Day: March 18, 2020

Jackson, Ocean County

Ocean County Health Department Reports 10 New Positive Cases Of COVID-19

March 18, 2020


The Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) is reporting that 10 new positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Ocean County. The additional individuals bring the total number of positive COVID-19 cases to 16 in Ocean County as of March 18, 2020.

Below is a list of towns and the current total number of cases:
Berkeley: 2 Cases
Jackson: 2 Cases
Lakewood: 4 Cases
Little Egg Harbor: 1 Case
Manchester: 3 Cases
Point Pleasant Borough: 1 Case (Earlier reports erroneously identified this case from Point Pleasant Beach)
Toms River: 2 Cases
Surf City: 1 Case

Total Cases in Ocean County: 16 Cases as of March 18, 2020
Please look for daily COVID-19 case counts at www.ochd.org beginning on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 4:30PM.

Burlington, Ewing, Lawrence, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Princeton, Sports

NJAC Cancels All Remaining Spring Sport Competitions & Championships

March 18, 2020

Member institutions:

Montclair State University
New Jersey City University
Ramapo College
Rutgers University -Newark.
William Patterson University
The College of New Jersey
Kean University
Rowan University
Rutgers University – Camden
Stockton University

PITMAN—The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Board of Athletic Administrators, in coordination with the administration at each of its 10 full-member institutions, made the difficult but necessary decision on March 18 to cancel all conference contests, non-conference contests, and league championships for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a decision that we all hoped would not have to be made, but in the long run, it’s the decision that is clearly in the best interests of all parties involved,” said NJAC Commissioner Terry Small. “Our administrators have always, and will always, prioritize the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials, support staffs, fans, and all those associated with NJAC athletics. This decision, while disappointing in many ways, was clearly made for the right reasons.” 

The canceling of the spring seasons impacts the NJAC in the conference sports of men’s volleyball, baseball, softball, women’s lacrosse, women’s outdoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, and men’s tennis. In addition, some of the conference’s winter and spring sport student-athletes, who had previously earned NCAA championship qualifications in the sports of women’s indoor track & field, men’s indoor track & field, women’s swimming & diving, men’s swimming & diving, and women’s tennis were denied the opportunity to compete in those national events after the NCAA cancelled all remaining winter and spring championships on March 13.

“I would like to thank our student-athletes who always represent our conference and their respective institutions admirably in all that they do,” Small said. “They truly compete for the love of their sport and their institution, and they devote countless hours to achieve success both academically and athletically. To our senior student-athletes whose careers may have come to an abrupt end, everyone associated with the NJAC would especially like to thank you for your dedication and passion, and for the legacy that you have left at each of your institutions.”  

Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County

Two Residents of Hamilton Township Test Positive for COVID-19

March 18, 2020

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–

As of 9:00 this morning, Hamilton Township was informed through the State’s confidential Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CDRSS) that two residents have tested positive for COVID-19. A 48-year-old male and a 28-year-old female. Both of those cases are individuals who are self-isolating at home per doctor’s orders and are not in the hospital. Additionally, there are a number of individuals who have been tested for COVID-19 and the results are pending.

Our Health Department immediately contacted each individual case to begin the “COVID-19 Confirmed Case Interview Form” process.  In this process the individual is asked when they first became ill and track backwards 3 days from that date to the day they were told to self-isolate in order to determine who their close or direct contacts are.  A close or direct contact is anyone who was within 6 feet for 10 minutes or more.  From there the Health Department begins outreach to the close contacts and informs them that they have been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Department will then screen the close or direct contact for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. The Health Department will then follow a flow chart established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on guidance for how to progress such as the need for self-isolation.  Depending on whether or not the individual who has tested positive is able to self-isolate determines the amount of time the contact must be quarantined.

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.  Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.  Any individual under self-isolation is to monitor their symptoms in case they get worse.  It is recommended that people take their temperature with a thermometer at least two times a day.  If the symptoms become worse, the individual is to inform their healthcare provider.

Our Department of Health would like to remind residents that if you go to a medical facility, be sure to call ahead and wear a face mask.  This information goes for people who are quarantined because they have come in contact with a positive case also.  If you test positive for COVID-19 do not panic.  Many people have mild illness which can be managed at home. 

For general questions about COVID-19 please contact the New Jersey Department of Health’s call center at 1-800-962-1253. The call center is open 24/7 and has multi-language capacity.

Burlington, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, Trenton

PENNSYLVANIA JOINS NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, AND CONNECTICUT’S REGIONAL COALITION TO COMBAT COVID-19

Governor Murphy, Governor Cuomo, Governor Lamont, and Governor Wolf Direct Temporary Closure of All Indoor Portions of Retail Shopping Malls, Amusement Parks & Bowling Alleys – Effective by 8 PM Thursday Follows Directive Monday Limiting Crowd Capacity for Recreational & Social Gatherings to 50 People – Temporary Closure of Movie Theaters, Gyms and Casinos as well as On Premise Service at Restaurants & BarsUniform Approach to Social Distancing Will Slow Spread of COVID-19 Throughout the Four States

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont today announced Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is joining their coalition to implement a regional approach to combatting COVID-19. The four governors announced indoor portions of retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys in the four states will close by 8 PM Thursday – an expansion of the guidance that the three governors from the tri-state area issued Monday.

The guidance issued Monday – which Pennsylvania also adopted – limits crowd capacity for social and recreational gatherings to 50 people. The governors also announced restaurants and bars would close for on premise service and move to take-out and delivery services only. The governors also temporarily closed movie theaters, gyms and casinos.Governor Murphy said, “Given the population density of the Northeast, a coordinated response effort to encourage social distancing benefits all of our residents and strengthens our greater regional preparedness. By working together to identify and enact these measures, we can potentially slow the spread of coronavirus and save thousands of lives.””We are doing everything we can as states to reduce density and contain the spread of the virus,” Governor Cuomo said. “It is critical that we remain on the same page as our neighboring states, and so far we are the only region in the country partnering to create uniform, regional density reduction policies that prevent ‘state shopping.’ We will continue working together to update our regulations and guidance as the situation evolves while keeping a consistent standard across the region.” Governor Lamont said, “This is a fast moving and quickly evolving public health emergency, and making these kinds of important decisions as a region makes more sense than a patchwork approach. We will combat this virus by working together and remaining consistent across our borders and I’m proud to work with my fellow governors in this effort.” Governor Wolf said, “Pennsylvania is working aggressively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. A regional approach to this threat is smart, and I am grateful for all of the work by my colleagues in neighboring states. Joining these leaders will help Pennsylvania mitigate the spread of COVID-19 with a coordinated approach.” Businesses and individuals in Pennsylvania should continue to refer to the Wolf administration’s existing guidance for detailed closure information and other recommendations.
Burlington, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, Trenton

Governor Murphy, Commissioner Johnson Announce New Amendments to Child Care Subsidy Program in Response to Spread of COVID-19

Revised Program Will Help Provide Access to Critical Child Care Subsidies While Eligible Parents Attend Jobs

TRENTON – Today, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson announced new amendments and resources for the New Jersey’s Child Care Subsidy Program. The modifications to the Subsidy Program will implement temporary flexible enrollment policies and robust payment policy amendments to support New Jersey families and providers that have been impacted by the spread of COVID-19.

“New Jersey child care providers are a vital part of our response infrastructure to the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy. “My Administration is committed to helping individuals on the front lines of this public health crisis – our first responders, law enforcement, health care professionals, janitorial and custodial workers, and the women and men working to keep our groceries stores open and stocked – with child care needs. These changes are meant to help those eligible for child care subsidies to attend to their jobs.”

“Many families across our state have parents with lower or moderate incomes who need to continue to work in this difficult time.  Health care providers, social service providers, public health officials, first responders and many others are on the front lines of this response,” said Human Services Commissioner Carole Johnson. “Child care providers are a critical part of the response infrastructure, and we thank them for the role they are playing during this emergency. We are taking action to help families in need of child care who are eligible for our child care subsidy program and those centers that are able to remain open by waiving co-pays in our child care subsidy program if parents are unable to pay because of COVID19, providing enhanced payment to providers who serve children receiving subsidy during this emergency, paying subsidy based on enrollment not attendance, continuing to pay subsidies to those centers that are forced to close, and creating flexibility in our program rules so it is easier for eligible parents to enroll their children in our child care subsidy program.”

The Child Care Subsidy Program, administered by the Department of Human Service’s Division of Family Development, provides financial assistance to low-to-moderate income families in New Jersey in order to help them afford quality child care services. This program also provides funding to more than 5,000 providers statewide, including child care centers, family child care homes, and school-age programs.

The Department of Human Service’s Division of Family Development will implement the following policies, effective immediately:

  • Continue to pay child care providers for an extended period of time encouraged for those required to close by the health department, school district, or county executive related to COVID-19;
  • Ensure providers commit to clean at the highest level of disinfection cleaning during this period of time; 
  • Waive parents/caregivers’ child care subsidy co-payments for parents who request it due to impacts from COVID-19;
  • Provide child care providers who remain open during this critical time a differential of $100 per child each month above the state reimbursed rate for children enrolled in the child care subsidy program; 
  • Compensate providers who remain open even if children are absent due to COVID-19;
  • Give extended time to working parents to submit verification of works hours for the initial application process; 
  • Extend recertification timelines for at least three months in order for child care services to remain open; 
  • Allow parents or caregivers to continue their child care subsidy if their hours are reduced or if they are laid off due to COVID-19; and
  • Make grants available for child care providers who participate in the child care subsidy program, including family child care providers, to clean and sanitize their facility or home; or to purchase additional supplies or services necessary to keeping centers and homes safe and sanitary.
Mercer County, West Windsor, West Windsor

West Windsor Township Municipal Phone Lines Down

March 18, 2020

WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–

All West Windsor Township Phones are Offline
Police Main # 609-799-1222 & 911 Unaffected & Operational

Health Calls should be made to – 609-799-9068
Please Do Not call the police department for health dept calls.

Chief Garofalo

East Windsor, Hightstown, Hightstown, Hightstown-East Windsor, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Monroe Twp

COVID-19 Spreading In Area Take CDC Advice Keep Social Distances And Stay Home If Possible

March 18, 2020

As of 12:33 am. John Hopkins coronavirus COVID-19 tracker has reported 6,362 cases of coronavirus in the United States and close to 200,000 worldwide. There are 267 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey alone. We are aware of a case in Hightstown, another case in Monroe, a case in the UFT School District, among others in the area. We are going to report less on individual cases since it is predicted many more cases will be in our area soon.

Another COVID-19 tracker is here and also seems accurate.

Since the spread is most likely in every town please use “universal precautions” as in treat almost everyone as they could possibly be infected.

Follow the CDC advice, practice social distancing and try and stay home as much as possible over the next few weeks. We know many still need to work but avoid contact at work, do not shake hands, keep a distance, if you get sick stay home and do not contaminate others. If you have a thermometer take your temperature you may not even know you are sick and spreading the virus. Wash hands, don’t touch your face, clean your phone and other items, cough or sneeze into your elbow and other good hygiene items until we get though this.

Another good idea is when you go food shopping is wipe down the cart handles with a sanitizing wipe and wear gloves while shopping as seen in a video from Italy.

If you have taxes, court, local government business contact your local officials via their websites or phone prior to heading to local municipal buildings. Most government buildings are locked and have drop boxes out side for pickup and deliveries. Try and pay by mail or use credit card via websites for business. There are too many agencies to list in our area so use Google or other search engine to find your local government.