New Jersey will get increased help from the federal government, albeit still not at the requested levels state officials have asked for. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will operate four pop-up field hospitals in the state, while the Trump Administration agreed to send a new shipment of personal protective equipment. North-JerseyNews.com
Prudential Financial donated 153,000 protective face masks and respirators to the state. The donations are expected to provide a two-week respite for hospitals until additional masks and other supplies can be delivered. Prudential stockpiled the equipment after the 9/11 terror attacks. NJ.com
A list of available jobs has been posted on New Jersey’s COVID-19 website. Amazon and UPS are looking to hire people in the shipping, logistics and transportation departments and ShopRite is looking to hire people to work inside its stores and to assist in food delivery. News12 New Jersey
The state’s two drive-through COVID-19 testing center closed a half hour after it opened March 23. The centers at Bergen Community College in Paramus and the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel were closed after reaching its allotment of tests for the day. NJ1015.com
Meanwhile, a countywide COVID-19 testing center will open at Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus. The site is open only to Hudson County residents or first responders who work in Hudson County. The Jersey Journal
New Jersey will begin releasing certain inmates from county jails as a way to control the spread of COVID-19. The state Supreme Court issued the emergency order directing the release of about 1,000 inmates serving jail time as a result of a probation sentence or municipal court conviction. New Jersey Herald
The state Department of Treasury placed about $920 million of spending in reserve. The Homestead property tax relief program will have the most frozen out of all the programs at $142 million. The Daily Record
Senate Democrats pushed for stronger protections for workers and restrictions on bailed-out businesses as talks continued with the Trump administration on a financial aid bill. Democrats want hundreds of billions of dollars in additional spending for hospitals and state and local governments, stronger oversight for a $500 billion fund for corporate and municipal loans and unemployment provisions to last four months instead of three and include independent contractors. Politico NJ
Futures linked to the S&P 500 index gained about 5%, suggesting U.S. shares could rise when the market opens March 24. A string of emergency measures by the Federal Reserve to support credit markets and ensure funding for U.S. businesses and homeowners helped alleviate some of the most pressing concerns among investors. The Wall Street Journal
And finally…New Jersey’s first COVID-19 patient is now out of the hospital and will self-quarantine in Fort Lee for an additional 14 days for the safety of his family. The Record
