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Contact Tracing

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Prosecutor: South Jersey Woman Impersonated Contact Tracer, Tried Shutting Down Business Prosecutor: South Jersey Woman Impersonated Contact Tracer, Tried Shutting Down Business
Prosecutor: South Jersey Woman Impersonated Contact Tracer, Tried Shutting Down Business A 32-year-old woman from Burlington County has been arrested for impersonating a public health department official and threatening to close a plumbing business over COVID-19 rules, authorities said. Jennifer Strumph of South Elmwood Road in Evesham falsely claimed that the business had failed to adhere to coronavirus isolation and cleaning protocols, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew. Strumph was charged with computer crime, criminal coercion with intent to harm reputation and assuming a false identity, Coffi…

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by Jon Craig
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
Schools
COVID-19 Cases Reported At Schools In Berkeley, Jackson, Middletown COVID-19 Cases Reported At Schools In Berkeley, Jackson, Middletown
Covid-19 Cases Reported At Schools In Berkeley, Jackson, Middletown New cases of coronavirus have been reported by three more school districts in Central Jersey. Berkeley Township Elementary School will close for two days after officials identified "additional" coronavirus cases, without disclosing a number or whether they involved students or staff. BTES students will learn remotely on Thursday and Friday, Berkeley Township Superintendent James Roselli wrote on Wednesday in this letter. "This temporary closure will allow us to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school and perform contact tracing," Roselli said. School off…

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by Jon Craig
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
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
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