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Murphy To Lift Mask Mandate For NJ Schools: Report Murphy To Lift Mask Mandate For NJ Schools: Report
Murphy To Lift Mask Mandate For NJ Schools: Report New Jersey students will soon no longer be required to wear face masks in the classroom, according to a new report by NorthJersey.com. Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to make the announcement lifting the mask mandate on Monday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m., the outlet said citing his administration. School officials could opt to keep mask mandates in place if they so desire. The New Jersey Education Association released the following statement: “We are encouraged by the data showing a rapid decline of COVID transmission in New Jersey. Because of that, we are cautiously optimistic that the current statew…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Here's What New Public Health Emergency Means For NJ Residents Here's What New Public Health Emergency Means For NJ Residents
Here's What New Public Health Emergency Means For NJ Residents New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday reinstated a public health emergency amid the Omicron surge. Murphy began his announcement by explaining what the health emergency does not mean: Going backward.  "This step does not mean any new restrictions," he said. "It simply allows [the] state government to continue to respond to the ongoing threat that COVID-19 poses to our daily lives." As of Tuesday, New Jersey was registering approximately 35,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. In the last two weeks, more than 10,000 residents were hospitalized due to COVID-19. The governor hopes that the re…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Original COVID-19 'Ground Zero' In NJ Approaches Virtual Lockdowns Again Original COVID-19 'Ground Zero' In NJ Approaches Virtual Lockdowns Again
Original Covid-19 'Ground Zero' In NJ Approaches Virtual Lockdowns Again An “alarming” spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases forced all township buildings closed to the public on Tuesday in Teaneck, which had been considered "ground zero" in New Jersey when the virus first exploded 21 months ago. “This action is just one measure that will be taken to help keep our community, workforce and families safe from the spread of the virus,” Township Manager Dean B. Kazinci said. Citizens can still conduct business and communicate with township authorities during normal business hours by making an appointment. Other resources include calls, emails, the township webs…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant UPDATE (8:30 p.m.):  New Jersey officials announced the first detection of the Omicron variant in the state just hours after this report was published. CLICK HERE to read "COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey" *** (4:55 p.m.): A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in a Minnesota man who traveled to New York City, a Philadelphia resident has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. The person is a man in his 30’s from Northwest Philadelphia, the city's health department announced Friday. It was unclear when he tes…

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by Nicole Acosta
News
GET LOW: This NJ Community Has Some Of The Lowest COVID Transmission Rates In America, CDC Says GET LOW: This NJ Community Has Some Of The Lowest COVID Transmission Rates In America, CDC Says
GET LOW: This NJ Community Has Some Of The Lowest COVID Transmission Rates In America, CDC Says One New Jersey community is in a league of its own when it comes to COVID-19 transmission rates in the Garden State. Union County has gotten itself to the lowest tier for community transmission rates of the COVID-19 virus in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Of the thousands of counties examined by the CDC, Union was among the 52 in the "low" transmission rate category. The CDC currently designates 2,656 counties in the U.S. as high, 361 for substantial, and 148 for moderate community transmission. Its data tracker shows 72.3 percent of Union's el…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Commuter Accused Of Pulling Knife On NJT Conductor Seized After Hour-Long Standoff In Glen Rock Commuter Accused Of Pulling Knife On NJT Conductor Seized After Hour-Long Standoff In Glen Rock
Commuter Accused Of Pulling Knife On NJT Conductor Seized After Hour-Long Standoff In Glen Rock A commuter accused of pulling a knife on an NJ Transit conductor in Glen Rock who asked him to wear a mask was seized following an hour-long standoff at an acquaintance's home, police said. Keith Toussaint, 49, of the Bronx was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon under a state law that carries more severe penalties because the alleged victim is a front-line transportation worker. The Port Jervis Line conductor told Glen Rock police who responded to the borough train station shortly before 10:30 a.m. that Touissant had "become confrontational" and allegedly threatened her with a k…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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More Cases, Another Death Reported In NJ Legionnaires' Outbreak More Cases, Another Death Reported In NJ Legionnaires' Outbreak
More Cases, Another Death Reported In NJ Legionnaires' Outbreak Five more people have contracted Legionnaires’ disease in Mercer County, and there has been a third fatality since the outbreak began last summer, authorities said. A total of nine cases of the disease -- a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria -- are under investigation by the New Jersey Department of Health.  Hamilton Township initially announced that there were four cases of Legionnaires' a year ago, NJ Advance Media reported. “There is concern that Legionella may be present in other buildings and homes in the area,” Hamilton and state officials said in a statement.&…

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by Jon Craig
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WILD RIDE: Beaten, Bitten Uber Driver Pepper Sprays Carjacking Couple In Elmwood Park WILD RIDE: Beaten, Bitten Uber Driver Pepper Sprays Carjacking Couple In Elmwood Park
Wild Ride: Beaten, Bitten Uber Driver Pepper Sprays Carjacking Couple In Elmwood Park An Uber driver was beaten and bitten by a paroled armed robber he’d picked at a Route 46 motel but managed to pepper-spray the ex-con and his companion before they could carjack him, Elmwood Park police said. Dahmier Garvey, 23, and Johanna Bell, 19, got into his vehicle near the Red Carpet Motel on the eastbound highway early Sunday night, the 36-year-old victim from Wyckoff told responding officers. He told them that there was no smoking in the vehicle, he said, and that Uber company police required that both wear COVID masks, Police Chief Michael Foligno said. Bell, of Hawthorne wore …

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Dozens Of Boys From Rockland, Brooklyn Hospitalized With Food Poisoning After Ukraine Trip Dozens Of Boys From Rockland, Brooklyn Hospitalized With Food Poisoning After Ukraine Trip
Dozens Of Boys From Rockland, Brooklyn Hospitalized With Food Poisoning After Ukraine Trip More than two dozen boys were reportedly taken to hospitals in Rockland County, the Catskills and Brooklyn after they apparently suffered food poisoning while returning from a trip to Ukraine. The boys, all in their upper teens, were nauseous, vomiting and feverish, among other reactions, after landing at an unidentified New York City airport, responders said. They apparently had been eating tuna sandwiches before their flight and began feeling ill during the journey, according to unconfirmed reports. UPDATE: As many as 20Vizhnitzer Bochrim who have just returned to Boro Park with thei…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Murphy Sets Vaccine Mandate For All NJ State Workers, School Employees Murphy Sets Vaccine Mandate For All NJ State Workers, School Employees
Murphy Sets Vaccine Mandate For All NJ State Workers, School Employees Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all of the state's workers, teachers and school employees. Those who are not vaccinated will be subject to regular testing -- weekly, at minimum. NEW: All state employees – including those at state agencies, authorities, and public colleges and universities – are required to complete a full vaccination course or undergo regular testing at a minimum of once to twice each week. Full compliance is required by October 18th. pic.twitter.com/zgn7zFO5HO — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 23, 2021 The vaccination deadl…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
5 NJ Beaches Under Swimming Advisories After Fecal Bacteria Tests 5 NJ Beaches Under Swimming Advisories After Fecal Bacteria Tests
5 NJ Beaches Under Swimming Advisories After Fecal Bacteria Tests Swimming advisories were issued by the NJDEP for five New Jersey beaches after water samples showed high levels of fecal bacteria. The advisories were issued Tuesday afternoon to the following beaches: Brooklyn Avenue beach in Lavallette (Bay) Hancock Avenue beach in Seaside Heights (Bay) L Street beach in Belmar (River) South Bath Avenue beach in Long Branch (Ocean) Stockton Avenue beach in Long Beach Township (Bay) Beaches are placed under swimming advisories when samples exceed 104 colony forming units (cfu) of enterococci. The samples were taken on Monday.

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Children Sickened By Filtration Issue At Public North Jersey Pool Children Sickened By Filtration Issue At Public North Jersey Pool
Children Sickened By Filtration Issue At Public North Jersey Pool A North Jersey pool has reopened after some children sickened by a filtration issue over the weekend. An issue with the filtration equipment at the Maplewood Community Pool released a sediment that turned the water greenish-brown and was accompanied by a strong odor Saturday night and Sunday, ABC7 reports. Parents on Facebook said that their children had burning eyes/throats, were lethargic and vomiting. Pool officials released a statement on Sunday saying the filtration issue caused a sudden smell of chlorine as the filter was restarted. "We deeply apologize that this malfunction occurre…

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by Cecilia Levine