Murphy’s April 10 COVID-19 briefing, 10:30 a.m.

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N.J. hospitals should be able to handle peak surge of coronavirus patients expected this weekend, officials say

New Jersey hospitals have been able to double the number of “critical care” beds from nearly 2,000 to 4,000 in recent weeks, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Thursday, adding that the state projectsthe peak number of coronavirus patients who need hospital care could hit as early as Saturday.

In the past month, New Jersey’s 71 acute-care hospitals responded to the Persichilli’s urgent call for help by adding about 60 percent more beds to the existing 23,000 beds in the state by commandeering space wherever they could find it, Kerry McKean Kelly, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Hos… Read the rest of this entry »

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Laid-off Employees Scramble for New Health Coverage in COVID-19 Pandemic

State officials, nonprofit leaders offer advice on where to turn as, with businesses shutting down, thousands lose insurance along with jobs

By Jon Hurdle, NJSpotlight

Many thousands of New Jerseyans have lost their employer-paid health insurance as businesses across the state have closed their doors in the COVID-19 pandemic, and now employees are scrambling for coverage through Obamacare or Medicaid.

State officials and nonprofit leaders offered advice on Wednesday on how to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Medicaid, and on where to turn if you are among the estimated 500,000 people who were uninsured even before the coronavirus hit.

Some 70% of New Jersey employees get their health insurance through their employer, and so loss of a job often means loss of health coverage, said Maura Collinsgru, health care program director for New Jersey Citizen Action, a liberal advocacy group that provides direct services to low- and moderate- income people.

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Arnone Addresses Park Closures

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said that the public will be restricted from the County’s parks and golf courses, effective April 8, due to the Executive Order that Governor Murphy signed today in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

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They said pets couldn’t get the coronavirus, so how did tigers test positive? Vets explain.

Nine lives ago (in February), when the world gawked at photos of Chinese cats wearing masks to ward off the coronavirus, veterinarians elsewhere were quick with reassurance that pets were unlikely to get sick.

The vets are still saying that. But with the news Sunday that a Bronx Zoo tiger had tested positive for the virus, the infected-pet scenario no longer seems quite so far-fetched.

In addition to Nadia, the 4-year-old Malayan tiger with a confirmed infection, six other big cats at the zoo in New York had dry coughs and were presumed infected — prompting other zoos to reexamine their safety m… Read the rest of this entry »

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New Jersey coronavirus death toll now at 1,232. Total cases rise to 44,416 with 3K new positive tests.

New Jersey officials reported the coronavirus death toll has increased to 1,232 and total cases in the state have hit 44,416 on Tuesday with 3,361 new positive tests in the last 24 hours and the projected peak for the state still likely weeks away.

“It’s almost unfathomable when you think about it — 1,232 lost lives,” Gov. Phil Murphy said during his daily coronavirus press briefing Tuesday afternoon. The numbers included 232 new deaths – the highest single-day increase during the outbreak. Officials said 10% of the fatalities have been residents of long-term care facilities.“We honor their legac… Read the rest of this entry »

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Governor Muphy’s April 7 COVID-19 Briefing

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Myths Kill

By Stuart J. Moskovitz, Esq.

I always wondered whether the intent of the Great Flood was for Noah to start a new world or whether it was really a test of those already living here − a test that everyone else managed to fail. When confronted with the flood, Noah chose to save the animals and act in a positive manner. Others ignored the warnings, did nothing to protect themselves or the earth, mocked Noah, and perished. Remember that the prime innate characteristic mankind is free will. For good. For bad.

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WATCH: Jersey Shore hospital staff brought to tears as first-responders offer special thanks

First-responders from communities near Jersey Shore University Medical Center had a special surprise for staff during Monday night’s shift change amid the coronavirusoutbreak.

Police officers, firefighters and EMS workers pulled up to the Neptune City hospital with emergency lights flashing and clapped as doctors, nurses and other medical staff arrived for work – many of them to care for COVID-19
patients.

“Thank you, thank you,” the first-responders said as they applauded hospital staffers headed in for a grueling night’s work.“No words can even begin to describe how our work has changed recentl… Read the rest of this entry »

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China’s deception on coronavirus – here’s how we hold their leadership accountable

By Congressman Chris Smith

Last December, when it became obvious China faced a deadly disease of historic dimensions, Xi Jinping and his government went into damage control mode.

We are not talking about controlling the terrible damage wrought by COVID-19 among humans, but rather the damage to China’s reputation as an emerging global leader, fearing that a carefully crafted, but bogus image would be damaged as more people around the world succumbed to COVID-19.

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