Murphy’s daily COVID-19 update, 1 p.m. on March 21

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Murphy closes all public libraries in NJ

Governor Phil Murphy and Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the State Police, announced that all local, county and state public libraries are closed, effective at 8 p.m. last night, as are all libraries and computer labs at public and private colleges and universities.

“New Jersey will continue to be proactive in our approach to identify and enact measures to promote social distancing,”said Governor Murphy.“While many of these facilities are an important part of the fabric of our communities, it’s critical that we take this opportunity to slow the spread of coronavirus seriously.”

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Country music legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81

Los Angeles (AFP) – Country music legend Kenny Rogers, whose career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his family said late Friday.

“Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” they said in a statement.

The family said they were planning a small private service “out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency.”Kenny Rogers left an indelible mark on the history of American music.

“His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world,” said the statement posted by his representa… Read the rest of this entry »

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May 12 Municipal Elections Will Be Vote By Mail Only

The municipal elections in Allenhurst, Deal, Keansburg and Loch Arbour will be conducted via Vote-By-Mail ballots only, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon announced on Friday afternoon.

Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Thursday mandating that May 12 elections be held via mail to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.

Clerk Hanlon is notifying voters in these four municipalities that due to this unprecedented situation, every registered voter will automatically receive a mail-in ballot, by law, and will not need to fill out an application. Voters will not be permitted to vote in-person at their polling locations on May 12. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County has 55 COVID-19 cases, here’s where they are…

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Sue Kiley announced on Friday afternoon that there are now 55 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the County,

Here is the list of towns where they are and the numbers of cases:

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O’Scanlon: Don’t go to the PNC testing center unless you would be going to a doctor under normal conditions

Senator Declan O’Scanlon and his district mates in LD 13, Assembly Members Serena DiMaso and Gerry Scharfenberger are urging NJ residents not to rush to the PNC Art Center for COVID-19 testing on Monday unless they would be seeking medical treatment under normal circumstances.

“We are happy to see how many entities came together quickly to get this testing site online for Monday, however, we want to prevent the sorts of lines we saw today at Bergen’s testing site and we want to avoid the use of precious resources – testing kits, personal protective equipment, and human resources,” said O’Scanlon. “The lines are likely to be huge, and we have to make sure that the folks we are testing are those that really need it. If you show up without checking the news and verifying that you qualify to be tested, you could wait in line for hours only to be turned away. If you have to exaggerate your symptoms to qualify, don’t do that!” Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone: COVID-19 testing center to open at PNC at 8 a.m. on Monday

A COVID-19 testing center will open at the PNC Arts Center, located on the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel, at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 23, according to Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.

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1,400 old face masks were sitting in a Wall Twp basement. They’re now fighting coronavirus.

Volunteers at one of New Jersey’s most historic museums on Thursday donated more than 1,400 N-95 face masks to a local hospital and other emergency workers to help them fight the spread of coronavirus.

“They were in the back of one of our warehouses, literally gathering dust,” said Mike Ruane, chief executive officer of InfoAge Science and History Center in Monmouth County.

The masks, which had originally been ordered eight years ago for people responding to Hurricane Sandy, were uncovered days ago inside at the museum on Marconi Road in Wall Township.The museum is the site of the former U.S. Ar… Read the rest of this entry »

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Governor Murphy’s COVID-19 Update March 20, 2020

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Wawa suspends self-service coffee

Wawa has adopted New Jersey’s  gasoline pumping protocols at its coffee stations. You can’t d0 it yourself.

The company temporarily suspended self-service coffee distribution at all of its stores, effective at 5 a.m. this morning, according to an announcement by the company.  A Wawa employee will serve coffee to customers.

The company is temporarily suspending self-service fountain beverages, ice drinks, cappuccino and iced coffee.

Wawa stores, which are normally open 24 hours per day, will close daily between 2 and 3 a.m. for additional cleaning, sanitation and stocking.

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