiting
confirmatory test results from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) laboratory.

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that was first detected in Wuhan
Hubei Province, China. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people
who are in close contact with one another, and through respiratory droplets produced when an
infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the eyes, mouth or nose of people
who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs. People are thought to be most contagious when
they are most symptomatic.

A limited number of students and staff have potentially had close contact with the presumptive
positive individual. As per the New Jersey Department of Health, a close contact is considered to
be a person who was within 6 feet of a COVID-19 presumptive positive case for longer than 10
minutes. In coordination with the Administration of the Mercer County Special Services School
District, the Hamilton Township Health Department representatives will be directly contacting those
individuals who have been determined to be a close contact.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding at this time, we will continue to update
you as more information is available.

For more information about COVID-19 and the public health procedures visit
https://www.nj.gov/health and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/. You may also call the New Jersey
Department of Health call center at:
1-800-222-1222. The call center is staffed by trained health care professionals 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, has multi-language capacity, and is free.
Sincerely,

Kimberly J. Schneider, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools

Hamilton Township March 14, 2020 6:30 pm update:

As of 6:30 PM, there are no known cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus) reported in Hamilton Township.

Yesterday evening, it was announced that Municipal Courts would be closing for two weeks effective Monday, March 16, 2020. You can find a copy of the notice from the NJ Supreme Court here: Notice to the Bar.

Altice USA (better known to residents as Optimum), announced that for for households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access, are being offered Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within their service region.  Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, eligible households interested in this solution can call 866-200-9522 to enroll.

Freehold, Monmouth County

Governor Murphy Reports 2nd NJ Death From COVID-19

March 14, 2020

FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–Governor Phil Murphy a few moments ago reported NJ’s second death from COVID-19. The individual was a female in her 50s and was being treated at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township.

Skiing Snowboarding

Alterra Mountain Company Closure Announcement, Closing Several North American Ski Resorts Due To COVID-19

March 14, 2020, Denver, CO: After careful thought and deliberation of our duty in the face of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, and in what I believe is in the best interest of our guests, employees and local communities, Alterra Mountain Company will suspend operations at our 15 North American ski resorts, starting the morning of Sunday, March 15, until further notice. All lift operations, food and beverage, retail and rental services will be closed until further notice.

Alterra Mountain Company destinations are Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado; Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California; Stratton and Sugarbush Resort in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia; Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain in Ontario; Crystal Mountain in Washington; Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah; and CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures in British Columbia. (CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures will continue to operate through Tuesday, March 17.)

Each resort will work directly with guests in canceling their visit and will provide refunds to those who have hotel and other bookings during this closure period. We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this short notice will undoubtedly create. We look forward to welcoming you back to the mountains as circumstances improve.

Rusty Gregory

Chief Executive Officer

Alterra Mountain Company

Ed Note: COVID-19 is serious business, this is not a “snow day” or “extended spring break” from school or work. It is not an excuse to got to the mall, theater, skiing, vacation, parties, etc. Mid-Jersey News follows snow sports since many from the Mid-Jersey region travel to locations such as the Poconos, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Colorado, etc. for recreation. Practice hand washing, hygiene and social separation to prevent the spread of this virus. This is a serious situation and a National Emergency. If everyone participates hopefully we return to normal sooner than later. If you feel that there is a chance you are sick, can become sick or have been exposed, separate yourself from others.

Skiing Snowboarding

Big Snow at American Dream Closed For COVID-19 Until March 31

March 14, 2020

EAST RUTHERFORD (BERGEN), NJ– See note from Big Snow at American Dream Mall.

To Our Big SNOW Guests,

Like the rest of the world, we have been closely monitoring the developments and public health recommendations regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) over these past few weeks. The health and safety of our team and guests are of the utmost priority for us. Although there have been no reported cases of coronavirus associated with American Dream or Big SNOW, both management teams agree that it would be in the best interest of safety and public health to make the hard but responsible decision to temporarily close our doors as a preventative measure in the national fight against the further spread of this virus.

Effective Monday March 16, Big SNOW and American Dream will be temporarily closing to all visits through the end of the month. This is a decision we did not take lightly, as we recognize the impact that this business interruption will have on the lives of our team members and our guests. That said, we do feel that it is a necessary decision for the sake of the greater public health. While we plan to stay closed through the end of the month, we will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and follow the guidance of our local, state and federal officials, as well as the public health agencies. Any further updates and information on our re-opening dates will be posted on our website and social media channels and communicated to you as they become available.

For any guests who have pre-booked their visits to Big SNOW between the dates of March 16 and March 31, we will be contacting you via email and making arrangements for you to move your visit to any time within the next year. If you have any further questions regarding your purchase or visit to Big SNOW, you may contact us via email at info@bigsnowad.com or by phone at 973-864-6600.

We thank you for your patience, support and understanding as we all work together to do our part in quickly stopping the spread of this global pandemic. Our hearts are with everyone who have been affected either directly or indirectly by the impact of this crisis. We hope to be safely skiing and riding with you again at Big SNOW very soon. In the meantime, we wish you and your families continued health.

Sincerely,

Joe Hession
CEO Big SNOW American Dream

Ed Note: COVID-19 is serious business, this is not a “snow day” or “extended spring break” from school or work. It is not an excuse to got to the mall, theater, skiing, vacation, parties, etc. Mid-Jersey News follows snow sports since many from the Mid-Jersey region travel to locations such as the Poconos, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Colorado, etc. for recreation. Practice hand washing, hygiene and social separation to prevent the spread of this virus. This is a serious situation and a National Emergency. If everyone participates hopefully we return to normal sooner than later. If you feel that there is a chance you are sick, can become sick or have been exposed, separate yourself from others.

Skiing Snowboarding

37 North American Vail Resorts will not operate Sunday, March 15 through Sunday, March 22, with future guidance to follow

Ed Note: COVID-19 is serious business, this is not a “snow day” or “extended spring break” from school or work. It is not an excuse to got to the mall, theater, skiing, vacation, parties, etc. Mid-Jersey News follows snow sports since many from the Mid-Jersey region travel to locations such as the Poconos, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Colorado, etc. for recreation. Practice hand washing, hygiene and separation to prevent the spread of this virus. This is a serious situation and a National Emergency. If everyone participates hopefully we return to normal sooner than later. If you feel that there is a chance you are sick, can become sick or have been exposed, separate yourself from others.

Updated 4 p.m. MT on March 14, 2020)
Update on Vail Resorts Operations from CEO Rob Katz
Resorts will not operate Sunday, March 15 through Sunday, March 22, with future guidance to follow

This has no doubt been an incredibly challenging time. With 37 resorts spread across 15 states and three countries, we – like the rest of the world – have been closely tracking every new development related to coronavirus (COVID-19) and have been in constant contact with local health officials for guidance. Without question, our top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our guests and employees – and to no lesser extent the health and wellbeing of the communities where we operate. We know each decision we make has a broad impact far beyond our operations.

With each of those stakeholders in mind and with the most updated information from local health officials, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the operations of all our North American mountain resorts and retail stores beginning Sunday, March 15, 2020 through Sunday, March 22, 2020 and will use that time to reassess our approach for the rest of the season. Our lodging and property management operations will remain open to service the guests we have on location or those with existing reservations, but we will not be taking new reservations for this upcoming week. Epic Mountain Express, our Colorado shuttle service, will also continue operations to support the travel needs of our guests.  We will be closing our corporate offices and apart from essential personnel, we will be asking other employees to work from home, where possible.  

All our scheduled employees, both seasonal and year-round, will be paid during this upcoming eight-day period, without needing to use any vacation or sick time. Their commitment to our company and guests during this uncertain time has been unwavering and I am personally grateful beyond words. 

This decision provides a pause for the entire ecosystem of our mountain resort communities. It gives everyone the time to assess the situation, respond to ever-changing developments, and evaluate the approach for the rest of season, if we believe it is advisable or feasible to re-open. This was not an easy decision to make, as we deeply considered the impact it will have on our guests, employees, and the people and businesses in our communities. We understand this change may be confusing given our communications of operational changes over the past week, and as late as last night. Please know that this has been a fast-moving, constantly developing situation with new information from our communities coming to us by the day, if not by the hour, and we are trying to react as quickly as we can.  People may also wonder why we are not giving more notice ahead of this closure. We understand the challenges this creates, but our priority is to minimize any additional issues from operating in further uncertainty and to avoid potential crowding. 

We sincerely apologize to guests who are currently at our resorts – and those who were planning to come during this time. We have information on cancellations, refunds and travel credits on our websites. Many things like ski school, lift tickets, equipment rentals, and transportation can be fully refunded, and we have new credit policies in place for our owned and operated lodging properties. Please know that we will get to everyone and appreciate your patience as our most immediate priority must be the health and welfare of our resorts and communities.  I know there are a lot of questions about our season pass products and Epic Day Passes. Those products are non-refundable and not transferable to another season, however, we will be reviewing those policies and providing any updated guidance on that in the coming weeks.  Again, we very much appreciate your patience with this as well. 

We will be providing updated information on the remainder of the season by Friday, March 20, 2020.

These are unprecedented, challenging times for everyone. We will continue to navigate these unchartered waters with our guests, our employees and our communities remaining our highest priority. I am certain that there have been, and will be, moments where we will miss the mark and potentially disappoint. However, rest assured that we will continue to listen to your feedback – and continue to make the best decisions we can for everyone’s wellbeing. 
 

Guest FAQs

SEASON PASS

How does the closure impact my season pass or Epic Day Pass?

To the extent that any of our resorts re-open during the season, your pass will be valid.

Pursuant to the terms of all season pass and Epic Day Pass products, they are non-refundable and non-transferable to another season.  We will be reviewing these policies and providing any updated guidance in the coming weeks.  We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time.

LIFT TICKETS

May I get a refund on my lift tickets that are pre-purchased and valid for 3/15/20-3/22/20?

Yes pursuant to the terms of Lift TicketsOur teams are currently focused on assisting our guests in resort. Please check back here for more information on how to request your refund. We are working to make this process as easy as possible with an online form. Thank you for your patience.

I have pre-purchased lift tickets for dates after 3/22/20. Can I get a refund?

Yes. Our teams are currently focused on assisting our guests in resort. Please check back here for more information on how to request your refund. We are working to make this process as easy as possible with an online form. Thank you for your patience.

What are my refund options for other mountain products?

We have information on cancellations, refunds and travel credits on our resort websites. Many activities – such as ski school, equipment rentals, and transportation – can be fully refunded. Please check back here for more information on how to request your refund. We are working to make this process as easy as possible with an online form. Thank you for your patience.
 

LODGING

I’m currently staying at a hotel. How long can I stay here?
You can remain at the hotel through the end of your reservation. If you would like to extend your stay or make any revisions to your stay, please talk to your front desk.

What is your rebook and refund policy for lodging?

For lodging owned and operated by Vail Resorts, you can receive a full refund for any bookings made for dates during the resort closure period..

For reservations due to arrive between 3/22/2020-5/31/2020, guests can apply the dollar amount of their deposit to a future stay at the same property for up to 365 days from the date of arrival. You can also rebook the same dates at another resort based on availability and at the applicable rate.

We are waiving cancellation fees for hotel stays through May 31, 2020 for guests traveling from international locations to Vail Resorts destinations.

Cancellation and date change policies through third party lodging and booking partners will vary by property. Guests should reach out to their reserved lodging property or reserved booking source if they need to discuss changes.

Are existing reservations beyond 3/22/20 still valid?

Yes, at this time our lodging properties will remain open.

Can I make reservations beyond 3/22/20 at your properties?

Yes, we will not be taking new reservations for stays between 3/15/20-3/22/20, but we are still taking reservations beyond that time frame.

DINING

Will your village and fine dine restaurants be open?

All on-mountain dining, including quick serve and fine dining, will be closed.  Limited dining will be available in our lodging properties.

RENTAL

Will your rental and retail stores be open?

All Vail Resorts Rental and Retail stores at the resorts will be closed. We will have some limited openings within lodging.

EVENTS

Are resort events cancelled as well?

Check our website, or the event-specific website for all event information. Events at our resorts between 3/15/20-3/22/20 are cancelled.

FUTURE OPERATIONS

What are the chances you will open after 3/22/2020?
We will be providing updated information on the remainder of the season by Friday, March 20, 2020.

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Bank Robbery In Hamilton

March 14, 2020

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On March 13, 2020, Hamilton Police were detailed to the PNC Bank, located at 2025 South Broad Street, on a bank robbery investigation. Responding officers reported that at approximately 4:15 pm., an unknown mail entered the PNC Bank and displayed a note demanding money from the teller. The male also brandished what is belived to be a black handgun that was displayed in his waistband. After the teller handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, he fled on foot towards the rear alley of the bank and out of sight.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male approximately 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He was wearing a white fishing hat, dust mask, cut blue jeans, black sneakers and a reflective vest.

Hamilton Police Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance with any information regarding the identity of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Benjamin Zuzzio of the Hamilton Police Division Criminal Investigations Section at (609) 581-4030 or via e-mail at bzuzzio@hamiltonpd.org or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline (609) 581-4008.

East Windsor, East Windsor, Hightstown, Hightstown, Hightstown-East Windsor, Mercer County

East Windsor Regional Schools Remote Learning Plan Starts March 17

March 14, 2020

EAST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–After careful consultation with our local health officials, local government, and the NJDOE, we are announcing that the East Windsor Regional School District will begin to implement its remote learning plan beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. We expect this plan to be in effect through Sunday, March 29, 2020. Please read the update from Mark Daniels, Superintendent of Schools

Down load original letter here:
EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mark Daniels Superintendent

March 13, 2020

Dear East Windsor Regional School District Community:

After careful consultation with our local health officials, local government, and the NJDOE, we are
announcing the East Windsor Regional School District will begin to implement its remote learning
plan beginning Tuesday, March 17, 2020. We expect this plan to be in effect through
Sunday, March 29, 2020. During this time period, students will engage in learning activities while
at home, and receive virtual support from their teachers. During this two week period, we will
assess the continued implementation of remote learning based on the guidance from our public health
officials and will communicate any necessary changes or updates. Although we do not have a
known confirmed case in the East Windsor Regional School District at this time, I do not want to
wait until one is identified and it becomes too late to limit the spread of this
highly contagious virus. This is being implemented as a precautionary and proactive approach to
reduce the risk for our students, staff and families.

As you know, on Monday, March 16, students are already planned to follow an early
dismissal schedule. We ask that students be prepared to bring home at the end of the day any
materials they may need to engage in remote instruction, including musical instruments,
textbooks, technology, reading materials, other relevant supplies.

As a district, we have worked diligently during the last few weeks to prepare for this possibility.
Our remote learning plan consists of a combination of on-line learning opportunities, combined
with a series of traditional learning activities consisting of books,
instructional packets, supplementary handouts, and other relevant resources. Teachers will be
accessible to students and parents during remote learning to answer questions, and to provide
guidance and support. It is important to clarify that remote learning does not mean that our
district will be completely closed. Our buildings will be operational and staff members will be
present to answer questions and offer support.

As previously mentioned, the following buildings will be open for students to access breakfast and
lunch (8:00-12:00): EMK, PLO, GNR, MHK, and HHS. Students can select the building that is
closest to their residence for breakfast/lunch. These food items will only be grab and go.

During the two week remote learning time period, all district activities and athletic
events (including practices) will be postponed or cancelled. This includes facility use, events,
and rental activities.

We will continue to provide timely updates throughout the upcoming remote learning
period. Please feel free to contact your school by phone or email for further questions or concerns
once our remote learning plan starts. Continue to check the district’s website for ongoing
updates http://www.ewrsd.org.

I recognize this is a unique and difficult time, but I am confident that as a school community, we
can overcome the challenges ahead. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the entire
school community for its continued flexibility, understanding, and support.

Sincerely,

Mark Daniels

Superintendent of Schools

25A Leshin Lane III Hightstown, New Jersey 08520 111 (609) 443-7717, X2020

Mercer County, Monmouth County, Ocean County

Chris Smith: Stopping coronavirus pandemic and finding a cure, vaccine must be our highest priority—no matter the cost

March 14, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC–As the House tonight passed its second comprehensive bipartisan bill to combat the coronavirus (COVID 19), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said that “containing the outbreak, finding a cure and a safe and effective vaccine must be our highest priority—no matter the cost.”

   “We must contain the coronavirus pandemic and protect all people, especially those most vulnerable to the disease such as the elderly and those with serious chronic medical conditions,” said Smith, who strongly supported and voted for the measure hours after President Trump declared the coronavirus a national emergency, opening the door for states and local governments to receive additional federal assistance.

   Smith said, “The historic public-private partnership announced today at the White House will ensure quicker access to free, reliable testing at several venues including at drive-through testing sites in parking lots at stores including CVS, Target and Walmart. By authorizing massive new testing by private labs like Quest and LabCorp in addition to government-run labs and by FDA’s emergency approval of new detection technologies by Roche, the Trump Administration is significantly expanding the capacity to test.”

   Smith pointed out that the bipartisan $8.3 billion coronavirus funding bill signed into law  last Friday “boosted our ability to more quickly find a cure and, in the months ahead, a safe and reliable vaccine.”

   The new legislation strongly supported by Smith—the Families First Coronavirus Response Act—would provide additional federal assistance to help contain the spread and mitigate the effects of the disease.

   Provisions include:

  • Free Testing:
    • Requires all commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Indian Health service, and TRI-CARE to cover, and impose no cost-sharing for testing diagnosis of COVID-19
  • Emergency Appropriation:
  • $1.2 billion to help cover the costs of coronavirus testing, including $142 million to eliminate copay requirements for servicemembers and veterans
  • $1.25 billion to provide emergency nutritional assistance for senior citizens, women, children, and low-income families, including:
    • $500m for WIC
    • $250m for senior nutrition programs
    • $400m for the Emergency Food Assistance Program
  • Provides funding and flexibility to ensures low-income students continue to have access to meals if schools are closed  
  • $15 million for the Internal Revenue Service to administer tax credits               
  • Sick Leave:
    • Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are required to provide 14 days of paid sick leave to employees affected by COVID-19.
    • Additionally, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) expansion, COVID-19 affected employees are entitled to up to three months paid leave at two-thirds of the employee’s pay.
    • Businesses with more than 500 employees do not have to provide 14 days of paid sick leave.
    • Businesses with fewer than 500 employees will receive a 100% tax credit for both types of leave up to capped levels, credited against quarterly payroll taxes
    • Additionally, the Secretaries of Treasury and Labor will have regulatory authority to provide flexibility so small businesses under 50 employees are not unduly harmed
    • Affected employees include those with COVID-19, under quarantine, caring for someone affected, and with children whose school has closed.
  • 6.2% FMAP bump for all states and the territories limited to the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency and applies to the standard FMAP, not the expansion FMAP, the eFMAP, or the admin FMAP
  • Unemployment Insurance:
    • Provides $1 billion in 2020 for emergency grants to states for activities related to processing and paying unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, under certain conditions
    • $500 million would be used to provide immediate additional funding to all states for staffing, technology, systems, and other administrative costs, so long as they met basic requirements about ensuring access to earned benefits for eligible workers
    • Full Federal Funding of Extended Unemployment Compensation for a Limited Period. For states that experience an increase of 10 percent or more in their unemployment rate (over the previous year)

    Noting the serious negative impact that the coronavirus is and will likely have on the economy, Smith said: “And it’s critically important that we work to save jobs and assist businesses that may falter or fail.”

   “In retrospect, the President’s barring of non-U.S. citizens who recently visited China from entering the United States likely had a positive impact on containment—and at the very least, bought us some time to ratchet up our response. Health-related travel bans—now it’s Europe—are a major tool in the fight to contain the virus.”

   The U.S. Senate is expected to consider the House-passed legislation next week.

For more information on the coronavirus go to Coronavirus.gov.

   

According to the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, New Jersey’s life sciences community is responding to the coronavirus outbreak on multiple levels. Its biopharmaceutical and medical technology company members are directing expert scientific resources to the effort to create a vaccine and develop therapies. Companies also are contributing significant humanitarian aid to patients, communities and governments in need. Below are some recent activities by HINJ member companies.

Vaccines and Antiviral Medicines

  • Eli Lilly and Companyand AbCellera together are developing antibody products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The companies will leverage AbCellera’s rapid pandemic response platform and Lilly’s global capabilities for rapid development, manufacturing and distribution of therapeutic antibodies.
  • Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, is working to develop a vaccine for coronavirus in collaboration with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Researchers at Janssen also are exploring about 30 previously tested medicines that might be used to help patients survive coronavirus and reduce the severity of disease. The company also has donated 350 cases of its HIV medication to Chinese researchers, who are assessing its value in combatting coronavirus.
  • Mallinckrodt currently is evaluatingthe potential rolefor inhaled nitric oxide as a supportive measure in treating those patients infected with coronavirus and having associated pulmonary complications. The company is working with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and BARDA on this concept.
  • Pfizer has identified certain antiviral compounds already in development that may be effective for inhibiting coronaviruses. The company is working with a third party to screen the compounds, and if any are successful, testing could start by year’s end. It also has made a large cash donation to the nonprofit Direct Relief, which is sending personal protective gear to China.
  • Sanofi Pasteur is working with BARDA to utilize the company’s previous efforts toward a SARS vaccine, which may prove useful against coronavirus. It will employ its recombinant DNA platform, which produces an exact genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the virus, to develop a novel coronavirus vaccine candidate.