Bergen County closed all its 75 public schools districts indefinitely at 3 pm March 13 after the state recommended the cancellation of large public events due to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, Hackensack Meridian Health received approval to begin using a newly developed rapid response test for the coronavirus. North-JerseyNews.com
Congress neared a deal with the White House on a sweeping economic rescue package to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation will include enhanced unemployment benefits, free virus testing, aid for food assistance programs, ensures 14 days of paid sick leave and tax credits to help small- and medium-size businesses fulfill that mandate. The New York Times
U.S. stock futures and European indexes recovered some ground March 13 a day after Wall Street’s worst day since 1987. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.3%, after plunging 10% on March 12 as the rapidly spreading coronavirus drove fears of a global slowdown. The Wall Street Journal
Newark Archdiocese suspended the celebration of Mass the weekend of March 14 and 15 to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. All Catholic elementary and high schools will be closed starting March 16, and all CYO basketball games scheduled throughout the archdiocese have been canceled. The Daily Record
Jersey City declared a 10 p.m. curfew on any business with a liquor license to reduce the number of large gatherings in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The executive order requires establishments such as restaurants and places of worship with a capacity of 25 or more to use a sign-in sheet to keep track of anyone who enters. Additionally, the Jersey City Public School District announced school classes will be canceled starting on March 16. The Jersey Journal
The Hoboken Office of Emergency Management (OEM) declared a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak. All city-sponsored events and meetings were canceled effective March 13. City-sponsored recreation activities and all city recreation fields and facilities were closed as well. OEM authorized the construction of a medical tent outside of the Hoboken University Medical Center to help manage an anticipated surge of patients. Hudson Reporter
NJ Transit has seen a reduction of approximately 20% in ridership on both bus and rail for the week, according to a preliminary data review. Its estimated 164,000 commuters stopped using the nation’s largest statewide public transit system amid the outbreak. The Record
New Jersey treasury officials are sticking with budget projections issued in February forecasting steady growth in tax collections in both the near term and lasting through the middle of 2021. However, officials are keeping close tabs on both the financial markets, where stocks were suffering their biggest losses in decades, and the ongoing effects of the outbreak of the coronavirus. NJ Spotlight
Ridgweeod’s Mayor Ramon Hache will seek a seat on the Bergen County Freeholders. As a result, Hache will not run for a second term as the village’s mayor. Hache is seeking the seat that opened when David Ganz, the longest-serving county freeholder, decided not to seek re-election. The Record
And finally…Walt Disney World in Florida will close starting March 16 until the end of the month due to the coronavirus. NJ.com