Gov. Phil Murphy gave municipalities and counties the authority to impose restrictions on short-term rentals in response to COVID-19. The order comes on reports of residents leaving for non-impacted areas the governor said lack the health care infrastructure to accommodate an influx. North-JerseyNews.com
The state provided new guidance on how long-term care facilities are to keep their communities informed about cases of coronavirus within their facilities. Nursing homes, assisted living residences, comprehensive personal care homes, residential health care facilities and dementia care homes must now notify in person and in writing to all residents; in person and in writing for all staff members; and notification via telephone, email or other method to the resident’s family member or guardian must be followed up in writing within three days. The Daily Record
New Jersey’s battle against the coronavirus will get worse before things get better and that the state should brace for what will be “a really challenging” couple of weeks ahead, said Gov. Phil Murphy. The governor said the effects of the pandemic will “spill meaningfully into the summer.” NJ.com
NJ Transit advised all customers to wear face coverings while on public transit. After NJ Transit bus schedules were minimized leading to crowding on board, the agency will add more buses to 20 select routes. The Record
Employees and customers at essential businesses in Hoboken must wear protective face “covers” and gloves. Among the businesses the city ordered to comply include supermarkets, pharmacies and all restaurants and food establishments. Face covers can include a bandana or scarf, or similar material face masks are permitted. The Jersey Journal
New Jersey will receive another 500 ventilators from the national stockpile to treat people fighting the coronavirus. The new shipment means the state has or will receive 1,350 of the ventilators requested. Several of the machines from the federal government, however, weren’t working properly upon arrival and required repair. NJ.com
North Jersey Rotary International District 7475 obtained grants and purchased 10 ventilators for local hospitals. Rotary District 7475 includes 83 Rotary Clubs in Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. New Jersey Herald
How towns in New Jersey are classified by the U.S. Census Bureau determines their eligibility for federal grants awarded under the stimulus law. Only metropolitan cities of at least 50,000 people, urban counties with at least 200,000 people or “principal cities” named by the bureau in designated metropolitan statistical areas were eligible to receive the money in this round of grants. NJ.com
The federal government has made more than $6 million available to 51 police jurisdictions across New Jersey to assist them in the battle against the coronavirus outbreak. The relief package program provides public safety agencies with money to prevent, prepare for and respond to the novel coronavirus outbreak and can be used to pay for overtime, equipment and training expenses dating back to late January. The Record
Employees working in at least 24 different ShopRites in New Jersey have been sickened with the coronavirus. Close contacts of the employee were told to self-quarantine for two weeks, and all workspaces used by the employee have been deep cleaned, ShopRite says. NJ.com
And finally…Hackensack University Medical Center received approval to recruit recovered and recovering coronavirus patients to test for antibodies in their blood. NJ.com