News Flash

Today Governor Murphy announced that all students, educators, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks inside of all school buildings regardless of vaccination status for the start of the 2021-22 academic year (Executive Order 251). The Governor noted that as soon as conditions permit the mask requirement will be lifted. While making the announcement, the Governor also noted that school will be opened for full time in-person instruction.

Earlier in the week the Governor announced that all workers in a range of healthcare facilities and other high-risk congregate settings are required to either complete a full vaccination course or undergo regular testing at a minimum of once to twice a week. All impacted facilities, are to be in full compliance by September 7th. There will be no exceptions or extensions. This mandate will apply to all staff entering a healthcare facility or congregate living setting, including the Ancora, Greystone Park, Trenton Psychiatric Hospitals, the Ann Kline Forensic Center, the veterans' homes in Paramus, Menlo Park, and Vineland, all state developmental centers, state correctional and juvenile justice facilities, and county-run correctional facilities, long-term care and assisted living facilities, acute care and specialty hospitals, short-term and post-acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and licensed behavioral health facilities. The Governor noted that all private sector employers may have a more ambitious timeline or to require either a more rigorous testing regime or completely eliminate the testing option and require all employees to be vaccinated as a matter of their continued employment.

COVID Data for August 6, 2021:

• 1,249 new positive cases for a total of 913,845 confirmed cases
• 7 new confirmed deaths for a total of 23,917 confirmed deaths
• The rate of transmission is at 1.37
• 10,584,547 vaccine doses have been administered, including 5,804,030 who have received at least one dose and 5,175,321 who are fully vaccinated. 56% are Pfizer, 40% Moderna, and 4% J&J. 

Executive Order 251

Executive Order 251: requires all public, private, and parochial preschool programs and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, to maintain a policy regarding mandatory use of face masks by staff, students, and visitors in the indoor portion of the school district premises. There are exceptions for children under the age of 2; individuals that have trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove a face masks without assistance; when a student's documented medical condition or disability, as reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or education plan, precludes the use of a face mask; when the individual is engaged in activity that cannot physically be performed while wearing a mask, such as eating or drinking, or playing a musical instrument that would be obstructed by a face mask; when the individual is engaged in high-intensity aerobic or anaerobic activity; when a student is participating in high-intensity physical activities during a physical education class in a well-ventilated location and able to maintain a physical distance of six feet from all other individuals; when doing so would inhibit the individual's health, such as when the individual is exposed to extreme heat indoors; or when wearing a face mask creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task.

Vaccine Information

As a reminder, the Department of Health is providing access to individuals COVID vaccination records through NJ Docket, a secure and free smartphone app Docket, which is CDC approved.

Homebound residents who have not yet connected with their local health department, or a home health agency, and who need an in-home vaccination should visit www.covid19.nj.gov/homeboundvax or contact the call center at 855-568-0545.

Contacts:
Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.