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Judy Persichilli

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COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey
Covid-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey The first case of the new COVID-19 variant has been detected in New Jersey, state officials announced Friday. The woman, who is a fully vaccinated Georgia resident, had recently traveled to South Africa, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said in a joint statement. The woman has been kept in isolation since she tested positive on Nov. 28. She had moderate symptoms and is now recovering after being treated in a North Jersey emergency department, officials said. Officials are awaiting the results of a sequencing report from The New Jer…

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by Nicole Acosta
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COVID-19: Delta Variant Is Predominant Strain In NJ COVID-19: Delta Variant Is Predominant Strain In NJ
Covid-19: Delta Variant Is Predominant Strain In NJ The COVID-19 Delta variant has become the predominant strain in New Jersey, health officials announced. The highly-contagious strain comprised 41 percent of the state's new variant cases last month, according to state officials. The Delta variant accounted for 70 percent of New Jersey's variant cases for the week ending June 26, the most recent NJ Department of Health surveillance report shows. This is the first time that the Delta variant overtook the Alpha variant, first documented in the UK. Vaccines have proven successful against the variant, which has spread for 80 countries aft…

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by Cecilia Levine
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2 Cases Of New Highly Contagious COVID-19 Variant Detected In North Jersey, Jersey Shore 2 Cases Of New Highly Contagious COVID-19 Variant Detected In North Jersey, Jersey Shore
2 Cases Of New Highly Contagious Covid-19 Variant Detected In North Jersey, Jersey Shore Two cases of the highly-contagious COVID-19 variant initially found in the U.K. have been detected in New Jersey, state officials announced. The first case involves an Ocean County man in his 60s with no travel history or clear exposure to those who were ill, Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said during Friday's COVID-19 briefing. The man presented symptoms compatible with COVID-19 on Dec. 29, 2020 and was tested with a PCR test on Jan. 6 at a commercial lab, Persichilli said.  The results were suggestive of the variant and were sent to another lab for sequencin…

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by Cecilia Levine
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These NJ Hospitals Are 'Weeks Away' From Getting Early Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine These NJ Hospitals Are 'Weeks Away' From Getting Early Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine
These NJ Hospitals Are 'Weeks Away' From Getting Early Doses Of Covid-19 Vaccine It's only a matter of weeks before several New Jersey hospitals receive an early shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine, state officials said. As part of Operation Warp Speed, the nearly half-dozen area hospitals will get the frozen shipments of the vaccine to keep in Arctic-level sub-zero freezers -- even before it's approved by the FDA. While no dates were given, New Jersey was "weeks away from the first doses of a vaccine being ready for distribution to our health care workers... and months away from a vaccine being readily available for public distribution," Gov. Phil Murphy said. …

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by Cecilia Levine
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Murphy Expected To Postpone Youth, HS Indoor Sports Until January Murphy Expected To Postpone Youth, HS Indoor Sports Until January
Murphy Expected To Postpone Youth, HS Indoor Sports Until January New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to announce tighter COVID-19 restrictions during Monday's briefing in Trenton. Outdoor gathering limits are expected to drop from 150 to 25 people, while youth and high school indoor sports are cancelled until at least Jan. 2, ABC7 reports. The NJSIAA earlier this month postponed most winter high school sports until at least January. Ice hockey practice was set to begin Dec. 14, but now that too will be put on hold. Other indoor sports impacted by the new restrictions include wrestling, swimming and basketball. The new rules will reportedly take effe…

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by Cecilia Levine
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NJ's Top Health Official Judy Persichilli To Isolate After COVID-19 Exposure NJ's Top Health Official Judy Persichilli To Isolate After COVID-19 Exposure
NJ's Top Health Official Judy Persichilli To Isolate After Covid-19 Exposure New Jersey's top health official will be quarantining for 10 days after being exposed to COVID-19. Judy Persichilli will be voluntarily quarantining in her home until Dec. 8 "out of an abundance of caution and in line with the Department’s guidance," a statement from a DOH spokesperson said. The news comes after a member of Persichilli's office tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.  The employee was last in the building on Nov. 24, and is isolating at home. According to the CDC, 71-year-old Persichilli is at higher risk of severe effects from the virus. She will not be partic…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
COVID-19: Health Alert Issued For Outbreak At Popular Jersey Shore Bar COVID-19: Health Alert Issued For Outbreak At Popular Jersey Shore Bar
Covid-19: Health Alert Issued For Outbreak At Popular Jersey Shore Bar New Jersey officials on Monday alerted the public to a COVID-19 outbreak at a popular Jersey Shore bar. Anyone who visited Leggett's in Manasquan between Oct. 17 and Oct. 22 may have been exposed to the virus, State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said during Monday's briefing in Trenton. At least nine servers and bartenders at the 1st Avenue bar tested positive for COVID-19. Health officials were sent to Leggett's on Oct. 23, and management was cooperative, she said. “This is just one example,” Persichilli said. “We really don’t put [alerts] out every day because they have to be…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Murphy 'Close' To Ordering New Restrictions As Cases Rise Across NJ COVID-19: Murphy 'Close' To Ordering New Restrictions As Cases Rise Across NJ
Covid-19: Murphy 'Close' To Ordering New Restrictions As Cases Rise Across NJ Since Monday, more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded across New Jersey. Just over 2,000 of those were reported Thursday, with more than 200 in Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties. The positivity rate is around 7 percent -- one of the highest the state has seen in months. So, what's next? According to Gov. Phil Murphy, action will be taken -- soon. "How close are we to doing something?" he said during Thursday's COVID-19 briefing. "Close. Bear with us, we will clearly be taking action." Efforts by the state's "hot spot teams" lead by Health Commissioner Judy Persich…

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by Cecilia Levine
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COVID-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties COVID-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties
Covid-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties Coronavirus is "rising to a level of concern" in five New Jersey counties, Gov. Phil Murphy said at his latest briefing in Trenton. "Whether it's through worship, indoor home gatherings, regardless of what the reason," said Murphy, "we are not out of the woods." As of Friday, there were 202,100 positive cases in the state, he said. Ocean County reported 439 cases -- the highest number of new ones in the state since Monday, NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. Lakewood accounts for at least half of those cases, Persichilli said. Lakewood has become a "hot spot" for the virus, acco…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ Baby Who Died Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Murphy Says NJ Baby Who Died Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Murphy Says
NJ Baby Who Died Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Murphy Says A New Jersey 7-month-old baby who recently died tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said. The primary cause of death, however, had yet to be determined as of Wednesday, NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. If confirmed that the baby died from COVID-19, the infant would be the youngest in the state to die from the virus, Gov. Phil Murphy said during a COVID-19 briefing. Officials released no more details to protect the family's privacy. A 4-year-old child died of coronavirus complications in May, Murphy said. 

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by Jon Craig
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Movie Theater Giants Sue NJ Over 'Unconstitutional' Coronavirus Closures Movie Theater Giants Sue NJ Over 'Unconstitutional' Coronavirus Closures
Movie Theater Giants Sue NJ Over 'Unconstitutional' Coronavirus Closures New Jersey is facing a lawsuit from three of the biggest movie theater companies in the U.S. over "unconstitutional" closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMC, Regal and Cinemark filed the suit against Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Monday, seeking a temporary restraining order from a federal judge that would allow theaters to reopen immediately, the New York Post reports. Theaters have been closed since mid-March, when Murphy ordered statewide businesses closed. Murphy and NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli's spokespeople say they don't comment on pending litigation. The suit mainta…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Pool Rules: No Kick-Boards, Limited Capacity Among NJ's New Swim Club Guidelines Pool Rules: No Kick-Boards, Limited Capacity Among NJ's New Swim Club Guidelines
Pool Rules: No Kick-Boards, Limited Capacity Among NJ's New Swim Club Guidelines New Jersey officials released a set of rules for public and private swim clubs, which are set to open Monday, June 22 amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Social-distancing is the only tool we've got," State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said, noting maximum capacity will be limited to 50 percent. No pool toys such as kick-boards, snorkels or noodles will be allowed in the pool to limit the opportunity of sharing items. Everyone must stay at a safe distance both while in the water and on the pool deck, she said. Face coverings are required for those above the age of two only on the …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Walmart, Quest Labs Offer Drive-Thru COVID-19 Tests, Self-Swabs Walmart, Quest Labs Offer Drive-Thru COVID-19 Tests, Self-Swabs
Walmart, Quest Labs Offer Drive-Thru Covid-19 Tests, Self-Swabs Walmart and Quest Diagnostic labs will offer self-administered tests for coronavirus starting next week, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday. By appointment only, residents can drive-up to seven Walmart stores to be tested for COVID-19, and get results in about two days, Murphy said during an afternoon briefing. More details can be found at www.MyQuestCOVIDtest.com.  Tests will be offered at Walmart drive-thru sites in Garfield, North Bergen, Kearny, Flemington, Burlington, Howell and Mount Laurel. Walmart tests will be offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday next week, and Monday, Wednesda…

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by Jon Craig
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NJ Infant Tests Positive For Coronavirus NJ Infant Tests Positive For Coronavirus
NJ Infant Tests Positive For Coronavirus A 1-month-old boy in Atlantic County has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to media reports. The boy is the youngest of the more than 148,000 in the state to have been infected by COVID-19. Atlantic County officials didn’t disclose where the boy lives, according to NJ.com. A 4-year-old child who died earlier this month of COVID-19 related causes is the only person in New Jersey under 18 killed by the virus. That child also had other undisclosed underlying conditions. The state's youngest positive COVID-19 patient was not mentioned during Monday's daily news briefing,…

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by Jon Craig
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Officials: 18 NJ Children Suffer Rare Disease Linked To COVID-19 Officials: 18 NJ Children Suffer Rare Disease Linked To COVID-19
Officials: 18 NJ Children Suffer Rare Disease Linked To Covid-19 Eighteen New Jersey children have contracted a rare inflammatory syndrome that has suspected ties to COVID-19, state officials said. At least four of the hospitalized children under 18 also tested positive for coronavirus, New Jesrey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said at Wednesday's briefing. The 18 affected children are from nine different counties, she said. The newest seven pediatric cases were identified on Wednesday.  Systemic inflammatory response syndrome also has similarities to Kawasaki disease, Persichilli said "On the Kawasaki front, we'll have more to report as we …

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by Jon Craig
News
'Disproportionate Impact': Officials Work To Mitigate COVID-19 In NJ's Black Communities 'Disproportionate Impact': Officials Work To Mitigate COVID-19 In NJ's Black Communities
'Disproportionate Impact': Officials Work To Mitigate Covid-19 In NJ's Black Communities State officials are working to mitigate COVID-19's disproportionate impact in New Jersey's black communities. There were more than 4,000 coronavirus-related fatalities in New Jersey as of Friday evening, 22 percent of which were African Americans, NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. Gov. Phil Murphy previously noted that's more than 50 percent higher than the overall representation in the population. "Your zip code sometimes matters more than your genetic code," Persichilli said Saturday. Just over 50 percent of the state's COVID-19 fatalities were white non-hispanic, and mo…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
VIDEO: Englewood Hospital Claps Out 500th Coronavirus Patient VIDEO: Englewood Hospital Claps Out 500th Coronavirus Patient
Video: Englewood Hospital Claps Out 500th Coronavirus Patient Hundreds of Englewood Health employees gathered Friday to clap out the hospital's 500th coronavirus patient. Fabian Tasama-Gomez, 38, of Fairview, was admitted earlier this week. "It feels good to finally be able to survive this," he said Friday. "I get to see my son being born in a couple months. That's what kept me going and fighting this." "You guys are all considered heroes," Tasama-Gomez told Englewood Health employees from his wheelchair.  Broadway musician and trumpeter Domenic Derasse joined nurses, doctors, and support staff outside the hospital entrance to mark the mil…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities
NJ Coronavirus Cases Surge To 29,895, Murphy Orders Flags At Half-Mast For 646 Fatalities New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reported 113 more coronavirus-related deaths and 4,372 new cases, bringing the statewide total to 29,895 Friday. The governor ordered flags lowered to half-staff in order to honor the 646  residents killed by the virus, including Paterson-born jazz great Bucky Pizzarelli, Teaneck humanitarian Janice Preschel and Caldwell middle school principal James Brown. "This is a war," said Murphy, emphasizing the importance of social distancing.  "Wars like this are not won in one day one month or not even a few months." Of the 3,016 COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jerse…

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by Cecilia Levine
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INSIDE LOOK: Everything You Need To Know About Meadowlands Field Hospital INSIDE LOOK: Everything You Need To Know About Meadowlands Field Hospital
Inside Look: Everything You Need To Know About Meadowlands Field Hospital New Jersey's first field medical center is going up in Secaucus. The hospital coming to the Meadowlands Expo Center will have approximately 250 beds and will pull non-coronavirus patients from hospitals, NJ National Guard First Lt. Matt Finlay said. The hospital is one of four going up across New Jersey in an effort to prepare the state for the COVID-19 surge beginning this week, State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. The New Jersey National Guard's "Task Force Secaucus" is working with the state's office of emergency management, New Jersey State Police, the NJ Department of Heal…

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by Cecilia Levine
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SURGE BEGINS: New Jersey Coronavirus Cases Hit 22,255, Seven Hospitals At Capacity SURGE BEGINS: New Jersey Coronavirus Cases Hit 22,255, Seven Hospitals At Capacity
Surge Begins: New Jersey Coronavirus Cases Hit 22,255, Seven Hospitals At Capacity Another 91 deaths coronavirus deaths and more than 3,600 new cases were reported Wednesday in New Jersey, raising the statewide total to 22,255 with 355 fatalities. Another 350 ventilators were being released to New Jersey in addition to the 300 acquired Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy said at his daily briefing Wednesday afternoon. That gives the state 850 additional ventilators, although the governor said more are needed. He promised to keep pressing for the nearly 2,000 that he previously cited as necessary. North Jersey is already seeing an increasing demand on the healthca…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Murphy Details Rise In Positive NJ Coronavirus Cases, Testing Sites, PPE Murphy Details Rise In Positive NJ Coronavirus Cases, Testing Sites, PPE
Murphy Details Rise In Positive NJ Coronavirus Cases, Testing Sites, PPE An additional 69 coronavirus-related deaths brought New Jersey's overall total to 267 since the pandemic began, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday, while promoting the additions of testing sites and protective gear. Murphy reported 2,196 new COVID-19 cases, bringing New Jersey's total positive cases to 18,696.  The governor specifically mentioned two fatalities, those of Passaic firefighter Israel Tolentino, 33, and 30-year-old Cliffside Park baseball coach Ben Luderer. "Our job is to stay at home and flatten the hell out of that curve," Murphy said. "Let's prevent more losses li…

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by Jon Craig
News
25 Of Holy Name's 100 Coronavirus Patients Are On Ventilators, There Are Nine Machines Left 25 Of Holy Name's 100 Coronavirus Patients Are On Ventilators, There Are Nine Machines Left
25 Of Holy Name's 100 Coronavirus Patients Are On Ventilators, There Are Nine Machines Left Holy Name Medical Center has enough ventilators -- for now. Located at the epicenter of Bergen County's coronavirus crisis, the hospital was caring for 100 patients who either tested positive for coronavirus or were waiting for results on Wednesday night, a Holy Name spokesperson said. A quarter of those patients were on ventilators with only nine machines remaining. Patients are coming in to the hospital very sick and progressing to respiratory failure quickly, Dr. Suraj Saggar said. The hospital has other contingency plans in place that require putting more than one patient on a vent a…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Woodbridge Nursing Home Faces Final Days COVID-19: Woodbridge Nursing Home Faces Final Days
Covid-19: Woodbridge Nursing Home Faces Final Days A Woodbridge nursing home is facing closure as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said Tuesday. Residents at St. Joseph's Senior Home are being reassigned to another assisted living facility after several workers are home with influenza-like symptoms and several residents tested positive for coronavirus, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. Officials have been monitoring the facility since Friday, and working with Catholic sisters who run it for an orderly transition. The center "has cared for the our most vulnerable population in Woodbridge and surrounding ar…

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by Jon Craig
News
'Everyone Will Get Coronavirus,' NJ Health Commissioner Says 'Everyone Will Get Coronavirus,' NJ Health Commissioner Says
'Everyone Will Get Coronavirus,' NJ Health Commissioner Says Everyone will get coronavirus -- at least, that's what New Jersey Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli is saying. And she's no exception. “I’m definitely going to get it," Persichilli told NJ.com. "We all are. I’m just waiting." The 71-year-old has long worked behind the scenes but has become a household name in helping other state officials deliver daily COVID-19 briefings. Particularly, warning those in her age group that they could be most at risk. ALSO SEE: Woman Who Survived Coronavirus Shares Her Story Persichilli says she's not worried, though. She's consulted experts …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Cases Climb To 427, 2 More Dead In New Jersey COVID-19: Cases Climb To 427, 2 More Dead In New Jersey
Covid-19: Cases Climb To 427, 2 More Dead In New Jersey Two more people in New Jersey had died as a result of coronavirus as cases shot up to 427 total as of Wednesday, officials said. The new fatalities brings the statewide total to five. Both patients had underlying conditions and were over 60 years old. At least 18 of the 21 New Jersey counties had confirmed cases.  Here are the state totals: Bergen County: 114 Essex County: 45 Middlesex County: 40 Hudson County: 34 Monmouth County: 32 Union County: 26 Morris County: 19 Passaic County: 18 Somerset County: 16 Mercer County: 15 Burlington County: 10 Camden County: 8 Ocean County: 8 Hu…

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by Cecilia Levine
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'Devastating': Six Relatives Of NJ's Second Coronavirus Fatality Hospitalized 'Devastating': Six Relatives Of NJ's Second Coronavirus Fatality Hospitalized
'Devastating': Six Relatives Of NJ's Second Coronavirus Fatality Hospitalized Six relatives of a New Jersey woman who died from coronavirus have been infected with the life-threatening disease, according to news report. Rita Fusco-Jackson of Freehold taught in the religious education program at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Ballarmine. Five family members of Fusco-Jackson, the state’s second coronavirus victim, were hospitalized at Freehold’s CentraState Medical Center, where the 55-year-old woman died, her sister told NJ.com. “This has been devastating for all of us,” said Elizabeth Fusco, 42, of Freehold. “Our hearts are broken over losing our sister, Rita. We ju…

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by Jon Craig
News
'Community Spreading Is Occurring': NJ Health Commissioner Has Reassuring Advice 'Community Spreading Is Occurring': NJ Health Commissioner Has Reassuring Advice
'Community Spreading Is Occurring': NJ Health Commissioner Has Reassuring Advice The rising number of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey indicates that community transmission is occurring, state health officials said. We can help stop that -- but hand-washing alone won't be enough. According to NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, social distancing, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene all play important factors. "Over the past few days, New Jersey has seen a significant increase in cases concentrated in the northeastern part of the state," Persichilli said at a Tuesday press briefing Tuesday. While some of the 267 cases in New Jersey have been linked to pre…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Bergen County Cases Jump To 42 COVID-19: Bergen County Cases Jump To 42
Covid-19: Bergen County Cases Jump To 42 Both of New Jersey's coronavirus-related deaths have reportedly been linked. UPDATE: Murphy Announces Statewide Curfew Rita Fusco-Jackson, of Freehold, in her 50, was identified as the second fatality in New Jersey. She was being hospitalized at CentraState Medical Center. Fusco-Jackson's sibling was reportedly friends with the state's first fatality -- John Brennan, of Little Ferry -- and the virus spread through a family gathering, State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said.  Several other people at the gathering also tested positive for coronavirus. The number of presu…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ Residents: Keep Track Of Coronavirus Outbreak On This Website NJ Residents: Keep Track Of Coronavirus Outbreak On This Website
NJ Residents: Keep Track Of Coronavirus Outbreak On This Website New Jersey residents can follow the statistical spread of COVID-19 across the state via a new website created by the Department of Health. By clicking here, residents can check the known statewide total of coronavirus cases as well as a county-by-county breakdown of local cases.  Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli have been holding daily news briefings with updated numbers based on the latest test results.  Officials from Bergen County -- the hardest hit county in the state -- ordered schools closed indefinitely in all 75 districts at the close…

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by Jon Craig