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COVID-19: Nearly A Dozen Cases Reported After Non-Sanctioned Events At Morris County HS COVID-19: Nearly A Dozen Cases Reported After Non-Sanctioned Events At Morris County HS
Covid-19: Nearly A Dozen Cases Reported After Non-Sanctioned Events At Morris County HS Madison High School officials are urging caution and continued compliance with COVID-19 restrictions after 11 positive cases were confirmed this week. The cases are tied to several social gatherings that were not school sanctioned last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Madison High School Principal Davis Drechsel said in a posted Thursday to the district’s website. Contact tracing has been completed, and close contacts have been identified and placed under proper quarantine guidelines, Drechsel said. “Moving forward, I urge everyone to recommit themselves to the behavior that is required to k…

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by Valerie Musson
News
First Case Of More Contagious Coronavirus Variant Detected In Pennsylvania First Case Of More Contagious Coronavirus Variant Detected In Pennsylvania
First Case Of More Contagious Coronavirus Variant Detected In Pennsylvania The first case of a more contagious strain of COVID-19 has been detected in Pennsylvania, officials said Thursday morning. The case is reported to have come from an individual from Dauphin County, who was exposed through international contact, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. The individual had mild symptoms, which have since been resolved while they completed their isolation at home, officials say. "Pennsylvania has been preparing for this variant by working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has been sending 10-35 random sam…

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by Nicole Acosta
News
COVID-19: Warren County School District Goes Fully Remote After 6 Cases In 24 Hours COVID-19: Warren County School District Goes Fully Remote After 6 Cases In 24 Hours
Covid-19: Warren County School District Goes Fully Remote After 6 Cases In 24 Hours One Warren County school district has shifted to fully remote learning after identifying six positive cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours, officials said. Students and staff at the Warren Hills Regional School District in Washington will participate in fully remote learning as of Friday, Dec. 11, Superintendent Earl C. Clymer, III said in an announcement. “Over the past 24 hours, we have been notified of 6 confirmed positive cases and following a comprehensive and thorough review of the criteria above, contact tracing and due to circumstances beyond our control, we will no longer be able to m…

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by Valerie Musson
News
COVID-19: Remainder Of Hackettstown High School Football Season Canceled COVID-19: Remainder Of Hackettstown High School Football Season Canceled
Covid-19: Remainder Of Hackettstown High School Football Season Canceled The remainder of Hackettstown High School's football season has been cancelled after an additional student tested positive for COVID-19. The school had been closed with students participating in all-virtual classes for the next two weeks. Staff members have the option to return to the building to teach virtually on Nov. 2, while Hackettstown Middle Schoolers will return to class Nov. 9. Meanwhile, the Warren County Health Department is reviewing whether or not it’s safe to continue other fall sports, according to the announcement posted Wednesday to the town’s website. The department will …

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by Valerie Musson
Schools
COVID-19: Morris County Regional District Reports 1 Case In Each High School COVID-19: Morris County Regional District Reports 1 Case In Each High School
Covid-19: Morris County Regional District Reports 1 Case In Each High School A Morris County regional school district will remain open with hybrid learning in place after two COVID-19 cases were reported. One case each was reported at Morris Knolls High School and Morris Hills High School, and are not connected, according to a letter sent by Morris hills Regional Superintendent James Jencarelli Friday night. Public health officials in Rockaway and Denville -- the students' hometowns -- are monitoring the cases closely, Jancarelli said. Contact tracing is expected to continue in the next few days. Several other schools in Morris County have reported positive COVID-…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
COVID-19: Positive Case Closes Sussex County Elementary School COVID-19: Positive Case Closes Sussex County Elementary School
Covid-19: Positive Case Closes Sussex County Elementary School A Sussex County elementary school will be closed for two weeks with students learning remotely after a COVID-19 test from an individual at the school came back positive. The Clifton E. Lawrence School was closed Monday and Tuesday after the individual tested positive on a rapid test, Sussex-Wantage Regional School District Superintendent Michael Gall said. The official results returned positive, and so students were switched to remote learning on Oct. 19 for Cohort A and Oct. 20 for Cohort B. The case is associated with someone from outside fo the school community, the superintendent said.…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Murphy: Everyone At President Trump's NJ Fundraiser Should Get COVID-19 Test, Quarantine Murphy: Everyone At President Trump's NJ Fundraiser Should Get COVID-19 Test, Quarantine
Murphy: Everyone At President Trump's NJ Fundraiser Should Get Covid-19 Test, Quarantine After word of President Trump's positive COVID-19 test results, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that everyone at his Thursday fundraiser in New Jersey should be tested. The fundraising event was at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County just hours before Trump tested positive for coronavirus. As many as 300 people attended the Trump event, according to NJ Advance Media. New Jersey's governor announced that contact tracing to gauge the extent of COVID-19 exposure was underway. In a tweet on Friday, Murphy also asked everyone who attended the event in Bedminster to self-quarantine. Thursda…

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by Jon Craig
Schools
COVID-19: Passaic County High School Reports 4 Cases COVID-19: Passaic County High School Reports 4 Cases
Covid-19: Passaic County High School Reports 4 Cases A high school in Passaic County temporarily switched to remote learning after four COVID-19 cases were reported. Three students and one staff member of Pompton Lakes High School tested positive, Mayor Michael Serra said in a Facebook post. This brings the total number of cases in Pompton Lakes to 255, Serra said. "The student cases seem to be related to an outside of school event where all the children were together," the mayor said. "All individuals are isolating at home and, thankfully, all feeling fine." The students' exposure likely occurred over Labor Day Weekend, according to S…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
COVID-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash COVID-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash
Covid-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash The number of coronavirus cases linked to a Morris County Labor Day party has nearly doubled, township officials said. At least eight confirmed COVID-19 cases are linked to the Chatham Borough party, and as of Wednesday, another nine new cases in the Chathams were confirmed, Township Mayor Michael Kelly said. The new cases brought the six-day total to 21, he said.  Chatham high schoolers were switched to remote learning after 12 of them had tested positive for the virus. It was unclear exactly how many of the new cases reported Wednesday were students. The high school went all-r…

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by Valerie Musson
News
COVID-19: Morris County Elementary School Reports Positive Case COVID-19: Morris County Elementary School Reports Positive Case
Covid-19: Morris County Elementary School Reports Positive Case One of the seven elementary schools in the Morris school district reported a positive COVID-19 case, less than one week after classes started. District officials did not reveal whether the case at Hillcrest Elementary School came from a student, staff or faculty member. The individual had not been in school since Sept. 9, the district website said. Health investigations and contact tracing determined that the person who tested positive did not pick the virus up at the elementary school nor any other Morris School District building. Teachers in two Bergen County school districts and nearly…

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by Valerie Musson
Schools
COVID-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash COVID-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash
Covid-19: Numbers Continue To Climb In Morris County Area Following Labor Day Bash The number of coronavirus cases linked to a Morris County Labor Day party has nearly doubled, township officials said. At least eight confirmed COVID-19 cases are linked to the Chatham Borough party, and as of Wednesday, another nine new cases in the Chathams were confirmed, Township Mayor Michael Kelly said. The new cases brought the six-day total to 21, he said. Chatham high schoolers were switched to remote learning after 12 of them had tested positive for the virus. It was unclear exactly how many of the new cases reported Wednesday were students. The high school went all-remote foll…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Chatham HS Students Back To Hybrid Learning Chatham HS Students Back To Hybrid Learning
Chatham HS Students Back To Hybrid Learning Students at Chatham High School will return to the classroom for hybrid learning starting Monday, days after officials had switched to a fully-remote plan when a positive COVID-19 case was identified. The school was closed Thursday and Friday after Superintendent Michael LaSusa became aware of the case on Wednesday evening. A letter sent to the school community Thursday stated that health officials are carrying out contact tracing protocols to identify others who may have been exposed to the virus, DailyRecord reports. “I have now had the opportunity to confer at length with our Department…

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by Valerie Musson
News
NEW RULES: CDC Now Says Exposed Healthy People 'Don’t Necessarily' Need COVID Test NEW RULES: CDC Now Says Exposed Healthy People 'Don’t Necessarily' Need COVID Test
NEW Rules: CDC Now Says Exposed Healthy People 'Don’t Necessarily' Need COVID Test Healthy people who’ve been exposed to COVID-19 “do not necessarily need a test” if they don’t have symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control said this week, reversing a previous recommendation. The CDC previously urged testing for anyone who'd come into close contact with an infected COVID patient, whether or not they themselves had symptoms. The centers now says that most healthy people should be tested if they develop symptoms following an exposure – among them, fever, cough or shortness of breath -- but not necessarily if they don't. Some experts agree with the new guidelines, although …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Here's How New Jersey's COVID-19 Contact Tracing System Will Work Here's How New Jersey's COVID-19 Contact Tracing System Will Work
Here's How New Jersey's Covid-19 Contact Tracing System Will Work The roles of contact tracers are taking on a new urgency as New Jersey gears up to enter Stage 2 of its economic restart and recovery next week. "It's not a question of whether or not the virus comes back," Murphy said, "but what are we going to do for it? And contact tracing is a huge element in our preparedness." There are already 900 contact tracers working across New Jersey -- and 1600 more will soon be joining them, Gov. Phil Murphy said at Wednesday's briefing. Contact tracing, along with hand-washing, mask-wearing, testing and social distancing, "are our only protections" from COVID…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus
Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus Better late than never. Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife were tested for exposure to coronavirus on Wednesday. Murphy has been urging the public to get tested for weeks, saying it's "one of our only protections," along with hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and contact tracing. "Tammy and I got tested this morning.," Murphy said at an afternoon news conference. Murphy said it's his third test for coronavirus since the outbreak began. It typically takes up to two days to get the test results. The first positive test for COVID-19 was on March 4 -- 99 days ago. In that time,&…

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by Jon Craig
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
Pool Rules: NJ Releases Guidelines For Swim Clubs Pool Rules: NJ Releases Guidelines For Swim Clubs
Pool Rules: NJ Releases Guidelines For Swim Clubs New Jersey officials released a set of rules for public and private swim clubs, which are set to open Monday, June 22. Maximum capacity will be limited to 50 percent, State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said, suggesting a pass system or a reduction of hours. 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 pool deck, Persichilli said.  Masks are not to be worn in the water, and lifeguards also are not allowed to wear cloth face coverings, she said. Here are …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Murphy Announces Dates For Stage 2 Of New Jersey's Reopening; More On Gyms, Bars To Come Murphy Announces Dates For Stage 2 Of New Jersey's Reopening; More On Gyms, Bars To Come
Murphy Announces Dates For Stage 2 Of New Jersey's Reopening; More On Gyms, Bars To Come New Jersey is gearing up to enter the second stage of its economic restart and recovery following the COVID-19 lockdown, officials said Monday. Beginning Monday, June 15, nonessential retail stores and outdoor dining can reopen, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Salons and barbershops will reopen on Monday, June 22. Gyms and health clubs, also included in Stage 2, will be the next to reopen at reduced capacity, with a hard date to come. Stage 3 includes expanded dining, critical in-office work, limited entertainment, expanded personal care, bars with limited capacity, expanded gyms with rest…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19 SCAM ALERT: Contact Tracer Or Con Artist? Here's How To Tell COVID-19 SCAM ALERT: Contact Tracer Or Con Artist? Here's How To Tell
Covid-19 Scam ALERT: Contact Tracer Or Con Artist? Here's How To Tell In case you haven’t already heard, identity thieves have been texting people pretending to be coronavirus contact tracers in order to steal their money. Contact tracers are hired by public health departments to get hold of people who’ve had close contact with those who've tested positive for COVID-19. The goal is to warn those people to self-quarantine, and monitor their systems daily, in case they may have been infected themselves. Contract tracing has helped curb the spread of COVID-19. But, as with any public emergency, it’s also become a popular tool for scammers looking to take y…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Politics
Freeholder Calls Paterson Mayor ‘Punk,’ ‘Slimy Coward’ After National TV Interview Freeholder Calls Paterson Mayor ‘Punk,’ ‘Slimy Coward’ After National TV Interview
Freeholder Calls Paterson Mayor ‘Punk,’ ‘Slimy Coward’ After National TV Interview Passaic County Freeholder Theodore Best called Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh a “slimy coward” and “a punk” in a Facebook post Thursday night following a nationally televised interview the mayor gave MSNBC about the city’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Although initial projections were that 8,000 Paterson residents would contract COVID-19 by April 15, the actual number on that date over a month ago was about 2,500, Sayegh said, praising the work of city health officials and contact tracers. “It could have been far worse,” Sayegh said during an MSNBC interview segment with Chris Hayes …

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by Jerry DeMarco
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
News
Charter Fishing, Boat Rentals OK'd By Murphy In Next Phase Of NJ Reopening Charter Fishing, Boat Rentals OK'd By Murphy In Next Phase Of NJ Reopening
Charter Fishing, Boat Rentals OK'd By Murphy In Next Phase Of NJ Reopening Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday announced the signing of a new executive order allowing charter fishing and boats rentals in New Jersey. The nonessential rental companies had been closed until now to stop the spread of coronavirus. “Even with social distancing, we’re confident everyone can have a safe and memorable summer,” Murphy said. The companies will keep a log of customers to help with contact tracing if need be. Charter boats and rental businesses must observe social distancing rules and accept online or telephone payment to limit human contact. Murphy earlier this week announce …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Health Officials: Paterson Coronavirus Patients Not Sharing Contact Info Put City At Risk Health Officials: Paterson Coronavirus Patients Not Sharing Contact Info Put City At Risk
Health Officials: Paterson Coronavirus Patients Not Sharing Contact Info Put City At Risk Some Paterson residents who've tested positive for the coronavirus aren't sharing their close-contact information, putting their loved ones and others at risk, city health officials warned.  "This is becoming a disturbing trend," Mayor Andre Sayegh said through a spokeswoman on Wednesday. "The result will be an increasing number of household contacts getting infected and spreading the disease within the city and elsewhere." The numbers of people infected with COVID-19 could increase dramatically if those who have the virus and those who have close contact with them aren't isolated…

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by Jerry DeMarco