Christie tests positive for COVID-19

In consultation with my doctors, I checked myself into Morristown Medical Center this afternoon. While I am feeling good and only have mild symptoms, due to my history of asthma we decided this is an important precautionary measure.

— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) October 3, 2020

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Trump speaks before heading to Walter Reed Medical Center

pic.twitter.com/B4H105KVSs

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020

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Trump tests positive for coronavirus, upending campaign schedule

Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump said Friday he had tested positive for Covid-19 and would quarantine inside the White House during his recovery, cancelling upcoming appearances on the campaign trail ahead of a bitterly fought election. 

The White House doctor said both Trump and First Lady Melania — who also tested positive — were well and that Trump would continue his presidential “duties without disruption”. 

The two were tested after a close White House aide Hope Hicks had tested positive earlier in the day, with the bombshell news breaking as more restrictions loomed in Europe… Read the rest of this entry »

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DNA from Neanderthals can make Covid more severe

PARIS: Covid-19 patients with a snippet of Neanderthal DNA that crossed into the human genome some 60,000 years ago run a higher risk of severe complications from the disease, researchers have reported.

People infected with the new coronavirus, for example, who carry the genetic coding bequeathed by our early human cousins are three times more likely to need mechanical ventilation, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature.

There are many reasons why some people with Covid-19 wind up in intensive care and other have only light symptoms, or none at all.Advanced age, being a man, and pre-… Read the rest of this entry »

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Pandemic in NJ forces 1.2 million to become ‘food insecure,’ report says

Number surges by 56% this year, higher than national rate due to hard-hit hospitality and leisure industries

By Jon Hurdle, NJSpotlight

The number of New Jerseyans who have uncertain access to healthy food is expected to increase by more than 50% by the end of this year because of the pandemic, bringing the total of “food insecure” people to 1.2 million, or 13.5% of the population, according to a report issued on Wednesday.

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O’Scanlon & DiMaso: Prominent Restaurants on Precipice

Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (both R-Monmouth) emphasized their previous call for an immediate increase for indoor dining capacity to 66 percent following yet another desperate message from a prominent restaurant owner who indicated they might close very soon without a substantial indoor dining increase.

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Atlantic Cinemas to reopen October 15 with new business model

Atlantic Cinemas, the iconic local theater located on First Ave in Atlantic Highlands, will reopen with a new business model on October 15, owners Fred and Mickey Rast announced.

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Arnone: Uptick in COVID-19 in Monmouth County is with teens and young adults.

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone attributed the increase in COVID-19 cases in the County to teenaged and young adult residents.

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Family credits Chris Smith with saving COVID-19 patient’s life

@RepChrisSmith Thank you Chris for making this possible! My brother would not have survived Covid had it not been for you and your staff. You cut through tons of red tape for us, and we owe you a debt of gratitude!https://t.co/GcvrECXhCD

— Dan McNamara (@dpm120357) September 18, 2020

Kevin McNamara, a 60 year old attorney who lives in Avon-by-the Sea, was hospitalized with COVID-19 on March 28. Last Thursday, after 174 days of isolation in three different hospitals and a rehab facility, McNamara was sent home to continue his long road to recovery.

Kevin’s brother Dan, an engineer who lives in Essex County, credits Congressman Chris Smith with saving Kevin’s life.

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This is how Murphy’s budget allocates $2.4 billion in federal COVID funding

Some lawmakers and state-funded organizations worry what will happen when that money is gone

By Lilo H. Stainton, NJSpotlight

For six months the coronavirus pandemic has loomed large over New Jersey, taking an enormous toll on the state’s public health and economy, and affecting nearly every aspect of daily life.

But you won’t find it by name in Gov. Phil Murphy’s $32.4 billion budget proposal.

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