Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says
Expect Mental Health Crisis For First Responders On Coronavirus Frontlines, NJ Physician Says The COVID-19 crisis is putting first responders at a dangerously high risk for a variety of mental health problems, psychiatric experts say. And according to Daniel Finch -- Vice President of Population Health Strategies and Director of Psychiatric Urgent Care Services of CarePlus NJ -- the worst is yet to come. “Right now, it’s all about ‘survival mode,'" said Finch, who spent nearly eight years as an emergency psychiatry doctor at Hackensack University Medical Center.  "The adrenaline is flowing. Full energy and concentration is being put toward the care of patients. “Onc…
Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers COVID-19 Testing Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers COVID-19 Testing
Urgent Care Center In Passaic County Offers Covid-19 Testing Kinder Pediatric Urgent Care has begun conducting coronavirus tests for children, families, healthcare workers and first responders, among others, at their centers in Totowa and Union, the company announced Wednesday. Although Kinder is a walk-in urgent care provider for children, COVID-19 has changed priorities for everyone on the front lines. “How can we focus on just the children and ignore COVID-19 screening and testing for their families, caregivers, or essential workers in their communities?” asked Dr. Figen Altunkaya, a senior Kinder physician. All COVID-19 testing is done by appoin…
'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic 'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic
'Resilient Minds On Front Lines': NJ Webcast Gives Responders Critical Support During Pandemic As if the all the other dangers that first responders face aren't enough, doing so amid the coronavirus pandemic presents additional challenges that a New Jersey webcast launched Monday aims to address. The biggest challenge for law enforcement, for one, is "figuring out what the new normal is, how to protect yourself and how do we get you [the] resources now," state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said during the opening segment of "Resilient Minds on the Front Lines." Organizers are dedicated to providing "tools, knowledge, skills and instruction to assist in a time of need -- to "help…
'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery 'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery
'We Take Care Of Our Own': Port Authority Police Give Back To NJ Rookie's Family Bakery Times have gotten tough amid the coronavirus pandemic for a popular Union County bakery owned by the family of a Port Authority police rookie. So her colleagues decided to do something about it. This is their story. HEROES: While on duty recently at the Port Authority Police Department command at LaGuardia Airport, Sgt. Brian Vitale learned that rookie PAPD Officer Jessica Vaccaro’s family business -- Vaccaro’s Bakery in Clark -- was facing closure, like many other small businesses currently struggling to survive the economic ravages of COVID-19. Not only was this the long-successful busin…
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…
'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together 'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together
'Comfort Home': NJ First Responders Have House To Self-Quarantine Together First responders with the coronavirus in New Jersey who cannot self-quarantine at home will have a place to stay, thanks to firefighters and police in the city of Passaic. Work this weekend continued on "The Comfort Home," a four-bedroom residence on a dead end city street that organizers say will accommodate up to eight first responders at a time beginning April 6. The idea emerged as word spread of a city responder who couldn’t self-quarantine at home and had no other place to go. Enter Boy Scout Devin Pellot. Devin, 15, told his dad, Passaic Police Capt. Isabelino Pellot Jr., that may…
New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday New Bergen COVID-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday
New Bergen Covid-19 Test Site For First Responders, Health Care Workers Only Opens Sunday The first drive-thru coronavirus testing site in New Jersey dedicated solely to first responders and health care workers opens Sunday afternoon at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. Only first responders and health care professionals who live or work in Bergen County will be tested at the site -- but only after they are screened first, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said. To be screened, Tedesco said, symptomatic first responders and health care workers must first: complete a brief survey located at https://www.newbridgehealth.org; see a Telehealth doctor; obtain a confirma…
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 …
Got Growlers? Jersey City Cafe Needs Help Keeping First Responders Caffeinated Got Growlers? Jersey City Cafe Needs Help Keeping First Responders Caffeinated
Got Growlers? Jersey City Cafe Needs Help Keeping First Responders Caffeinated A Jersey City coffee shop that was forced closed among coronavirus fears is using its remaining beans to keep first responders and health care workers caffeinated. There's just one problem, though: They're out of growlers. Modcup, which has three locations, is asking the public to donate growlers so that firefighters, nurses, doctors, EMTs and other workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis can get their coffee fix. Growlers can be dropped outside of Mod01 on Senate Place. If you have more than one, you can email modcupcoffee@gmail.com "Don’t worry how dirty they are inside we …
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…
Pair Of Jersey City Police Officers In Serious Condition, 42 Out With Coronavirus Symptoms Pair Of Jersey City Police Officers In Serious Condition, 42 Out With Coronavirus Symptoms
Pair Of Jersey City Police Officers In Serious Condition, 42 Out With Coronavirus Symptoms A pair of Jersey City police officers were hospitalized in serious condition after testing positive for coronavirus, and 42 others are out with symptoms, officials said Sunday. An additional 16 officers were quarantined -- eight medically-advised and another eight who work in close proximity with the first group -- while 28 officers who were out returned to work, Mayor Steven Fulop said. "There's no question we are seeing an impact on first responders," added the mayor, noting that the police department is fully staffed. There has been a 25 percent decrease in service, including major inci…
SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized
SUVs Collide In Fair Lawn, Three 70-Somethings Hospitalized Three Fair Lawn residents were hospitalized Monday, including a driver who had to be freed by firefighters, after two SUVs collided, police said. Fair Lawn police, firefighters, EMS and Heavy Rescue responded to the 11:43 a.m. crash, which toppled a street sign at the intersection of George Street and Hopper Avenue. The 77-year-old driver of a Ford was taken to the Valley Hospital, while the 72-year-old extricated driver of a Toyota and his 70-year-old passenger were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, Sgt. Brian Metzler said. All three complained of chest pain, he said. Boyd …