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Drive Right Up: Bergen's Public Coronavirus Testing Site Has Tests To Spare Drive Right Up: Bergen's Public Coronavirus Testing Site Has Tests To Spare
Drive Right Up: Bergen's Public Coronavirus Testing Site Has Tests To Spare You don't have to be showing symptoms and won't be waiting in line for hours to be tested for coronavirus in New Jersey anymore. In fact, the Bergen Community College site has tests to spare at the end of each day.  It's a stark contrast to where things were two months ago, when people were sleeping in their cars overnight hoping they'd be one of the lucky 500 to be tested. Many people were turned away within hours as the site reached capacity within hours of opening. As of 10:30 a.m. Friday, there was no line at BCC -- and still hundreds of tests available.  The BCC site -- alo…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
HERO: North Jersey Nurse Contracted Coronavirus While Working Long Hours During Pandemic HERO: North Jersey Nurse Contracted Coronavirus While Working Long Hours During Pandemic
Hero: North Jersey Nurse Contracted Coronavirus While Working Long Hours During Pandemic A nurse who died of coronavirus over the weekend is being remembered for his dedication to both his family and his trade. Felicisimo Omaña Luna Jr., 62, had been working at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth when he contracted the virus. His daughter Gabrielle, also a nurse, cared for him while he was sick. "He was one of our front-line heroes at Trinitas Regional Medical Center," said Gov. Phil Murphy during Monday's COVID-19 briefing. "We thank him for his years of service to the people in his care." Born and raised in the Philippines, Luna came to the U.S. in 1986. He began …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ's State-Run Coronavirus Testing Sites Expand To Residents Without Symptoms NJ's State-Run Coronavirus Testing Sites Expand To Residents Without Symptoms
NJ's State-Run Coronavirus Testing Sites Expand To Residents Without Symptoms New Jersey's two state-run coronavirus testing sites will soon allow residents without symptoms to be tested, state officials said. The sites at Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel Township will provide tests to certain "asymptomatic" state residents, Gov. Phil Murphy said during Friday's COVID-19 briefing. Residents looking to be tested should contact a health-care provider who agrees they should get the test to keep demand lower, Murphy said.  "By expanding our testing capability, we can build confidence,'' Murphy said. "We're making huge progress, but we're …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Saddle Brook Adds 2 Needed Police Officers To Force Saddle Brook Adds 2 Needed Police Officers To Force
Saddle Brook Adds 2 Needed Police Officers To Force Saddle Brook officially added two desperately needed police officers to its depleted force on Tuesday. Both Frank Giordano and Lawrence DiBello Jr. were promoted from special police officer/dispatchers to full-fledged patrol officers in a decidedly low-key proceeding at Township Hall in which everyone wore protective masks and the officers also wore gloves. Everyone also kept a safe distance from one another -- including Mayor Robert White, who swore in the officers. Coronavirus quarantines combined with the recent death of an officer, two recent retirements, injuries and an officer on fa…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey COVID-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey
Covid-19: Here's Where You Can Get Tested In North Jersey As expected, the number of coronavirus cases has increased with the opening of testing sites across New Jersey. And that number is only going to increase, Gov. Phil Murphy said. "As the testing regime expands, we’re going to see these numbers go up in a big way," he said. "We are getting a clearer and better sense of how far the coronavirus has already spread.” Here's a list of coronavirus testing sites in New Jersey: Officials are urging New Jersey residents to keep these testing sites open to those who need it saying that if you feel okay, stay home and rest.  You'll need state ID…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
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
Lifestyle
TRUE HERO: Gulf War Vet, Park Ridge Cop-Turned-Nurse Fights Coronavirus In Second Career Battle TRUE HERO: Gulf War Vet, Park Ridge Cop-Turned-Nurse Fights Coronavirus In Second Career Battle
True Hero: Gulf War Vet, Park Ridge Cop-Turned-Nurse Fights Coronavirus In Second Career Battle A former Park Ridge police officer is on the front lines of the coronavirus war just three months into his new career, armed with new expertise.  After retiring from law enforcement after 25 years, Laughton recently started a new career in nursing with a 2019 degree from Bergen Community College. Lisa Catalano Cifalino, his manager at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, launched a Facebook series about COVID-19 heroes. Laughton is her first HERO, which was shared by Park Ridge police.   "Please keep him, his co-workers, and all health care workers in your thoughts and prayers. T…

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by Jon Craig
News
COVID-19 Cases Rise To 11,124 In NJ, $146M Set Aside For Hospitals, PPE Shipment Arrives COVID-19 Cases Rise To 11,124 In NJ, $146M Set Aside For Hospitals, PPE Shipment Arrives
Covid-19 Cases Rise To 11,124 In NJ, $146M Set Aside For Hospitals, PPE Shipment Arrives The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey had risen to 11,124 with 140 known deaths as of Saturday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced. "We are now into five digits, as we predicted — at the pace we expected," he said. "If that isn’t reason to continue your social distancing, please take this one to heart. This is not a game... It is critical for you to stay home." Hospitals in the state will be receiving $146 million as part of a new funding plan, Murphy said. ALSO SEE: Hackensack ER Doc Shares What He Learned After He Says He Intubated Healthy, Young Colleague A pre-payment plan will …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800 COVID-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800
Covid-19: Changes Coming To Paramus, Holmdel Testing Sites As Cases Shoot Above 6,800 Changes are coming to New Jersey's government-run coronavirus testing centers in Paramus and Holmdel. Starting on Saturday, March 28, the Bergen Community College and PNC Bank Arts Center testing centers will only accept symptomatic health care workers and first responders -- police, fire, and EMS. The general public will not be able to access these sites on Saturday. The following day, the testing sites will move to a new schedule, to be announced on covid19.nj.gov. The sites will collect 500 samples each day they are open. Beginning April 4, the  PNC Bank Arts Center site …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COMING: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site COMING: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site
Coming: First Responders, Health Care Workers Get Priority At New Bergen Covid-19 Test Site Bergen officials will open a new coronavirus test site for Bergen County residents only with priority given to first responders and health care workers, County Executive Jim Tedesco announced Tuesday. The site will begin operating this weekend and will be controlled by the county, in an effort to satisfy the huge demand for tests, he said. A location hasn't been specified yet. “The FEMA test site at Bergen Community College has had great success in testing over 1,000 individuals since opening last Friday," said Tedesco said, who also announced Tuesday that he was self-quarantining. “Provi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NJ Considering Prescription-Only Coronavirus Testing NJ Considering Prescription-Only Coronavirus Testing
NJ Considering Prescription-Only Coronavirus Testing Mass coronavirus testing in New Jersey could soon change, officials say. Because of limited staff, supplies and long lines, New Jersey could soon switch to targeted testing -- something New York is already doing, Gov. Phil Murphy said. That means not every person who is a suspected case will get tested, as medical testing supplies and staff must be preserved. "We are going to come to a moment sooner than later I would guess between resources and manpower dedicated to testing verses resources and manpower dedicated to care.," Murphy said. "And that's a balance we're going to have to ge…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
New Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Site At William Paterson Will Require Prescription New Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Site At William Paterson Will Require Prescription
New Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Site At William Paterson Will Require Prescription A coronavirus testing site will open at William Paterson University this week with a major difference from the state's first government-run site in Paramus. "You're gonna need a prescription," Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said Sunday afternoon. "At Bergen Community College, they are screening on site -- that's what you attribute the long lines to," the mayor said. "They will not do that here." Several lanes will be open, with Passaic County sheriff's officers directing the traffic, Sayegh said. "Paramus Road has become congested," he said. "This will keep the traffic flowing. It will move …

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by Jerry DeMarco