State to Reopen Woodbury Hospital and Others to Help with Coronavirus Surge

By LILO H. STAINTON , NJ Spotlight

New Jersey health officials plan to expand hospital capacity by nearly 800 beds in the coming weeks to help prepare for a likely patient surge related to the growing coronavirus epidemic and to keep cases of the resulting COVID-19 disease from overwhelming the state’s health care system.

State Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli announced Wednesday that work was underway to immediately add a total of 260 beds at three acute care hospitals that had recently downsized; while the DOH did not provide specifics, she said 199 beds would be at a north Jersey facility, 11 in central Jersey and 50 in the state’s southern region. Capacity for another 227 patients would be added in the weeks to come, she said.

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How to avoid or repair cracked skin from washing your hands constantly

photo via peoplespharmacy.com

Everyone should know by now: Wash your hands, wash your hands and keep washing your hands to help combat coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends doing so for at least 20 seconds each time. Effective, yes, but all that hand-washing can come at a cost: dry, cracked skin.

Alcohol-based formulas and harsh soaps dry out skin after a period of time and can make existing skin conditions worse by stripping the skin of its natural oils, according to the American Skin Association.The right products can make all the difference.As first reported by Yahoo Lifestyle, dermatologis… Read the rest of this entry »

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Middletown Senior Housing Resident Tests Positive For COVID-19

A resident of Tomaso Towers, an affordable high-rise senior citizen development managed by the Middletown Housing Authority, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement by the Township.

The resident is currently hospitalized.  All close contacts have been contacted by the Middletown Health Department. Read the rest of this entry »

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Murphy expands COVID-19 Call Center Options

Press Release

Governor Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Department of Health, and the United Ways of New Jersey announced today that NJ 211 has been activated to help handle COVID-19 related calls from New Jersey residents.

All residents with questions or concerns about COVID-19 and resources available to them can call 2-1-1. NJ 211 is New Jersey’s statewide, comprehensive, information and referral service operated by United Ways of New Jersey. Read the rest of this entry »

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Coronavirus: 11 psychological reasons why we hoard toilet paper in a crisis

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, frantic shoppers everywhere are stocking up for the long road ahead. Canned goods, hand sanitizer, cleaning products, bottled water are all hot-ticket items.

But there is perhaps nothing in so high demand as toilet paper.Turns out the sudden, desperate need to have ALL THE TOILET PAPER regardless of actual need is one of the unlikely consequences of the very things that make humans human.

To discover why we tend to hoard a product we don’t actually need to survive in tough times, Inverse spoke to seven experts from across the fields of marketing and business, psycho… Read the rest of this entry »

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Murphy asks Trump for Military and Army Corp Assistance To Build Hospitals

NJ Gov Phil Murphy

Stating that New Jersey faces a potential hospital bed shortage of anywhere from 123,000 to 313,000 sometime between May and October, and that there could be a critical care bed shortage of 2000 within the next two weeks,  New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote to President Donald Trump on Tuesday to request that the federal government provide Military and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers assistance in expanding the state’s hospital and intensive care unit capacity.

Murphy wrote that failing to expand NJ’s medical capacity could results in medical professionals being “forced the make the agonizing decisions the world has seen in Northern Italy–they will have no choice but to deny lifesaving care, including ventilators to those in need of it.”

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Mayor Perry Declares a State of Emergency in Middletown

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry

MIDDLETOWN, NJ –At Monday’s Middletown Township Committee meeting, Mayor Tony Perry declared a State of Local Disaster Emergency within Middletown to help mitigate the evolving COVID-19 health situation.

“The health and safety of this community is our top priority,” said Mayor Perry. “It is crucial that we find ways to encourage fellow citizens to practice social distancing to help contain the spread of this disease. We are implementing these measures because it is imperative that our residents understand the gravity of the situation.” Read the rest of this entry »

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N.J. distillery switches from making spirits to sanitizers during coronavirus outbreak

You won’t want to drink what Claremont Distillery is brewing this week. Instead of its usual menu of vodka, bourbon and moonshine, the Fairfield distillery is hard at work making gallons of hand sanitizer to offset supply shortages during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tim Koether, the owner, said the motivation behind the switch from spirits to sanitizer was simple.“My wife couldn’t find any, and she was getting all panicked,” Koether told NJ Advance Media. Helping out his wife gave him the chance to help the larger community, and the decision became a no-brainer. “It’s like to me, it just seems like… Read the rest of this entry »

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County Clerk Hanlon Creates Web Portal For COVID-19 Information

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon

Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has created a webpage with links to official government notifications, federal, state, county and local, relating to closures, curfews, and updates about government operations in Monmouth County due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. This page will help Monmouth County residents navigate the days ahead with up to date news and information from the municipal, county and state levels of government.

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Rep Chris Smith is supporting County Governments’ Work To Thwart The Spread of COVID-19

Congressman Chris Smith working in his Hamilton office

Monmouth County Freeholders Sue Kiley and Nick DiRocco, joined by County Administrator Teri O’Connor, briefed Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on the work being done in Monmouth to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus, as well as to help County residents deal with the stressors the pandemic may bring.

Smith said that though the County is limiting visitors to all offices, all golf courses, parks and open spaces remain open and may offer needed respite. The Freeholders also discuss the testing, screening and tracing being done, and also briefed the congressman on the bank of volunteers who are answering calls at the Monmouth County Health Department.

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