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Coronavirus

Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police
Suspect 'Zoom-Bombed' High School Student's Virtual Memorial Service: Police A suspect has been identified and charged in a Zoom attack on a virtual memorial service for a South Brunswick High School student, authorities said. The memorial service was being held for 17-year-old Emily Murillo who tragically died in January 2021, according to South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka. Due to the coronavirus, the memorial service was broadcasted virtually.  During the service, an unknown person entered the Zoom and threatened to blow up the funeral home and make the casket turn to ashes. The suspect is a juvenile from North Jersey. “It was unspeakable …
Yacht Company CEO Defeats Gym Owner Who Defied NJ COVID Rules In Congressional Primary Yacht Company CEO Defeats Gym Owner Who Defied NJ COVID Rules In Congressional Primary
Yacht Company CEO Defeats Gym Owner Who Defied NJ COVID Rules In Congressional Primary A South Jersey yacht company owner and former punk rocker defeated the gym owner who defied New Jersey coronavirus mandates in Tuesday's congressional primary, according to unofficial returns. Businessman Bob Healey was leading Ian Smith for the Republican Pary ballot line. The winner faces two-term Democratic incumbent Congressman Andy Kim, who also won his primary race.  Smith, who co-owns Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, faced an uphill battle amid publicity about his COVID rule defiance and a DUI arrest years after a fatal crash.  Kim, a two-term US representative, is still considered…
Ocean County Sheriff's Officer Died Of COViD-19 Contracted On Job: Union Ocean County Sheriff's Officer Died Of COViD-19 Contracted On Job: Union
Ocean County Sheriff's Officer Died Of COViD-19 Contracted On Job: Union It is with great sadness that we announce our first line of duty death, members of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department said. Sergeant Matthew Horton, 40, passed on Tuesday, Feb. 22, after a long battle with coronavirus he contracted while on duty, the Ocean County Sheriff's PBA Local #379 announced on Facebook.  "Sergeant Horton was a true gentleman and man of God," the post read. He was the first commander of the department's Rapid Deployment Team and served in our Judicial, Field Services and Professional Standards Unit. "He is survived by his wife and four boys who will no doubt…
Substitute Teacher Pay Rate Doubles Amid COVID Driven Staffing Shortages In This NJ District Substitute Teacher Pay Rate Doubles Amid COVID Driven Staffing Shortages In This NJ District
Substitute Teacher Pay Rate Doubles Amid COVID Driven Staffing Shortages In This NJ District Substitute teaching pay has more than doubled in a South Jersey school district this year due to staff shortages, NJ Advance Media repotted, citing school sources. When the Bridgeton school year began in September, subs were making just $90, the outlet said. Then, the daily pay rate for subs increased to $135 a day. The Bridgeton School Board recently voted to raise the daily pay rate for subs even higher: $200. Bridgeton High School closed on Dec. 10 due to not having enough substitutes to fill in for teachers who called out that day, among many schools plagued by the coronavirus, NJ…
COVID-19 Cases Surge In NJ Schools As Omicron Presents New Threat COVID-19 Cases Surge In NJ Schools As Omicron Presents New Threat
Covid-19 Cases Surge In NJ Schools As Omicron Presents New Threat New Jersey schools could quickly have to change plans this winter as COVID-19 cases surge among students and staff to the highest levels seen since September, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. For the week ending Nov. 28, schools reported 3,024 new positive cases among students and 858 new positive cases reported among teachers and school staff. That is 2.66 cases among every 1,000 students and 4.41 cases among every 1,000 school staff members. Bergen County has the highest number of new cases of students infected with COVID-19 (319). Cape May has the lowest number of reported n…
Chris Rock Says He's Got COVID-19: 'Trust Me You Don't Want This' Chris Rock Says He's Got COVID-19: 'Trust Me You Don't Want This'
Chris Rock Says He's Got Covid-19: 'Trust Me You Don't Want This' Chris Rock became the latest celebrity to announce that he has the coronavirus -- and after being vaccinated. “Hey guys I just found out I have COVID," Rock tweeted Sunday. "[T]rust me you don’t want this," he added. "Get vaccinated.” Rock, 56, who has a home in Alpine, joked with Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" in May that he'd skipped the line to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “I didn’t care. I used my celebrity, Jimmy," he said. "I didn’t care. I was like, ‘Hey, step aside, Betty White. Step aside, old people. Judge Judy, kiss my ass.' I was like Billy Zane on the Titanic.” Rock's infec…
Jersey Shore Company Faces $13.7K OSHA Fine After Employed Couple's COVID Death, Agency Says Jersey Shore Company Faces $13.7K OSHA Fine After Employed Couple's COVID Death, Agency Says
Jersey Shore Company Faces $13.7K Osha Fine After Employed Couple's COVID Death, Agency Says The US Department of Labor says it may fine a Central Jersey company up to $13,653 for coronavirus violations in its workplace. On Tuesday, the labor department's Occupational Health and Safety Administration cited a pharmaceutical and, biotech manufacturer from Eatontown.  The company failed to protect dozens of employees from COVID-19 at its  Monmouth County facility, OSHA said in a news statement. A husband and his wife died after contracting the virus last fall,  OSHA said.  At least two other workers were hospitalized and at least 30 workers tested positive for COVID, the federal ag…
COVID-19: Pfizer Nearing Release Of Vaccine For Children Ages 12 -15, FDA Says COVID-19: Pfizer Nearing Release Of Vaccine For Children Ages 12 -15, FDA Says
Covid-19: Pfizer Nearing Release Of Vaccine For Children Ages 12 -15, FDA Says The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could authorize Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 as early as next week, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing federal officials.  The timing could not be better for school districts that are resuming in-person instruction and hoping for a full return to normalcy next fall.  Vaccinating children is also a crucial element in achieving heard immunity and decreasing numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, The Times says.  While NJ, NY and CT positive rates have been dropping, other states including Pen…
Central Jersey School Board President, Bus Driver, 51, Dies Of Coronavirus Central Jersey School Board President, Bus Driver, 51, Dies Of Coronavirus
Central Jersey School Board President, Bus Driver, 51, Dies Of Coronavirus A Central Jersey school board president and substitute bus driver has died of coronavirus after a month-long battle. Ann Marie Panzarelli, 51, of Keyport is remembered as a dedicated public servant who took on many tasks for several organizations, according to Keyport Mayor Collette Kennedy. “Mrs. Panzarelli dedicated countless hours of her time and we as a community as a whole are better because of all that she did,” Kennedy said in a statement. Panzarelli served for 10 years on the Keyport Board of Education and was president of the board at the time of her death. The married mother of …
COVID-19: Central Jersey High School Athletes Test Positive, Teachers' Union Says COVID-19: Central Jersey High School Athletes Test Positive, Teachers' Union Says
Covid-19: Central Jersey High School Athletes Test Positive, Teachers' Union Says Several athletes from a high school in Middlesex County have tested positive for coronavirus, according to teachers' union leaders. The high school remains open for instruction, officials said. Some of the students are on hybrid or virtual instruction, but sports practices are still held daily in the school. There was no immediate comment or details from school district administrators. Sayreville reported that the total number of confirmed COVID-positive cases in the borough recently reached 2,930 since the pandemic began in early March 2020.  As of the morning of Jan. 18, there…
First Fort Dix Federal Inmate Death From COVID-19 Reported First Fort Dix Federal Inmate Death From COVID-19 Reported
First Fort Dix Federal Inmate Death From Covid-19 Reported An inmate who was placed in isolation at the Fort Dix federal prison after testing positive for COVID-19 last month died on Friday, authorities said. Myron Crosby, 58, was the first of more than 1,400 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Burlington County who were diagnosed with the virus to die, U.S. Bureau of Prisons records show. He’d been serving a 14-year federal sentence at the low-security facility since Sept. 17, 2019 on a conviction out of Maine for having and conspiring to sell heroin, the Department of Justice said in a release. Crosby -- who had long-term, …
COVID-19: Pennsylvania Averages Record 5,000 Hospitalizations Daily COVID-19: Pennsylvania Averages Record 5,000 Hospitalizations Daily
Covid-19: Pennsylvania Averages Record 5,000 Hospitalizations Daily Nearly 6,000 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Pennsylvania, which has seen record levels of cases across the state this past week, authorities said. . The Keystone State has averaged more than 5,000 patients in the hospital every day during the past week due to COVID-19, state officials said on Tuesday. That's an all-time high for the state since the coronavirus epidemic arrived in  In fact, it's nearly double the state's last peak in spring, officials said. It also coincides with the nation's peak for hospitalizations which was recorded on Monday, according to The Hill.  A total of…
Protestor Taken Into Custody In Brief Clash Outside Bergen County Jail Protestor Taken Into Custody In Brief Clash Outside Bergen County Jail
Protestor Taken Into Custody In Brief Clash Outside Bergen County Jail Bergen County sheriff's officers took a protestor from Teaneck into custody during a brief flareup outside the county jail on Friday. A video posted on Instagram begins with Niko Sanabria-John, 25, straddling a barricade shortly after 3 p.m. An officer and then another grab his arm and try to pull Sanabria-John onto their side as a group grabs their fellow protestor and pull him back. A struggle ensues, the Instagram video shows. "He was told to come down off the barricade," Sheriff Anthony Cureton said. "He refused after numerous instructions." ****** ALSO SEE: Surveillance video show…
Vandals Paint Graffiti At Home Of Bergen Sheriff Amid ICE Protests Vandals Paint Graffiti At Home Of Bergen Sheriff Amid ICE Protests
Vandals Paint Graffiti At Home Of Bergen Sheriff Amid ICE Protests Support for a group of ICE detainees participating in a hunger strike at the Bergen County Jail got personal when someone spray-painted graffiti at Sheriff Anthony Cureton’s home. “FREE THEM ALL.” was written in block letters below which spatters of red paint ran down a garage door, on an outdoor trash can and along part of the driveway of the sheriff's home in Englewood. The vandals struck sometime after 9 p.m. Tuesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said, while seeking the public's help finding those responsible. The attack follows protests the past week at the county jail run by …
Ruby Tuesday's Another Victim Of Coronavirus Ruby Tuesday's Another Victim Of Coronavirus
Ruby Tuesday's Another Victim Of Coronavirus First bankruptcy, then coronavirus. Ruby Tuesday's is the latest restaurant chain to close more restaurants in New Jersey. The company confirmed it recently closed its restaurants in Toms River and Eatontown. The Toms River restaurant was located at 1311 Route 37 W., off of Route 9. The Eatontown restaurant was located at Monmouth Mall on Route 35. There are now four Ruby Tuesday restaurants remaining in New Jersey: Elizabeth, Mount Laurel, Somerset and at Newark International Airport. In May, Ruby Tuesday closed its Freehold, Neptune and Lakewood restaurants, After filing for bankruptcy…
COVID-19: Virus Spreads To 100 Hospital Workers On Jersey Shore COVID-19: Virus Spreads To 100 Hospital Workers On Jersey Shore
Covid-19: Virus Spreads To 100 Hospital Workers On Jersey Shore Coronavirus has spread to at least 100 workers from Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township, officials said.  A memo posted on the hospital parent company’s website on Monday attributed the recent outbreak to “colleagues socializing outside of work.” The memo has since been removed. Benjamin Goldstein, a spokesman for.Hackensack Meridian Health, which owns the 318-bed hospital in Ocean County, said in a statement that  visits with patients have been suspended with the exception of labor and delivery, end-of-life care, pediatrics and adult patients with special needs,  “We con…
NJ’s 1st Social-Distanced Verdict: Philly Man Convicted Of Stealing $17G In Unemployment Checks NJ’s 1st Social-Distanced Verdict: Philly Man Convicted Of Stealing $17G In Unemployment Checks
NJ’s 1st Social-Distanced Verdict: Philly Man Convicted Of Stealing $17G In Unemployment Checks A socially-distanced jury in Trenton convicted a Philadelphia man of conspiring with a state worker to steal $17,206 worth of unemployment checks. The conviction of Phillip Stewart III, 39, was the first verdict obtained by the state Division of Criminal Justice in a socially distanced jury trial during the COVID-19 pandemic, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Tuesday. Participants in the trial wore face masks “to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and maximize safety,” Grewal said. “There were plexiglass barriers between each juror in the jury box …
COVID-19: Central Jersey School District Reports 23 New Coronavirus Cases COVID-19: Central Jersey School District Reports 23 New Coronavirus Cases
Covid-19: Central Jersey School District Reports 23 New Coronavirus Cases A Central Jersey school district has reported at least 23 new positive coronavirus cases in the past two weeks, officials said. The outbreak has prompted one school within the Middletown Township Public Schools to return to "all-remote" instruction, the district announced in a note to parents. Thompson Middle School, which has suffered nearly one-third of the district's new COVID-19 cases, returned to all-remote learning on Monday due to seven new positive cases, school district officials said. Thompson M.S. will remain closed to students and staff through Nov. 18, school officials said.&nb…
Booker On COVID-19: Mitch McConnell Poses Greatest Obstacle In 'Getting Crisis Under Control' Booker On COVID-19: Mitch McConnell Poses Greatest Obstacle In 'Getting Crisis Under Control'
Booker On Covid-19: Mitch McConnell Poses Greatest Obstacle In 'Getting Crisis Under Control' With coronavirus cases rising dramatically nationwide, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said the time is now "to get this crisis under control." "We cannot wait. We must do something now," Booker said during a daily COVID-19 briefing in Trenton on Monday. "It deserves a big response."  The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain at odds over what should b included in the next stimulus relief bill, recent news reports say. Booker said he will call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, to take major action before President-elect Joe Biden assumes office in Janua…
Murphy: 2nd COVID Wave Is Here Murphy: 2nd COVID Wave Is Here
Murphy: 2nd COVID Wave Is Here New Jersey's second COVID-19 wave is here. That's what Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday, urging residents to "double down" on the practices that helped flatten the curve last spring: Stay six feet apart. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Cases and new hospital patients have been on the rise in New Jersey in the last several weeks. Thursday marked the 12th day in a row that more than 1,000 new cases were reported. Murphy reported 1,477 new cases, along with deaths in the past 10 days The recent outbreaks were largely due to small gatherings in homes, the governor said. Dozens of New Jersey scho…
COVID-19 Closes 6 Of New Jersey's MVC Offices, 7th Shuts For Construction COVID-19 Closes 6 Of New Jersey's MVC Offices, 7th Shuts For Construction
Covid-19 Closes 6 Of New Jersey's MVC Offices, 7th Shuts For Construction Coronavirus closed six of New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission agencies. Wayne's regional center would be closed Thursday through Saturday for construction. The following six centers were closed after an employee tested positive: Springfield Vehicle Center: Closed until Oct. 16 Delanco Licensing Center: Closed until Oct. 24 Eatontown Regional/Licensing Center: Closed until Oct. 24. The road test operations in a separate facility is open for appointments Paterson Licensing Center: Closed until Oct. 16 North Bergen Licensing Center: Closed until Oct. 20 Newark Regional Licensing Center: Cl…
UPDATE: Lakewood DPW Will Sanitize Howell Parks After New COVID Wave UPDATE: Lakewood DPW Will Sanitize Howell Parks After New COVID Wave
Update: Lakewood DPW Will Sanitize Howell Parks After New COVID Wave UPDATED: An uptick in coronavirus temporarily closed public parks and ballfields in one Monmouth County township. But the Lakewood Department of Public Works has offered to come to the rescue and sanitize parks in Howell, reversing its previous park closure announcement. Howell Township's Office of Emergency Management announced on Tuesday that all parks are ordered closed immediately. "This is due to the recent uptick in COVID cases combined with the large number of complaints being received that the parks are filled to capacity, with users not social distancing and with most in…
COVID-19: Middletown School District Reports Another Positive Case, At New Monmouth Elementary COVID-19: Middletown School District Reports Another Positive Case, At New Monmouth Elementary
Covid-19: Middletown School District Reports Another Positive Case, At New Monmouth Elementary The second positive case of coronavirus at a Middletown Township elementary school was reported on Sunday, officials announced. New Monmouth Elementary School returned to all-virtual learning on Monday for at least three days, the school district announced. In a school district note to parents, and on Twitter, Middletown Superintendent Mary Ellen Walker the latest elementary school case. "Please be advised that an individual in New Monmouth Elementary School has tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is the second laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Monmouth…
Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner
Man Charged In Fatal Biker Night Assault At Controversial NJ Diner A 54-year-old man was being held in the Ocean County Jail in connection with Wednesday night's fatal assault at a popular Jersey Shore diner that left another dead. Robert Clarke, 78, was airlifted to an area hospital after the 7:30 p.m. incident at the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Edward Charles Chandler was charged with aggravated assault, which is expected to be upgraded to murder, Billhimer told the Asbury Park Press. The prosecutor did not release further details. Clark's son, Shawn Clarke, told the APP that his father was remo…
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…
COVID-19: Murphy Extends NJ's Health Emergency Another 30 Days COVID-19: Murphy Extends NJ's Health Emergency Another 30 Days
Covid-19: Murphy Extends NJ's Health Emergency Another 30 Days Gov. Phil Murphy has extended New Jersey's public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic another 30 days, for the 7th time since March. If not extended by the governor, the emergency declaration expires. The extension does not reverse any reopening steps, rather, keeps executive orders in place. “As we have mentioned before, today’s action means that we continue to be vigilant and prepared, and ready to act should there be a new outbreak,” Murphy said Friday during the most recent coronavirus briefing.  “It also continues the authority of the Department of Health to coordinate…
NJ Lawmakers Approve Early Prison Releases For Thousands Of Inmates, It's Up To Murphy Now NJ Lawmakers Approve Early Prison Releases For Thousands Of Inmates, It's Up To Murphy Now
NJ Lawmakers Approve Early Prison Releases For Thousands Of Inmates, It's Up To Murphy Now It’s now up to Gov. Phil Murphy whether thousands of New Jersey inmates will soon be freed early from state prisons following approval of the move Thursday by the state Assembly. The state Senate, which had already approved a broader version, rubber-stamped the more limited bill that passed the Legislature’s other house. Murphy has said he’ll sign the measure into law. Early releases could begin a little over two weeks after that. Initial estimates are that 2,500 to 3,000 inmates whose prison sentences end within the next 12 months could be granted early release – nearly 20% of the current…
NJ Casinos, Racetracks Score Nationwide Sports Betting Record NJ Casinos, Racetracks Score Nationwide Sports Betting Record
NJ Casinos, Racetracks Score Nationwide Sports Betting Record New Jersey sports gamblers bet a nationwide record $668 million last month, officials said. That smashed the previous one-month record of $614 million bet in Nevada in November 2019, according to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement. The Garden State's previous one-month record for sports betting was $562 million set in November 2019. August was the first full month of professional baseball this year, and gamblers also had hockey and basketball playoffs to bet on. Casinos were closed earlier this year due to coronavirus, and were capped at 25% capacity. Even so, internet gambling at r…
COVID-19: Possible Outbreak Among Lakewood Police Linked To Funeral Of 23-Year-Old Officer COVID-19: Possible Outbreak Among Lakewood Police Linked To Funeral Of 23-Year-Old Officer
Covid-19: Possible Outbreak Among Lakewood Police Linked To Funeral Of 23-Year-Old Officer Several Lakewood police officers are self-quarantining after attending a fellow officer's funeral where they came in contact with a case of coronavirus, authorities said. The department learned of the positive test late Monday afternoon and has asked officers to quarantine as a precaution, a spokesman for Lakewood Police told NJ Advance Media. Lakewood Police Captain Gregory Staffordsmith said that none of the quarantined officers have tested positive, and that they will continue to be monitored. Officer Nicklas Shimonovich, 23, died in an off-duty motorcycle crash in his hometow…
COVID-19: Four Jersey Shore Schools Close After Students Test Positive COVID-19: Four Jersey Shore Schools Close After Students Test Positive
Covid-19: Four Jersey Shore Schools Close After Students Test Positive Positive coronavirus cases prompted two Central Jersey districts to close schools Thursday. A student at a Little Silver school Monmouth County tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing officials to move students to remote teaching from home after two days of in-person classes. Little Silver's closure order was limited to part of Markham Place School's sixth grade. A freshman at the East Brunswick campus of Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools also tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the entire school district to switch to all-remote learning for at least two wee…
Cuomo: Indoor Dining Returning To NYC Restaurants, Customer Snitch Line Created Cuomo: Indoor Dining Returning To NYC Restaurants, Customer Snitch Line Created
Cuomo: Indoor Dining Returning To NYC Restaurants, Customer Snitch Line Created Indoor dining resumes in New York City restaurants in three weeks, but at 25% capacity, with a bunch of restrictions and with an army of enforcement inspectors poking around. Stool pigeons also will be welcomed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. Restaurants that want to open at 25% capacity on Sept. 30 must follow a strict set of rules, the governor said: Temperature checks at the door for all customers: Someone at each table will be required to provide contact information for tracing if needed (phone number, email, etc.); No customer service at the bars, only at seats; Tables must be…