Gov. Phil Murphy provided what he called proof that 99% of the cases are being driven by the unvaccianted as the recent surge has pushed up key health metrics in the last month. For July 26, the state reported 594 new confirmed COVID-19 cases; it reached a high of 861 last week on July 24. Comparatively, the state reported 324 new cases last Monday, 227 two weeks ago and 105 on June 28. “The spread of the coronavirus among the unvaccinated is increasing and we are seeing the…upticks in our numbers due to the rapid spread of the highly transmissible and contagious Delta variant,” said Murphy at a press briefing July 26. “The trends we are seeing over the past several days suggest we are not done seeing these numbers continue to rise.” North-JerseyNews.com
A significant uptick in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. is leading to new vaccination mandates for public employees. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on July 26 became the first federal agency, California the first state, and New York the first major city to announce requirements for their workers. The Wall Street Journal
RWJBarnabas Health is extending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all staff, including new employees and medical staff. The deadline for full vaccination and completion of the second dose is Oct. 15. The company recently fired six supervisory-level employees who refused COVID-19 vaccinations. News12 New Jersey
New Jersey’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said if elected, he would expand exemptions that allow public school students to skip immunizations and create a state ombudsman to deal with “parental choice” issues, including vaccines during an interview with a group of anti-vaccine activists. “I believe we now need an ombudsman—an advocate—who’s a member of my administration that will work in the Department of Health and their only responsibility will be to protect parental rights,” declared Ciattarelli during a Facebook Live interview with members of NJ Public Health Innovation PAC. PoliticoNJ
Gov. Phil Murphy said he remains opposed to remote learning options for students in the approaching school year. While New Jersey Parents for Virtual Choice is attempting to gain support for the ability to have students learn virtually starting in September, Murphy reiterated his answer remains “no” assuming that state officials remain confident students, their families and teachers can be kept safe during in-person school, which could depend on the spread of Delta coronavirus variant. NJ1015.com
At the urging of federal regulators, Pfizer and Moderna are expanding the size of their studies in children ages 5 to 11. The request is allegedly a precautionary measure intended to detect rare side effects including heart inflammation problems that turned up in vaccinated people younger than 30. The New York Times
The federal government is spending $44 million to improve the northern road network connecting Port Newark and the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal. The money will go for improvements to Port Street, the main access point from the north, and to the Corbin Street ramp, which connects to Port Street. Improvements are expected to reduce travel time for cars and trucks going to the port complex by 700,000 hours. NJ.com
The New Jersey House Delegation continues to form a united front in making sure the Garden State gets its fair share of federal dollars when it comes to transit relief. All 12 members in the House urged the Federal Transit Administration to reaffirm its long-standing formulas and existing guidance which clearly states that federal relief funds should be properly split between New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. The demand comes as New York is attempting “to blow up” traditional formulas and take critical transit resources from New Jersey and Connecticut, according to the state’s federal lawmakers led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer. North-JerseyNews.com
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh’s plan for legalized marijuana businesses has run into criticism from City Council members. Among the changes council members want are increasing the minimum distance between cannabis stores and homes, schools and houses of worship; tighter restrictions on the number of cannabis businesses that would be allowed in Paterson, their hours of operation, and zoning status; increase the number of city residents the establishments must hire; impose higher penalties for violators; and create additional provisions benefiting minority-owned businesses. The Record
A newly-signed bill will create a commission to study the feasibility of establishing community broadband networks in the state that was sponsored by Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti (D-31) and State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-24). The networks are community-owned infrastructure which can connect certain geographical areas to the greater Internet, and are often useful in rural areas that are too remote for providers to develop. The commission will be responsible for investigating all possible funding sources for the project, amid other duties. In one year, it will report to the Governor its findings. “The creation of the Broadband Access Study Commission will evaluate alternatives to bring the high-speed evolution to these forgotten residents and help close the digital divide,” said Oroho. North-JerseyNews.com
Election officials will be prepared to implement early in-person voting by the November 2 general election, said Gov. Phil Murphy. “I think the key point will be, ‘will we be ready to go when we need to be?’ and the answer, to the overwhelming best of my knowledge is yes,” Murphy said while declining to say that new technologies—including electronic poll books—are in place and working. New Jersey Globe
Secaucus will have a crowded Board of Education race this year, and Jersey City voters will elect entirely new trustees, according to candidate filings. Eleven candidates are vying for three seats in Secaucus, where parents have been frustrated with the Board of Education’s transparency and decisions during the coronavirus pandemic. In Jersey City, all three board members with expiring terms are stepping down, opening up the ballot to nine candidates seeking a spot. The Jersey Journal
And finally…Greenwood Lake Air Show returns after COVID-forced hiatus with pyromusical. New Jersey Herald
